Mineral/salt lick

[paper_crane2]

Is a mineral/salt lick needed for rabbits? I'm planning on feeding sprouted fodder, timothy hay, and other greens (dandelions, other weeds/ garden produce and the like for treats).

 

[DitchDoc]

Doesn't hurt...just in case they're missing something from their diet that we don't pick up on. I have both in my bun's cages...they don't use them much except to play with. Cheap insurance

 

[MaggieJ]

If you are not feeding pellets, it is definitely a good idea to give them a trace mineral salt block. You can buy a five pound block of the reddish-brown type intended for general livestock for about $3 or so. Just knock chunks off it with a hammer if your rabbits are in individual cages. You might want to serve it in small ceramic crocks to save your cage wire from the salt. I get the straight-sided ramekins at the dollar store, usually 2/$1.

 

[TMTex]

I get the 4 lb red blocks from Tractor Supply. They're not the most economical at $2.29 each (about .57 a lb), but they're a handy size.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/a ... brick-4-lb

The 50 lb block would probably be good if you wanted to bust them up with a hammer. They're $5.99 (about .12 a lb).

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/a ... lock-50-lb

 

[paper_crane2]

Ok, thanks!

They will use it if they need it? They know when to lick it instinctively?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

My rabbits didn't seem to use them for a while, but now they do. I use the 50# blocks.

I collected tuna and cat food cans to put my blocks in. I punched two holes in the side and zip-tied them to the wire. The rabbits like to pull on the cans, though, and a lot of the zip ties have snapped. I need to replace them with wire, but haven't yet done so. Thankfully, our climate is very dry, so I haven't noticed any damage to the wire from the "free" salt blocks. Yet.