feeding a rabbit how much and what kind ?

[cassie]

I'm going off of what I do and read. I'm not saying you HAVE TO, I'm just saying you should.

Why?

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

Why?

Because. Veggies are great for rabbits and give them great nutritional value.

 

[Happy Novogens]

Bunnylady, you must’ve misread my longevity comment. I stated:

“Meat rabbits are commonly fed a pellet only diet. It grows them quick and the rabbits are culled young. Longevity is not a concern.”

Meat rabbits are raised for their meat and are dispatched well before they are 1 year of age (usually at 3 months). Longevity is not a concern. That is why a pellet only diet is suitable.

If you look again at cluckcluck’s quote:

Rabbits should get 1 cup of veggies(packed) per two pounds of weight. It's really good for them, and should be provided everyday, according to HouseRabbitsociety.

cluck,cluck clarified that this IS from the House Rabbit Society. If you want to take issue with the House Rabbit Society, go at it. But instead you took offense at the suggestion that rabbits should be fed greens.

Now reading all your rant about what you’ve seen and read from other "house bunny aficionados," it seems you’re reading much more into cluckcluck (and my) comments than is plainly written. You’re drawing on what you’ve seen others say in different venues and assuming all house rabbit keepers feel and act as one.

You wrote: “You don't have to see many rabbit threads before you see 'em; the folks whose posts basically say, "my way is the right way, and if you can't do it my way, you really shouldn't have a rabbit at all."”

You are arguing here about something that is not on this thread. As I stated earlier, I don’t see anyone on this thread trying to guilt anyone. No one on this thread was suggesting theirs was the only way. No one came close to saying “do it my way or else.” Different opinions and ideas were offered, as is usual. You may have a different opinion about greens but there is no reason for you to be offended at anyone who is not discouraging feeding them.

 

[BantamLover21]

I understand that people have different opinions (clearly I have mine, lol). But the goal of any discussion should be to spread the truth. This is the truth as I see it: rabbits of any breed can and do live over 10 years, even if fed only pellets and "worked" hard by breeding/showing them. Rabbits who are fed greens and asked to do no "work"can also live that long. Greens are absolutely not required in the diets of our domestic rabbits. Yes, many rabbits enjoy them, and yes, I am fine if people feed their rabbits greens or follow the 100% hay/no pellets diet. But this is not the best or only way to have happy, healthy, productive rabbits. Also true is that greens can cause problems, like diarrhea, can add unnecessary expense/hassle to a rabbit's diet, and don't carry any nutrients that can't be obtained from quality rabbit pellets.

"Meat rabbits" are not really different metabolically than "pet rabbits." The two are of the same species; meat rabbits have just been selectively bred to grow faster and develop enhanced meat type qualities (wide loins, firm flesh, etc.). Pellets do enable this rapid growth, as they contain all the necessary nutrients in the right amounts and in a very palatable form. But this doesn't mean that pellets will become harmful if rabbits live longer than butchering age. Aren't "all necessary nutrients" desirable at any age?

 

[Happy Novogens]

I understand that people have different opinions (clearly I have mine, lol). But the goal of any discussion should be to spread the truth.

Pellets do enable this rapid growth, as they contain all the necessary nutrients in the right amounts and in a very palatable form. But this doesn't mean that pellets will become harmful if rabbits live longer than butchering age. Aren't "all necessary nutrients" desirable at any age?

Actually, if we want to spread the truth, this section about pellets isn't true. Pellets are not the magic health formula for rabbits. There are many types and brands of pellets and many of those contain extra ingredients that indeed can cause health issues in some rabbits.

There are rabbits that cannot tolerate any pellets without having digestive issues. These rabbits typically need a hay, or hay and greens diet. Others can only handle very limited pellets (as in 1-2 tbsp per day) or they have digestive issues.

The truth is that some rabbits live on nothing but pellets, others on nothing but hay, others on nothing but greens, and one rabbit I knew of was being fed nothing but dry dog food!!

With that in mind, anyone can say 'greens are not required' or 'hay is not required' or 'pellets are not required,' but none of those statements are definitive.

[Oh, and just to reiterate, the nutritional needs of fixed, indoor rabbits will be different than those of breeding rabbits, outdoor rabbits, and/or meat rabbits.]