Types of Oats

[Carolyn]

Thanks, Pamnock, for finding and explaining thedifferent types of oats that are out there. Thought it was worth posting this, so I copied it from yourother reply. Thanks again for your help.



* * * * * * * *

Oats are processed in a myriad of different ways. Here are a few of the most common that are used for rabbits . . .

Steam rolled oats are like Quaker oats (Quick oats are very thin flakes of oats):

Crimped oats have the outer hull removed and are sometimes called "groats":

Steel cut oats (oat groats chopped into pieces)



Whole oats (horse oats) are the least processed and still have the outer hull:



Raw (unprocessed) oats:

 

[DaisyNBuster]

Thanks Pam I saw this in another thread. It isvery useful.Are the oats in all these forms safe for buns?The bottom one looks like some that is in my hay. Is that right or willit be something else in the hay that just looks like it?

Vickie

 

[pamnock]

DaisyNBuster wrote:

The bottom one looks like some that is in my hay.Is that right or will it be something else in the hay that just lookslike it?

Vickie

The whole oat heads wouldn't be found in any type of hay unless a fewoats were mixed into the field(some mature grass seedheadsmay appear similar). You may find some wholeoat heads in oat straw though.

Pam

Oat Straw

Grass seed heads:

 

[pamnock]

DaisyNBuster wrote:

Thanks Pam I saw this in another thread. It is veryuseful.Are the oats in all these forms safe for buns? Thebottom one looks like some that is in my hay. Is that right or will itbe something else in the hay that just looks like it?

Vickie

Any of the types of oats are safe. Some people say not tofeed whole oats because the hulls will pierce the intestinal linings ofrabbits. I've never heard any evidence to support that and Ihad also fed whole oats for many years.

Pam

 

[DaisyNBuster]

Thats what it islol. Thanks

 

[samandshawn]

pamnock wrote:

DaisyNBuster wrote: Any of the typesof oats are safe. Some people say not to feed whole oatsbecause the hulls will pierce the intestinal linings ofrabbits. I've never heard any evidence to support that and Ihad also fed whole oats for many years.

Pam

Do you feed oats as a treat of as part of a a balanced diet? How much and how often do you feed oats?

 

[pamnock]

I only use them as a supplement when the rabbit is not eating well. Oats can generally temp picky eaters.

Pam

 

[Rowena]

Chinny has whole oats in the food from the petstore. She loves them things lol I only put in a pinch with herpellets, otherwise she would fill up on them!

Virginia

 

[CorkysMom]

pamnock wrote:

Ionly use them as a supplement when the rabbit is not eatingwell. Oats can generally temp picky eaters.

Pam

Geesh, wish Corky would get the hint with them mixed into hispellets... So far he's only eaten a lil...hopefully firstof the week once we're off these yucky meds things will get back tonormal! **sigh**

 

[Llama]

Yay! Now I know what to look for! I think I'llgrab some Quaker oats tonight and see how that goes over with the newbun. Thanks Carolyn and Pamnock!

 

[northerndancer]

Thanks for the info on oats. I started feedingoats after reading about them here and I have finally managed to weanmy two off junky rabbit food and now they happily take Excel pelletswith a sprikle of oats mixed through.

Before every time i tried to get them off the cereal typefoodthey would refuse to eat just pellets and I would relentand give them the old stuff.

Now though they are on a much better diet I think. They get half a cupof pellets with some oats at night, greens in the morning and unlimitedhay.

ND

 

[ariel]

I give Bindy oats every now and then, but hers have oats and sunflowerseeds etc mixed in ( I get it from a stock feed place close by)

She loves them

 

[Carolyn]

Fauna's cecotropes have been coming out very mushy, dark, and smelly.I've been keeping an eye on it, but it's not getting any better.

After looking into it yesterday and questioning Kathy on it, sheindicated that I need to stop giving her the oats. I was giving her andTucks and Cali oats every day.

It turns out that as a rabbit ages, the oats can throw off theirchemical balance. They're not good for rabbits with sensitive G.I.systems. Kathy recommended that no oats be given to older rabbits astheir digestive system changes as they approach the age of 5. Just likewe can eat some foods when we're young, but they don't agree with us aswe get older, it's the same thing with rabbits.

