How to Feed Animals in Rimworld: A Comprehensive Guide to Keeping Your Critters Happy and Healthy

Feeding animals in Rimworld is an essential aspect of colony management, ensuring that your furry, scaly, or feathered friends remain productive and loyal. Whether you’re raising chickens for eggs, muffalos for wool, or thrumbos for their sheer awesomeness, understanding how to properly feed them is key to maintaining a thriving ecosystem within your colony. In this guide, we’ll explore various strategies, tips, and tricks to keep your animals well-fed and your colony running smoothly.

1. Understand Animal Diets

Not all animals in Rimworld eat the same things. Some are herbivores, others are carnivores, and a few are omnivores. Knowing what your animals eat is the first step to feeding them effectively.

• Herbivores: Animals like muffalos, alpacas, and deer graze on grass or eat hay, kibble, and vegetables. Planting a large field of dandelions or haygrass can provide a steady food source for these creatures.
• Carnivores: Wolves, wargs, and cats require meat or kibble. Hunting wild animals or butchering corpses can supply their dietary needs.
• Omnivores: Pigs, boars, and rats can eat both plant-based and meat-based foods, making them easier to feed.

2. Grow Crops for Animal Feed

One of the most efficient ways to feed herbivores and omnivores is by growing crops specifically for them. Haygrass is a popular choice because it has a high yield and can be stored for long periods without spoiling. Designate a growing zone for haygrass and assign a colonist to harvest it regularly.

• Dandelions: These are quick to grow and provide a small amount of nutrition, making them ideal for grazing animals.
• Corn and Rice: While these are primarily for human consumption, they can also be used to feed animals in a pinch.

3. Use Kibble for Versatility

Kibble is a universal food that can be fed to almost any animal, regardless of their diet. It’s made by combining plant-based ingredients (like hay or vegetables) with meat or insect meat. Kibble has a long shelf life and is an excellent option for feeding a mixed group of animals.

• Recipe: 20 units of plant matter + 20 units of meat = 50 units of kibble.
• Storage: Store kibble in a cool, dry place to prevent spoilage.

4. Allow Animals to Graze

If your map has ample vegetation, you can allow herbivores to graze naturally. This reduces the need for manual feeding and saves resources. However, overgrazing can deplete the land, so it’s important to monitor the vegetation levels and rotate grazing areas if necessary.

• Zone Management: Create a grazing zone that includes grassy areas and restrict animals from entering your crop fields.
• Winter Considerations: During winter, grazing becomes impossible due to snow, so stockpile hay or kibble in advance.

5. Hunt and Butcher for Carnivores

Carnivorous animals require meat, which can be obtained by hunting wild animals or butchering corpses. Assign a colonist to hunt regularly, and store the meat in a freezer to prevent spoilage.

• Hunting Tips: Prioritize hunting animals that are not dangerous, such as deer or rabbits, to avoid injuries to your colonists.
• Corpse Management: Butchering human-like corpses can provide meat, but beware of the mood debuffs it may cause among your colonists.

6. Utilize Nutrient Paste for Efficiency

While nutrient paste is primarily for human consumption, it can also be used to feed animals in emergencies. Nutrient paste dispensers are highly efficient and reduce the risk of food poisoning.

• Feeding Mechanism: Place a nutrient paste dispenser near your animal sleeping areas and allow animals to access it.
• Limitations: Nutrient paste requires electricity and a steady supply of raw food, so it’s not always the most sustainable option.

7. Manage Food Storage

Proper food storage is crucial to ensure that your animals have a steady supply of food. Build a dedicated animal food storage area and keep it separate from your human food supplies to avoid confusion.

• Refrigeration: Use coolers or freezers to store perishable items like meat and vegetables.
• Stockpiles: Create stockpiles for hay and kibble in areas accessible to your animals.

8. Train Animals to Haul

Some animals, like dogs and pigs, can be trained to haul food and other items. This not only helps with colony logistics but also ensures that your animals have access to food without requiring constant manual intervention.

• Training Priority: Assign a colonist to train animals in hauling as a high-priority task.
• Food Access: Hauling animals can bring food to their sleeping areas, reducing the need for colonists to deliver food manually.

9. Consider Animal Reproduction

Animals that reproduce quickly, such as chickens or rabbits, can quickly deplete your food supplies if not managed properly. Monitor their population and cull excess animals to maintain a balance between food supply and demand.

• Egg Management: Collect eggs regularly to prevent them from hatching into more animals.
• Slaughter Excess: Use the slaughter command to cull animals when their numbers become unmanageable.

10. Plan for Emergencies

Unexpected events, such as toxic fallout or volcanic winters, can disrupt your food supply. Always have a backup plan, such as a stockpile of kibble or a greenhouse for growing crops indoors.

• Greenhouses: Build sun lamps and heaters to grow crops indoors during harsh weather conditions.
• Emergency Kibble: Keep a reserve of kibble in a secure storage area for emergencies.

FAQs

Q: Can animals eat raw food? A: Yes, most animals can eat raw food without any issues. However, feeding them cooked meals or kibble is more efficient and reduces the risk of food poisoning.

Q: How do I prevent animals from eating my colonists’ food? A: Create separate stockpiles for animal food and restrict animals from accessing your human food storage areas.

Q: What’s the best way to feed animals during winter? A: Stockpile hay or kibble before winter arrives, as grazing will be impossible. You can also grow crops indoors using sun lamps and heaters.

Q: Can animals starve to death? A: Yes, animals will starve if they don’t have access to food. Make sure to provide a steady supply of food and monitor their needs regularly.

Q: How do I manage food for a large number of animals? A: Focus on growing high-yield crops like haygrass, produce kibble in bulk, and train hauling animals to automate food distribution.