Dwarf rabbits, unlike their larger counterparts, are raised exclusively for decorative purposes. This means that the diet of babies should be selected with extreme caution. About how to feed small pets, which products are strictly contraindicated, and which, on the contrary, are vitally important - in general, everything about the diet of dwarf rabbits can be found in this article.

How to feed a dwarf rabbit at home

For the pet, it is important not to quickly gain weight, but to have a long and maximally active life. The owner should first of all know that all rabbits, regardless of size, have a sensitive digestive system. Unlike other mammals, these close relatives of rabbits eat almost continuously, and this state of things is not due to gluttony.

Did you know? The rabbit’s intestines, if deployed in one line, will take the same length in length as ten of its owners, placed in a row one after another.

For normal functioning of the digestive system, food must be constantly present in its stomach and intestines, therefore, regardless of other types of food, fresh dry hay must always be present in the cage (the presence of clean water is also equally important).

The rest of the pet diet is formed on the basis of three components:

• solid (coarse) food;
• green
• juicy.

It is very important to give babies various minerals and, if necessary, vitamins.

Therefore, between what and how much a pet eats, and how long it will please the owners with its touching fuss, there is an absolutely direct connection.

Important! According to statistics, the most common cause of death of dwarf rabbits are problems associated with digestion and improper feeding, namely: constipation, diarrhea and obesity, which primarily affects the liver.

Roughage

Solid food - branches of trees and shrubs, straw, hay - in the wild is the basis of nutrition of mammals of the hare family and is necessary for dwarf rabbits. It is not only rich in fiber, vegetable protein, vitamins and minerals, but also provides the grinding process for teeth that grow in rabbits throughout their lives.As a blank for hay and straw, young forbs, stalks and leaves of corn, legumes and cereals (for example, millet or oats) are best suited for rabbits.

Did you know? The upper incisors in rabbits grow by two millimeters per week. If the animal does not have the ability to grind them normally, it begins to resemble a saber-toothed tiger with its appearance. This is what the animal looks like, which lives in the Chinese province of Jiangsu (Huai'an County). The atypically large teeth of a rabbit are a painful condition called malocclusion. It arises precisely because of the lack of roughage in the diet of the animal.

As for the twigs, it is very important to know which trees are suitable for rabbits as a “bite” and which can cause serious poisoning in the animal. Summarized information on this subject is given in the table:

Succulent feed

Juicy foods - vegetables, fruits and berries - in the wild are for rabbits more of a delicacy than the main type of food. To include such types of products in the diet of decorative babies for this reason, you need to be careful. In the cold season, when vitamins rich in vitamins are scarce, succulent feeds are a good way to make up for the growing shortage of these elements.We must not forget that if the amount of vitamins and carbohydrates in succulent feeds is very large, then the animal cannot receive proteins, fiber and minerals from such products for the normal functioning of all organs and systems of the rabbit.

Important! The digestive system of dwarf rabbits is poorly adapted for processing wet foods, so too much of such food in the diet of babies causes a violation of intestinal tone and, as a result, they become ill.

The following are products that, as top dressing (in small portions), can be included in the diet of dwarf rabbits older than four months of age:

Green feed

Green food, along with roughage, is the main source of nutrition for all animals from the hare family in the conditions of their natural habitat. Therefore, if juicy foods in the diet of dwarf rabbits need to be extremely careful, then green, on the contrary, must be given priority.Green forage means meadow grass, leaves and stems (tops) of various crops. Fiber, which is the basis of this kind of food, ensures the maintenance of the rabbit's gastrointestinal tract in the necessary tone. Green foods contain many vitamins and minerals that ensure the health and activity of a pet.

Here are the options for green feed for decorative rabbits:

The ratio of these plant species in the composition of green feed is also of great importance. So, vegetable tops can be added to herbs in a ratio of no more than 1: 3, and legumes can be used in even smaller proportions (to avoid bloating and flatulence in dwarf rabbits).

You should also be careful about such herbs that are familiar to our diet as cilantro, dill or parsley. They contain too many essential oils; for poor digestion of small pets, such substances are completely unsuitable.

Important! Some types of green food (for example, beet tops) can cause diarrhea in rabbits, so this food must be given in combination with plants that have a bonding effect. The “antidotes” include yarrow grass or oak leaves.

Concentrates and compound feed

In modern pet stores, the assortment contains a variety of ready-made food for rodents - chinchillas, guinea pigs, hamsters and decorative rabbits. All of them are divided into two main groups: grain mixtures and granular feed. It is extremely convenient to use such products for feeding a pet.

However, all owners of decorative rabbits should know that the assurances of manufacturers and sellers that concentrates and compound feeds are a perfectly balanced diet, specially designed for a healthy, active and, most importantly, long life of a rabbit, do not correspond to reality.

Important! The granules on sale are a mix of various kinds of plant waste of the lowest quality, richly enriched with artificial flavors, dyes, preservatives, cheap fats and sugar.

