Appropriate and Inappropriate Feeding Practices of Rabbit Breeders

Small-scale animal husbandry is also characterized by a certain degree of “folk creativity.” This mainly concerns technologies and techniques used in housing and feeding animals. Some of these practices have shown such positive effects that they have become routine in these farms. Other habits, however, are less suitable and may cause problems with the performance and health of the animals kept.

Inappropriate Feeding Practices in Rabbits

In rabbits, the situation is even more complicated because they are relatively sensitive animals when it comes to changes in diet and feed quality. The following habits can be considered inappropriate feeding practices in rabbits.

Feeding Dry Bread

The tradition of feeding rabbits dry bread is deeply rooted in the Czech Republic. However, from a dietary point of view, it should be noted that feeding dry bread is not suitable for rabbits, especially if given regularly. Bread contains a significant amount of starch, which may cause digestive problems, particularly in high‑risk categories of rabbits (after transport, young animals, animals in recovery, etc.). Another risk is the presence of molds in improperly dried bread.
As for the opinion that rabbits wear down their incisors by consuming dry bread, this is indeed true. However, rabbits can wear down their teeth just as effectively on regular hard feed (grains, pellets, hay, etc.). Another disadvantage of feeding dry bread is the instability of its moisture/dry matter content. In the hutch, dry bread absorbs air humidity, making it even less suitable from a dietary standpoint, especially due to its bloating effects.
Feeding large amounts of dry bread to young rabbits can be considered disastrous, as they do not have sufficient amylase enzyme activity to break down starch.

Overfeeding Rabbits

The second most common mistake made by rabbit breeders in the Czech Republic is the completely unnecessary overfeeding of rabbits with concentrated feeds. The rabbit’s digestive tract is generally not well adapted to digest large amounts of concentrates, which reflects the rabbit’s natural feeding behavior in the wild.
The situation becomes even worse when the breeder decides to offer concentrated feed ad libitum. Besides being economically disadvantageous, this feeding technique primarily poses health risks. Especially in high‑risk categories of rabbits, it often quickly leads to digestive problems, particularly if the rabbit does not have sufficient roughage. Overfeeding also results in an unfavorable intestinal microflora in rabbits.
On the other hand, the “golden rule” for feeding rabbits in small‑scale breeding is a technique in which the rabbit should consume the portion of concentrated feed within 15–30 minutes. Any leftovers should be removed until the next feeding (feeding is done 1–2 times per day). Roughage (e.g., hay) should be regularly available for most of the day, as should drinking water.

Fig. 1: A lactating doe and pre‑weaning kits represent a high‑risk category of rabbits.

Mistakes in Feeding Green Forage

When feeding green forage, it is necessary to offer only a limited amount at one time – see the “golden rule” technique. In addition, it must be respected that some plants are poisonous in their green state.

Inappropriate Watering and Feeding Technology

So‑called double bowls, where one part of the bowl is intended for solid feed and the other for water, are unsuitable from a hygienic point of view because cross‑contamination always occurs. This leads to rapid deterioration of both water and feed, which poses health risks.

Inappropriate Nutrient Composition of Diets

Especially for growing kits before weaning, it is advisable to feed diets with a lower energy density. It is also necessary to consider the higher fiber requirements, which can be further increased by providing a larger amount of hay or straw. Oat flakes, traditionally used for young rabbits, usually do not show a significant beneficial effect. Special diets and optimal feeding techniques should be preferred.

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