Cecotropes

Wizzy Lizzy · Oct 14, 2009

I didn't want to hijack the other recent thread about cecotropes so though I would start my own off!

I have heard all about them and know that rabbits are supposed to eat them daily - how do you tell the difference between droppings and cecotropes? Is it easy to tell? I haven't got a clue what they look like so don't know whether Lorenzo is eating them like a good boy!

Carrie14 · Oct 14, 2009

:wave: The droppings that they don't eat are (with a good diet) round and dark golden brown colour. If you pick these up there should be no residue left on your hands.

The ones they should eat (Cecotropes) are soft but still formed into tiny round balls all stuck together. If you pick these up they are sticky and get your fingers dirty:mrgreen: They are also a longer shape sort of like a short sausage.

That's with mine anyway, someone else's maybe different

Stephy · Oct 14, 2009

Hello - my other half always calls the caecotrophs 'hand grenades' !! Which I actually think is a pretty good description of them

Or maybe a very small bunch of grapes?!

They are shiny, soft and smelly - in other words v different to the normal poos ..... hope this helps!!

rachylou · Oct 14, 2009

Hiya Yes as others have said normal healthy poops should be a nice ball like poop, not gooey or too smelly, they should not stick to your fingers or leave any trace of poop, they should also not crumble when picked up.
So normal poops you should see a nice brown uniform poop, like a coco puff

However caecotrophs, you should not really see any of them, buns usually gobble them up straight from their bottoms, so when you see your bun 'seemingly washing' his erm.. area and when finishes looks like he is munching on something it is probably a delishous smelly ceacotroph! :lol:

If you do see them, Jimbys look like a small bunch of grapes all pushed together in to one tiny tight package, they are dark brown and shiny as they are covered in a mucus, they do smell pretty stinky so try not to get too close, I once went to give Jimby a kiss without realising he had just gobbled one up and eww did I get a smelly suprise... a mistake I do not plan to make again ewww :shock:

Cecotropes

Wizzy Lizzy

Warren Scout

Carrie14

Mama Doe

Stephy

Alpha Buck

rachylou

Warren Veteran

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