Sunday, October 24, 2010

Bunnies

What I'm googling:
What to feed pet rabbits
What do rabbits eat
Rabbit prices

Why?:
I'm looking into raising angora rabbits to card and spin yarn to sell, and I would love just having a pet rabbit, but I don't want to have to feed them. I also don't want to feed them nothing but store bought rabbit food, and would like to feed them something that I can grow myself.

What I found:
The first thing I found is carrots are bad for bunnies! I had no idea! I found this great list of food that can be grown both indoors and out, and hay is readily available in my area all year 'round.

from http://dft.ba/-27X
This site elaborates on that list, and even has a few things that you should NOT feed a rabbit, such as "salty or sugary snacks, nuts, chocolate, bread, breakfast cereals, and grains (including oatmeal, and fresh or dried corn) which often cause intestinal upset". They also mention a type of rabbit dropping called cecotropes, which a rabbit will eat to regain the nutrients that were excreted in these droppings. Kinda gross, but bunnies will be bunnies.

I found a very useful chart related to pellets here. I've copied it below.

(1-2k) 2-4lb - ¼ cup daily
(2-3k) 5-7lb - ½ cup daily
(3.5-4.5k) 8-10lb - ¾ cup daily
(4.5-7k) 11-15lb - 1 cup daily

The general consensus on feeding seems to be vegetables that your rabbit likes that aren't carrots, some pellets (not too many!), and a bunch of hay. Oh, and a tablespoon of treats.

Then, my friend Mike and I got into an argument about which costs more: rabbits or turtles. Obviously, I won.

More on owning and spinning angora rabbits later.

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