-Carolyn

 

[pamnock]

Interesting Carolyn! Let us know if you see a significant improvement.

Pam

 

[Carolyn]

I shall, Pam. urplepansy:

It'll take a few days for her system to really clean out and herchemicals to get back in balance. Am doing the same with Tucker becauseI've noticed mushy cecotropes with him too. He definitely has a verysensitive G.I. system, and now that he's 4, it could be effecting himas well.

If things don't improve in the next week, will go back to the books andexperts, such as yourself, and see what the next step would be.

On a side note: Kathy's friend's rabbit had a miraculous recovery. Thepoor little one got scared of something and ran into the wall, breakingits jaw. They had the little one's jaw wired, and unbelieveably, thelittle mon is doing great. Never had to be syringe fed either. It wastouch-and-go for a while there, but he's almost 100% out of the woodsnow. Thought you'd enjoy hearing that.


-Carolyn

 

[pamnock]

How long have Fauna and Tuck has mushypoo? It wouldn't be unusual at this time of year due to viral"issues" -- if that was the cause, it would be clearing up soon anyhow-- so may be hard to tell for certain if the cause is viral ordiet. I've had a few with the same problems. Thistime of year can be havoc on the bunns systems. We've got aNetherland just coming out of a bad case of GI stasis -- Iwas sure he wouldn't make it -- but he appears to be fine now.

Glad to hear the success story of the little guy with the broken jaw -- truly an amazing recovery!!!

Pam

 

[Carolyn]

Hi Pam, :wave:

So glad to hear that you were able to help your little mon pull out ofhis GI troubles. Don't you just want to scream in excitement when yousee those Cocoa Puffs take their proper form and color again.

Your little guy, Tucker's, poops have been steadily small for about aweek. Not overly concerned, but carefully watching it because you knowhow he loves to worry me. He'll be getting some papaya pills today, aswell as pineapple, and NutriCal.

Not sure if Fauna's is viral or diet. I did give her the above dose ofwhat Tucks will get today. I'm also limiting her feed in hopes that shepicks up more hay in her diet. She's not eating a lot of hay right now,which is unusual for her. Will schedule an appt. to have all three oftheir teeth checked. As you know, Holland lops have a tendency to havetrouble with their teeth, so I just want to have her and all of themlooked at while I'm at it.

As to her cecotropes, I know it hasn't been long, but no smelly ones since I stopped the oats.

:bunnydance:

Today, she did have a small pile of mushy black poo in her cage fromovernight, but compared to what it's been, I'm very happy it was only asmall bit. The size of her normal poo is coming back. I'm hopeful thatwe could have found the problem for her.

I think that it's both viral for these two and that my giving them theoats wasn't helping them at all. Yesterday was the first time I didn'thave to clean up my girl in a week or two. I feel like I'm seeing alight at the end of the tunnel now. We'll see, but so far, things arelooking up.

:sunshine:

-Carolyn

 

[Carolyn]

pamnock wrote:

Interesting Carolyn!? Let us know if you see a significant improvement.

Pam

Pam,

I have witnessed a Very Significant Improvement in Fauna. I can honestly say, and Tucker Too.

Kathy was definitely right.

-Carolyn

 

[NightPoet00]

What are oats good for? I heard thatthey can help bunnies put on weight. Are they good for thedigestive tract also?

 

[JimD]

Carolyn wrote:

*Bump*

Thanks for bumping this, Carolyn!!

S'more was starting to have a problem with mushy stinky cecotropes.About a monthago (after reading this thread) I decided toween all of my buns off oats, treats, and greens. They have been onunlimited hay, limited pellets, and of course unlimited fresh water.

They have never looked better!! They've lost weight, shedding hasdrastically decreased, all of the molts finally finished, and therecoats are all soft and shiney, lots less mushy stinky cecotropes.

All-in-all I think they're much improved healthwise because of thischange. I will probably gradually reintroduce greens, though.

~Jim