Pet Habitat South Africa

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30 Aug 2014

A Quick Guide to Feeding Hay

Posted By : Guest

It’s funny how some of the most iconic stories and images we have in our minds of rabbits involve them eating vegetables (think Peter Rabbit or Bugs Bunny). They certainly do love treats like carrot tops, but these are treats only. Rabbits, like other fibrevores, need a great deal more than vegetables to survive. And mostly what they need are grasses and hay.

Who and What Are Fibrevores?

Fibrevores is a bit of a funny term isn’t it? And, it’s hardly one of the terms we learn in school; instead we’re treated to carnivores, herbivores and omnivores. So, let’s work with what we know. Fibrevores are herbivores – they don’t eat any meat. But, they’re a tad more specialised than that. They have developed a strong, overwhelming need for fibre.

Fibre, of course, is found in grains and grasses. Of course, we have it added to some of our foods to keep us moving, but for the most part, fibrevores get their daily intake of fibre from nibbling on ground grasses. That’s because it’s terribly convenient.

Rabbits are one of the most recognisable fibrevores, but these furry, floppy animals are not the only ones. Guinea pigs and chinchillas also fall into this category. And, before we consider how all this fibre is digested, it’s important to note that all of these animals need extraordinary amounts of fibre in their diet. What we would think is a boring diet – and one that would not provide humans with adequate nutrients, a hay centred diet is preciously what fibrevores need for proper health.

Giving these animals anything else as a primary food source will result in digestive issues – and that’s just the beginning. If you’ve got a fibrevore (or you’re planning to get one), you’ve got to keep reading.

Understanding the Digestive Systems of Fibrevores

Even if you’ve forgotten most of what you’ve learned in biology, you probably still have a superb idea how your body digests food. Forget how that works for a moment. Fibrevores have an entirely different way of processing their food.

They need such an impressive amount of fibre that they cannot extract everything they need from fibre-rich hay the first time it passes through their system. So, instead of a single-track digestive system (such as humans have), fibrevores have a two-part digestive process. But, it’s not as complicated as it sounds.

To understand the process better, it’s important to know that there are two types of fibre: digestible and indigestible. Fibrevores need both, and fortunately, both are found in most commercially available grasses and hays, such as Timothy Hay.

Indigestible fibre simply passes through the systems of fibrevores. But, before you dismiss this step, keep in mind that it’s important to keep digestive processes in play at all time. Indigestible fibre does exactly that; it keeps rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas regular (which they need for good health).

Digestible fibre, on the other hand, heads into the stomach, where it is broken down, and at least some of the fibre is extracted and carried to the various organs that need it. But, most of their fibrous food is sent from the stomach to a special appendix. This organ is called the caecum. As humans, we don’t have this appendix, so don’t worry too much if you’ve never heard of it before; it’s unique to fibrevores.

Whilst food is in the caecum, it’s busy fermenting which helps to break down the barriers to the digestion of fibre. When it’s ready, the fermented fibre passes through the system. It is excreted in the form of caecotrophs. Don’t get these confused with waste material if you notice them in your rabbit’s run because your furry fibrevores need these pellets. Keep in mind, these are typically less well-defined and more sticky than actual excrement.

When your fibrevores eat their caecotrophs, they are able to extract all the fibre they need from them, which keeps them healthy. So although it’s not something you initially understand, you do need to let the process happen. Otherwise, you fibrevores may become ill.

Feeding Fibrevores

The amount of fibre that rabbits, chinchillas and guinea pigs need cannot be underestimated. Fibre (both digestible and indigestible) needs to form the centre of your fibrevore’s diet. The best way to get all of this fibre into your pet’s diet is through Timothy Hay. It’s got everything fibrevores need and nothing they don’t.

When feeding your rabbit, guinea pig or chinchilla, place a pile of hay roughly as large as your pet into their hutch or run every day. If you’re in doubt about the size, opt for a larger pile rather than a smaller one, as your fibrevore will never eat too much Timothy Hay (and even if they eat more than their fill, it will not affect them adversely). Also remember that every fibrevore in your family needs a pile of hay; one small pile for three rabbits will never cut it.

In addition to Timothy Hay, your fibrevores only need a few other snacks. And yes, these are snacks. Fibrevores really need to concentrate on their hay consumption. These treats include the Burgess Excel Nuggets and Nature Snacks. These are filled with prebiotics and other nutrients that keep your pet happy and healthy, so you never need to feel bad about treating your fibrevores. The other treat that you can offer your pets is a variety of fresh greens. These offer a variety of tastes and nutrients that your fibrevores will enjoy. But, not all greens are compatible with fibrevore digestion. Always check if you are unsure of what’s healthy for your pet. Remember, even fresh, leafy greens are not as important as hay, so concentrate on that first. Oh, and a few carrots are okay here and there. But, they really are rather high in sugar, so you don’t want to offer these too often.

And finally, all animals need access to fresh water. Your pets need their water supply often refreshed and their bowl frequently cleaned. This is especially true when you’ve got active pets that tend to get their food and bedding into their water supply. Fortunately, most fibrevores are happy to let you know when they need something. And, as long as they’ve got their Timothy Hay, they’ll be healthy enough to do so.