Any ever feed Sauerkraut?

Joe n TN · Jan 20, 2013

I'm talking about home made stuff that is naturally lacto fermented? I am starting to experiment with lacto fermenting for myself and family. If it is good for my gut flora I was wondering if it would work for the rabbits?

I see people write about probiotics being added to feed so this sparked the idea. I have never tried it, has anyone here? Is there a health reason not to?

Joe

MaggieJ · Jan 20, 2013

No idea... but I suggest if you decide to try it that you limit it at first to a "test rabbit" that you intend to send to camp anyway. If problems result and the rabbit is in discomfort, you can dispatch it promptly so it does not suffer.

Amy · Jan 20, 2013

I've been wondering the same thing for awhile now. Just made a batch of winekraut, kimchee, and sour pickles yesterday.
My thoughts have been that the fermented foods could be helpful for a rabbit, but sauerkraut may not be the best choice as it can cause gas in humans.
I wonder if sourdough bread would be a safer choice?
Let me know if you find any resources, I haven't been able to find any info yet.

Mickey328 · Jan 20, 2013

I ferment the feed for my chickens and it's been a very positive thing. I suspect that, since their digestive systems are so different, it might not be so with rabbits. Particularly with cabbage...that can be an "iffy" thing with anything, LOL

Happy · Jan 20, 2013

I LOVE kimchi. I got into making it last summer, but ended up overporuting the salt when I transferred to a coarser salt and never went back. It was so salty that it's sat on the counter for 4 months or more (after it was finished and inedible) and still hasn't grown mold. I've been looking at getting back into it. Now enough of my rambling, on to the topic at hand.

I would personally NEVER feed a ruminant any kind of lactic bacteria. The reason probiotics are so good for people is due to our carnivorous gut we have a severe deficiency in digesting plant matter. Pickling helps this. The Lactobacillus in it also helps to "soften" sticky meats that are blocking our intestinal walls. There are also some assertions about body Ph, but those are too inter-tangled in woo to really make any definitive statements about them. That said, the whole idea behind pickling as relates to how you digest is based on loosening the stool. From what I hear, this is VERY BAD for rabbits. If you insist on doing it, be sure to test it on one subject as has been recommended. Ruminants have a symbiotic relationship with a variety of microorganisms that feed on cellulose, so feeding them a diet with lots of fiber should do for them what eating pickled veg does for us. Someone else mentioned selenium (I think ) fiber as an additional supplement.<br /><br />__________ Sun Jan 20, 2013 7:32 pm __________<br /><br />

Mickey328":3ud2u4iy said:
I ferment the feed for my chickens and it's been a very positive thing. I suspect that, since their digestive systems are so different, it might not be so with rabbits. Particularly with cabbage...that can be an "iffy" thing with anything, LOL

Fowl rely more heavily on grinding action of stones that they eat, whereas mammals rely on microbiotic symbiosis for their digestive needs. Introducing a foreign bacterium to a rock isn't much of an issue, but introducing a foreign bacterium to a sensitive microbial colony can be devastating.