Introducing Rabbits to Fodder.

[HansenHomestead]

So I have decided that I would like to grew, and make fodder a main part of my rabbits diet. Along with a handful of pellets, their free choice hay, and of course the oats as treats. I had my husband pick up about 4lbs of wheat seed the other day, and am currently on day 2. Nothing much to look at yet, but I know it turn out well as the days go by.

My rabbits have had handfuls of grass from the yard before, but never been fed fodder. I wanted to ask. How slowly should I start my buns once the fodder is done, and how long before I can increase the amount given each day?

I also plan on getting Barely Seed, but there's only one place around me that sells it, and it seems each time I am actually in town, they are out. :evil:

 

[ozemba]

My rabbits have been getting wheat fodder for almost two months now. I just introduced it in small increments and decreased their pellet amounts very slowly. Over about two weeks. I never saw any loose stool so I kept going. They got plenty of grass beforehand though, as I have two rabbit tractor pens that they sometimes sirens half a day in. Pellets are now down to a serving in the evenings. They get their fodder in the morning. They ate just the leaves at first, not even touching the seeds or roots, but now all that's left in a few cages is the very ends of the root mat. They love it.

 

[MaggieJ]

Fodder is much like any other green, so if they are accustomed to having grass regularly, you can ease into the fodder in much the same way. Slow is always the safe way to go, of course.

If you want extra insurance against problems, feed the fodder along with
( :choir: All together now!)
the lawn weed plantain, shepherd's purse, and the leaves of blackberry, raspberry and strawberry. These all act as regulators to prevent poopy butt, but will not cause constipation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantago_major
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantago_lanceolata
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantago_ovata
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsella_bursa-pastoris