For example, the substance that is part of such feeds and indicated by the beautiful word "molasses" is nothing more than waste from the production of sugar. Under the mysterious concept of “herbal products” usually hide the peel and bagasse remaining after the production of fruit juices, and “fruit oligosaccharides” are fast carbohydrates that are dangerous to the health of rabbits.In addition, completely unnecessary bran, yeast and meal are usually present in granules, not to mention bone meal, an unnatural product in the diet of herbivorous mammals. Finally, the basis of compound feeds providing their weight and volume are corn and cereals (while in nature rabbits, unlike mice and hamsters, do not eat cereals, their digestive system is not suitable for such food).

Since the owners of the pet do not expect weight gain, but a long and healthy life, you should think carefully before including high-calorie grain and pressed mixtures with doubtful composition in its diet.

Important! Corn is actively used in rabbit farms as a great way to provide a very (unnatural!) Quick mass gain by livestock. At the same time, cereal is added to the diet of rabbits about one and a half to two months before slaughter, not earlier, otherwise rapidly developing obesity will quickly lead to damage to the animal’s liver and its death.

What vitamins do rabbits need?

The composition, dosage, as well as the consequences of vitamin deficiency and overdose for different representatives of the animal world can vary. Determining the diet of dwarf rabbits are:

• retinol and beta-carotene (vitamin A): normalize the functioning of the nervous system, control reproductive functions, are necessary for good vision, provide cell division and renewal;
• thiamine (vitamin B1): guarantees good work of the cardiovascular and digestive systems, takes part in carbon metabolism;
• riboflavin (vitamin B2): provides a thick and shiny fur, participates in various metabolic processes;
• pantothenic acid (vitamin B5): controls the functioning of the digestive system;
• pyridoxine (vitamin B6): participates in protein metabolism, provides the body with the production of many important enzymes;
• cobalamin (vitamin B12): provides the circulatory system (participates in the process of blood formation), regulates the process of protein assimilation;
• ascorbic acid (vitamin C): responsible for the state of the immune system, has antioxidant properties, has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract;
• calciferol (vitamin D): participates in calcium-phosphorus metabolism, providing the animal with a strong skeleton;
• tocopherol (vitamin E): promotes the formation of muscle tissue, strengthens heart function, is responsible for the work of reproductive organs;
• phylloquinone (vitamin K): provides blood coagulation, participates in the formation and strengthening of bone tissue.

How to make a diet

If it is enough to feed a cat or dog twice a day, using natural meat or prepared dry food or canned food, then the diet of decorative rabbits is a whole science. All of the components listed above must be properly balanced and combined, and the nutrition of rabbits and adults has significant differences.

For rabbits

Proper feeding of young decorative rabbits suggests reasonableness and dosage. Until about four weeks of age, the rabbits eat exclusively breast milk, then hay and dry food gradually begin to be included in their diet. Not all owners are ready to refuse this type of food due to its obvious convenience and accessibility.By the age of two months, hay and dry feed already make up the entire diet of young animals. Then the babies begin to give green food in small portions, carefully monitoring the reaction to each new component, and only after four months vegetables and fruits are gradually introduced.

Important! The lifestyle of pets is radically different from their wild counterparts. The animal does not need to get its own food, to escape from the cold or predators, and, accordingly, its energy consumption is significantly reduced. If you allow the little rabbit to eat as much as he wants, the baby will be guided by instincts, and not by real needs (the result is obesity and health problems).

The approximate composition of the products that a dwarf rabbit should receive during the day at the age of 4-6 months looks, depending on the season, as follows:

The indicated parameters are very arbitrary, because, in addition to the age and individual characteristics of the individual, dwarf rabbits of different breeds can significantly differ from each other in size.In order to determine the optimal dose of feed, experienced rabbit breeders recommend not to give the animal the entire daily portion at once, but only its specific (provided that it contains all the necessary types of feed). If after some time the food is eaten, the remainder of the diet is added to the cage (if food remains, the quantity is adjusted the next day).

It is necessary to strive to ensure that the animal does not eat in accordance with a certain schedule, but at will. For this, hay and roughage must always be in the cage. As for greens and succulent fodder, it is better to give them as you eat, so as to prevent decomposition of products in the cell.

Did you know? The standards of the American Association of Rabbit Breeders are classified as dwarf (or Polish) rabbits of animals, the mass of which ranges from one and a half to three kilograms. However, a pygmy, or Aidah rabbit, considered the smallest breed of rabbit in the world, weighs only 250-450 grams.

For adults

Adults can be fed, guided by the following proportions:

It should be borne in mind that the ratio of different types of feed in the diet of pets is slightly different depending on the sex of the animal.Sample recommendations look like this (in the table below, concentrated feeds are taken into account, the use of which significantly changes the overall distribution of different types of food):

It is recommended that rabbits be given wet food and greens in the daytime, confined to rough food and hay in the morning, and only hay should be left in the cage at night.

Feeding rabbits in winter

The peculiarities of winter feeding of decorative rabbits are connected with the fact that at this time vitamin-rich green food is much less available. As can be seen from the above tables, this deficiency can be partially compensated for by vegetables, fruits (both fresh and dried), as well as silage.

