The digestive process is similar to a cow chewing its cud, and is called caecotrophy. You should never prevent your rabbits from eating their poo, as it's perfectly normal rabbit behaviour, and those bunnies who are deprived of these nutrients can become very ill with deficiency diseases.
This behavior of rabbits, known as cecotrophy, is completely normal and even healthy. Rabbits eat their own poop because it helps them obtain necessary nutrients. Rabbits produce a special kind of poop called cecotropes. These droppings contain much of the protein from a rabbit's high-fiber diet.
Why Do Rabbits Eat Poop? Cecotropes are full of nutrients that a rabbit needs. These special feces contain more protein and vitamins than normal poops have, so by consuming its cecotropes (and a healthy diet), a rabbit is getting all of the important nutrients that it needs to stay healthy.
Keep your rabbit's bottom as clean as possible and check every day, a few times per day, during warmer weather. Any sign of fly eggs or maggots, and you need to get your rabbit to the vet immediately. Don't wait to wash it; just go to the vet now.
Often the poops will stick to the fur around the rabbits tail and bottom. Poopy butt is usually caused by an upset in the rabbits diet. Try feeding more hay and pellets and fewer fresh veggies to see if it bulks up the poops. If it doesn't clear up in a day or two, take your rabbit to the vet.
It may seem gross, but rabbits normally eat some of their feces once a day, either early in the morning or late at night. These special feces are called cecotropes, or “night feces.” They are produced through fermentation of food in the part of the rabbit's digestive tract called the cecum.
You can always pick up the poops and place them in the litter box, but the behaviour might never go away completely. Give your rabbit fresh hay in their litter boxes every day, 2-3 times a day. Clean the boxes at least every other day using a bunny-safe cleaner such as white vinegar and water mix.
Average sized bunnies will make 200-300 poops per day. They should be uniform in size and shape which means rounded and pea to garbanzo sized. The size of your bunny won't always predict the size of their poops.
Nope! Another question that people often ask is whether rabbits sleep mostly during the day or at night. And the answer is neither. They are crepuscular, meaning that they are most active at dusk and dawn.
You can expect that if the rabbit eats a large amount of hay in the morning, they will produce a large amount of fecal poops around 5 hours later, while the cecotropes will take much longer to be ready for redigestion.
Posted by Rabbits.
Yes, but be careful with the amount of cardboard that they eat. Probably the reason why pet rabbits love to eat cardboard is that it packs on cellulose, which is a significant component of leaves and vegetables that they eat. However, this does not tell us that cardboards can be meal replacements.
Myth #1 - Rabbits eat carrots
Rabbits don't naturally eat root vegetables or fruit. Carrots and fruit are high in sugar and should only be fed in small amounts as occasional treats. Rabbits need mainly hay and/or grass, some leafy greens and a small, measured amount of pellets. See our rabbit meal planner.
If your rabbit stops eating or producing feces for 12 hours or more, you should consider the condition an EMERGENCY. GET YOUR BUNNY TO A RABBIT-SAVVY VETERINARIAN IMMEDIATELY. An intestinal slowdown can cause ingested hair and food to lodge anywhere along the GI tract, creating a potential blockage.
Don't be too concerned if your rabbit is different. However, the critical thing to remember is that no rabbit should go 24 hours without peeing and/or pooping. If your rabbit has not eliminated for 24 hours, this is a medical emergency.
But frequent pooping is very normal for most rabbits. In fact they can release up to 300 pellets per day! And the good news is, rabbit poop doesn't have much of a smell, nor is it very wet. In fact, it's quite dry which makes it easy to clean up.
Bunnies are super-soft, and many will love cuddling with you as much as you love cuddling with them. Once a bunny is comfortable in their new home, they may claim you as their own by rubbing their chin on you to mark their territory. They might even groom you with little bunny licks to show you love!
Normal rabbit poop is firm, pea-sized, and rolls across the floor when your rabbit hops out of its box. Your rabbit is telling you they're feeling good. This bunny poop (fecal pellets) shouldn't be rock hard, and a pellet should fall apart when you squish it between your fingers.
Some rabbits have stronger instincts to mark their territory, or they still need to learn house manners. The most common reasons you will find rabbit poop around your house include: Territorial pooping: Rabbits are territorial animals that will scatter their poops around an area to claim it as their own.
Rabbits generally live for 5 to 8 years depending on their environment and breed, but they can live for as long as 12 years. If you decide to purchase a rabbit, make sure you are prepared to care for them that long.
Baby wipes are the easiest method of cleaning your rabbit without bathing it. Use baby wipes that are fragrance-free, alcohol-free and hypo-allergenic for best results. You want a wipe that is strong enough to clean your bunny without tearing, and which is soft so that it won't hurt your bunny's skin.
There may be certain situations when it's necessary to spot-clean bunnies' bottoms—for example, if an “adventurous” bunny spills your smoothie or topples over your scrambled tofu. But it's usually not safe or beneficial to wet down the bunny's whole body.