Rabbit Archives - Sanders Fodder - Farm, Garden, Horse & Pet Supplies

Rabbits have evolved to survive on a low nutrient diet that other animals would starve on.

Therefore they do not need foods rich in nutrients and in fact such a diet will not be good for the gut of a rabbit.

A rabbit’s natural diet would consist of high fibre, low protein, rough grasses, however when offered a feed of grain, pellets and hay, they will sometimes select the grains first which can lead to improper and unbalanced nutrition.

Too much of this rich food can lead to obesity, gut upset and dental overgrowth. They can also develop a disease called Metabolic Bone Disease if not fed the correct diet.

They should be fed a high fibre, low grain pellet along with high fibre hay. (cereal hay such as oaten hay is better than lucerne hay). A small amount of fruit and vegetables – including fibrous vegetables such as broccoli or cauliflower, can be added to this diet (remove the pips from apples).

There are some premixed pelleted feeds in both large and smaller quantities available, along with some interesting pre-packaged small pet feeds including high fibre and fruit/ vegetable ingredients.

A high fibre diet is not only good for their gut but also helps with wearing their teeth which can become overgrown and uncomfortable.

Exercise is an important daily component to a healthy rabbit. Outside in the sunshine also has added benefit of vitamin D and the exercise keeps organs and muscles working properly.

Dogs:

Plenty of cool drinking water
Try to place the drinking water in a shady place to avoid it heating during the day
Sometimes an ice bottle/block in the water will help keep it cool during the day
Inside dogs will find the best spot in the house – usually near the air-con duct
Outside dogs may need a hose-down occasionally or access to a water bath or trough
Aim to take them walking early morning or evening after the sun has gone down and the road/pavement surface is no longer hot.

Horses:

Try to provide access to trees or a shelter shed during the hot part of the day
Ensure plenty of drinking water is available, a larger volume will not heat up significantly during a hot day. Placement in the shade is desirable.
Aim to ride/exercise your horse early morning or during the evening
If you plan to ride during warm conditions, pre-cool before riding: cover the saddle area with a plastic sheet to keep it dry, sponge or hose your horse, then saddle him up and as the horse exercises the evaporation of water in the coat will keep him cool for 10-15mins.
Upon finishing exercise, allow your horse to walk for 3-5 minutes to trigger sweat loss, dismount, unsaddle and either wash with cool water and a sponge or lightly hose his body and legs. Use a scraper on his topline, neck, sides and underbelly to remove the ‘warm’ water allowing any water in the coat to evaporate more efficiently. If he is hot and panting, take him for a short walk and then sponge or hose again, repeat the process until he is comfortable.
During a ride on a hot afternoon, you can carry a saturated sponge in a plastic bag attached to your saddle. If you decide to stop for a rest, you can sponge his neck, topline, flanks and underbelly. If continuing to ride within a few minutes, scraping will not be necessary as the water will evaporate with airflow as you ride. Otherwise just scrape the excess water off with your hands.
Make sure your horse has access to a salt block which will encourage water intake. If your horse is working regularly in hot weather, consider using an electrolyte supplement.

Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Birds, Chooks:

Provide plenty of cool water
Use a frozen bottle of water for rabbits and guinea pigs to lie against
Cages placed in a shady location are desirable or use a shade cloth or rigid shade placed over the cage.
A garden mister attachment on a garden dripper line can be used to provide a cooling spray for chickens and birds. Consider using a timer tap so it operates for a specified time.
A garden sprinkler run in a chicken coop will provide a patch of damp dirt for them to scratch about in afterwards.
Cages can be hung with a wet hessian bag or towel which acts with evaporation as the air passes through to make the environment in the cage cooler.
Salt licks which encourage water intake are available for rabbits and guinea pigs.

Tag: Rabbit

Rabbit Nutrition

Tips for Keeping Your Animals Cool

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