Rabbits are a group of herbivorous animals , very popular in cartoons and in culture in general. They are very special mammals, so much so that man decided to adopt them into his home. Do not confuse rabbits with hares, the latter are larger and their ears are longer than those of rabbits, in addition, hares are generally not domestic. Do Rabbits Eat Bugs?
Rabbits Feeding
As we indicated previously, rabbits are herbivorous animals, this means that their diet is based on food exclusively of plant origin. This includes everything from vegetables, fruits, to plants, leaves and roots, among others.
Wild rabbits always try to escape from their predators, either by hiding in their burrows or running outdoors.
The main predators of rabbits are birds of prey such as eagles and hawks, wolves, foxes, and reptiles such as snakes. Some other predators, although not as frequent, are big cats such as pumas , panthers, among others.
It should be noted that rabbits do not belong to the rodent family , although they may be very similar to marmots and others. They differ in that rabbits never feed on insects or other types of animal food among other characteristics.
Do Rabbits Eat Insects ?
Rabbits are herbivores, which means that they primarily eat plants. However, they will also occasionally eat small insects or bugs. This is not a regular part of their diet and is usually only done if there is not enough vegetation available. Insects are not a necessary part of a rabbit’s diet and they should only be given to them in moderation.
Wild rabbits usually eat leaves, stems and some flowers, in addition. They are capable of digging underground in search of rich roots and bulbs that are buried, and of trying to climb some trees to reach fresh leaves and fruits.
For its part, the adequate, healthy and balanced diet of domestic rabbits will depend entirely on human beings. Who must provide the animal with all the necessary food so that the animal can receive a good diet.
That is why it is of vital importance that anyone who has a rabbit in their care or who wants to have one. Knows exactly the type of food that they should give their pet, as well as those that they should avoid at all costs.
More information about your diet
Among some of the foods that rabbits like the most are lettuce , chard, broccoli, spinach, and of course, carrots , in addition to these, rabbits are lovers of sweet fruits such as melon, pears, mango and banana.
However, it is essential that the rabbit is not given fruit exclusively. Since it contains high levels of sugar. Ideally, the fruit should make up a small percentage of the animal’s total food, while 80% should be plants. or hay.
Likewise, all kinds of foods other than plants, fruits and vegetables should be omitted from the rabbit’s diet. Such as bread or anything that contains flour, processed foods, sweets and sweets such as chocolate, among others, since they can harm your health.
It is also of great importance to provide our pet rabbit with a source of clean and fresh water that they can access at all times. Since rabbits need to be constantly hydrated, between 3 and 5 liters of water they need to drink every day.
How much do rabbits eat?
If you have ever had the opportunity to carefully observe a rabbit. You will have been able to observe that, like most rodents. They seem a bit accelerated, since these animals spend hours and hours of the day chewing and eating.
In total, a small rabbit can eat between 250 to 300 grams of vegetables and greens daily , not counting plants or hay, which are the foods that they spend most of the day consuming.
These adorable rodents have a great appetite, and every time they are fed. They will not hesitate to take the food that is offered to them. This can have negative consequences on the health of the animal if we as keepers do not know how to measure ourselves.
How much does a rabbit weigh?
On average, a rabbit can measure between 35 cm to 50 centimeters, and can reach a weight of approximately 1 and a half kilograms, up to 2 and 3 kilograms, so they are quite small animals.
However, when the people who have a rabbit in their care and get carried away when giving them sweets at every opportunity. They feel that the rabbit asks for food, these animals can become obese and reach a weight of 5 to 6 kilos .
There is no doubt that rabbits are really adorable animals and that anyone would like to have one as a pet. But care must be taken not to overfeed the little one to prevent diseases.
their role as pets has increased in recent years, triggering their sales worldwide.