In the diet of pets in the cold season, you must additionally include baker's yeast and sprouted grains. A little sauerkraut also does not place as an excellent source of vitamin C.

Important! Oats can be planted directly in the pot. Emerging seedlings will make an excellent vitamin supplement to the diet of a dwarf rabbit.

Rabbit breeders often talk about the need to increase the calorie content of the winter diet of animals compared to the summer, but this rule does not apply to pets spending the cold season in a heated room.

What the dwarf rabbit will eat in the winter should be taken care of in the summer, having prepared in advance those types of food that with the onset of cold weather will be able to provide the pet's body with all the nutrients, vitamins and minerals.

Forage harvesting

It is possible to prepare for the winter both roughage and juicy. The most common winter harvesting method is hay. For these purposes, young grass must be mowed, because its digestive system in rabbits processes best. Drying is carried out in the open, in a slightly shaded place.

If for the owner of a rabbit farm, haymaking is an economically viable step, then it is much easier for the owners of one or even several pets to purchase finished goods in a pet store. In this case, even the modest volumes of the necessary product, not comparable with the physical costs and the quite affordable price of the goods in the store, are decisive.

Important! Properly dried fruits should bend, not break. All moisture contained in fresh fruits should not be completely evaporated.

Drying herbs can only be harvested in ecologically clean regions, which most residents of megacities can only dream of. Greens collected near an industrial zone or freeway, provided as a treat to a rabbit in a fresh or dried form, can cost your beloved pet health and even life.

As a good preparation of roughage for the winter are needles of conifers, as well as branches that can be easily cut, going for a walk in the woods or relaxing in the country. Collecting this kind of material is best in mid-summer.Vegetables, fruits and berries for rabbits can be dried, if necessary, cut them into small slices and spread out in a place protected from the sun and wind.

Finally, a very special form of harvesting juicy feed is silage. Silo is a mixed and crushed mass, consisting of fruits and tops of various crops and herbs, which is harvested for the winter by ripening in special containers under pressure.

It is unlikely that the owner of a tiny dwarf rabbit will personally engage in the production of such a product, but if it is possible to get this type of food, in the winter the pet will be grateful for such a treat.

Not all plants are suitable for siloing, since some of them during the fermentation process begin to secrete lactic acid, which is dangerous for the rabbit's body, and are a favorable nutrient medium for the development of various pathogenic fungi (for example, mold). Examples of which plants and their parts are suitable for silage, and which are not, are shown in the table:

Storage

Owners of private houses with a cellar should not have difficulty storing feed. Hay and dried fruit can be stored at home, in a place that is reliably protected from moisture. As for the tree branches, they can be saved right in the snow (this way they will better maintain their structure and aroma).Storage conditions for combined and concentrated feeds are indicated on the packaging, however, it is better not to purchase these products for future use. The cost of such products includes such an indicator as proper saving, and if the manufacturer or seller must have the necessary capacities for this, it is better to provide concern for the safety of feed to those who make money on it.

What is forbidden to feed dwarf rabbits

There are many foods that the digestive system of ornamental rabbits do not respond very well to (for example, the cereals mentioned above, animal foods). However, some types of food for decorative rabbits are absolutely contraindicated, and here's why.

Did you know? Dwarf rabbits live on average five to seven years, which is almost no different from other ornamental breeds. An individual is entered in the Guinness Book of Records, only two months did not live up to its nineteenth birthday.

A significant part of these prohibited products seems completely safe to many owners. Moreover, pets love these goodies and plaintively beg for them, so you should be very careful when treating the animal with something new.

Under no circumstances should dwarf rabbits eat:

• nuts and peanuts (this food is too fat for the gastrointestinal tract of rabbits);
• sunflower seeds (for the same reason, although pumpkin seeds in small quantities are acceptable);
• white and red cabbage (bloating and flatulence that arise from the use of such a treat, can lead to the death of the pet);
• potatoes (like corn, this starch-rich product is used to speed up the mass of rabbits preparing for slaughter, while affecting their liver and causing obesity);
• onion and garlic;
• Tomatoes
• peas in pods;
• sugar and any sweets, including honey, halva;
• bakery products;
• chocolate;
• mushrooms;
• fruit seeds;
• granola (these nutrient mixtures are completely composed of ingredients that are incompatible with a healthy rabbit diet);
• seaweed;
• iceberg lettuce;
• some herbs (e.g. begonia, celandine, euphorbia, aloe, mustard, cloves, fern, snowdrop, periwinkle);
• some fruits and berries (for example, wolfberry, figs, avocados).

The owner of any pet should always remember the famous formula of Antoine de Saint-Exupery about responsibility for those whom we have tamed. Dwarf rabbits do not live in the wild, they were bred specifically to please people with their appearance and tricks.

They cannot choose their own diet and far from always know what they can eat and what not. Therefore, it depends on the wisdom and attentiveness of the owner whether the decorative pet will be active and cheerful for six to seven years of his life (or he is destined to die much earlier from intestinal disorders, obesity and other problems associated with improper nutrition).