Rabbits are probably the cutest and dearest pets of us all and we want to do everything for taking good care of their health and hygiene. The food you feed to your rabbit has a significant impact on their health and therefore, you must feed the right food to your rabbits to keep them healthy.
Many of the rabbit owners ask us whether if they can include bird food in their rabbit’s diet or not. So what do the experts say in this regard? Can rabbits eat bird food? Is it safe to feed bird feed to the rabbits? Let’s explore this in this article.
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Can bunnies eat bird food?
The fact is that bird food is primarily built for the birds. So, can the rabbits eat it as well?
Well, the answer is yes. Rabbits do love to eat bird food and it is safe for them to eat bird food as long as you are feeding them in moderation. It’s because rabbits have an extremely sensitive digestive system and even a little bit of unbalance caused by consuming too much bird food can have a significantly adverse effect on their health because bird food is not the natural and primary diet of the rabbits.
Can wild rabbits eat bird seed?
Yes, wild rabbits can eat birdseed. Although birdseed is not a part of the rabbit’s natural diet, eating a little bit of it will not harm the rabbit’s health.
The fact is that some bird seeds such as the sunflower seeds have fattening properties. So when the wild rabbits eat them, they gain more fat which keeps them warm enough to survive the chilling cold snowing nights in the wilderness. That’s how nature works!
On the other hand, consuming an excess of fattening bird seeds will make the rabbits obese and lead to medical conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and an increased risk of cardiovascular problems.
Can pet rabbits eat bird seeds?
Yes, pet rabbits can eat bird seeds as long as they’re the right one and you are feeding them in moderation. Here are two things you need to take care of while feeding bird food to the rabbits:
- Avoid Overfeeding
The thing is that the rabbits are herbivores and their natural and primary diets are plants and hay. If you will feed too many bird seeds to your rabbits, it will disturb the bacterial balance in their digestive system and exploit its smooth working. In this way your rabbit can suffer from conditions like diarrhea, gas, bloating, and gastrointestinal problems due to overeating bird feed.
- Be Careful with the Type of Bird Seeds
Another thing you need to keep in mind that you need to be careful with what types of bird seeds you are feeding to your rabbit. Some bird seeds such as the natural & organic grainy ones are safe to eat for the rabbits and don’t possess any significant health risk. On the other hand, some bird seeds like the sunflower ones have fattening properties and they will make your rabbits obese and lead to problems like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.
Do rabbits eat bird seeds?
Yes, you should always remember that rabbits are grazing animals and they will eat everything they find edible in front of them. Similarly, if you throw the bird seeds in front of the rabbits, they are going to eat anyway. However, it is your responsibility to feed them the right quantity and quality of birdseed because rabbits are animals and they don’t know what is good for them and what is bad for them.
Should rabbits eat bird feed?
Rabbits should eat bird feed but in a moderate amount because birds feed is not the natural diet of the rabbits and consuming too much of it can disturb their digestive system.
Another thing you need to ensure is that the birds feed is not artificially manufactured because artificial bird feed may contain animal products or certain chemicals that can upset the health of the rabbits.
Usually, it is best to offer some bird feed to your rabbit in winters because birds feed will help your rabbit gain some fat and that fat will keep them warm enough to survive and feel comfortable throughout the chilling cold winters.
Is bird food good for rabbits?
Bird food is only good for rabbits if it is given in a small and controlled amount only.
As we just told you above that bird food is not the natural diet of your rabbit and offering too much of it will exploit the smooth working of your rabbit’s digestive system and lead to complicated medical problems. Therefore, you need to control the amount of bird feed you will feed to the rabbits because excess of everything is bad.
Is bird food safe for rabbits?
Generally, bird food is safe to eat for the rabbits but you need to feed only a controlled amount of bird feed to your rabbit. Here are three things you need to consider to ensure the safety of your rabbits:
- Don’t Overfeed
Excess of everything is bad. If you will feed an excess of bird feed to your rabbit, it will upset its digestive system and cause medical problems like diarrhea, etc. Another thing is that some bird feeds have fattening properties and consuming too much of them will increase the levels of fats in the body of your rabbit and make it fatty & obese. When your rabbit will have an extra amount of fats in its body, it will be more prone and vulnerable to heart problems, hypertension, and diabetes.
- Make Sure it’s Safe
You need to make sure that the birds feed you are feeding to your rabbit are pure, natural, and organic. There are some bird feeds out there that are artificially manufactured and contain animal products, animal extract, and other chemicals that are unsafe for the health of the rabbits. The ideal bird feeds to offer your rabbit are the ones that are derived from grains.
How much bird food rabbits can eat in a day?
Our experts will recommend that you continue with the natural and primary diets of the rabbits such as grass, hay, fruits, vegetables, and offer them a small amount of bird food as treat every once in a while. Especially in winters, the birds feed like sunflower seeds will help your rabbit gain some fat and keep them warm and comfortable when the temperature is extremely low.
But again, you need to be careful that you won’t end up overfeeding because, on one side, the fats will keep your rabbit warm but on the other hand, an increased level of fats will also make your rabbits obese and fatty which can make them more vulnerable to diabetes and heart problems.
In the end, balance is the key! Only feed a moderate and controlled amount of bird feed to your rabbit along with its natural and regular food.
Gavin is the founder of birdball. Birdball is a bird house inspired by the natural forms of birds nests. Birdball provides functional nesting for small garden birds and makes an ideal replacement for their rapidly vanishing natural habitats.
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