How much should I Feed my rabbits a day?
What to Feed My Rabbit?
- Basil
- Celery
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Dill
- Mustard greens
- Watercress
- Strawberries
- Pineapple
- Apples
How many times a day should I Feed my Rabbit?
The daily diet of an adult pet rabbit should consist of:
- Unlimited access to hay;
- Fresh food: leafy vegetables, non-leafy vegetables and a little amount of very high fiber fruit (optional);
- A small amount of proper and good quality commercial rabbit mix or pellets.
How much do you feed your pet rabbits daily?
To ensure your rabbits have a healthy balanced diet, you should:
- Provide a constant supply of good quality fresh grass and grass hay (this should comprise about 80% of the overall diet) – e.g. ...
- Provide plenty of fresh leafy greens & vegetables (10-20% of overall diet). ...
- Treats may be offered in small quantities (1-2 tablespoons per rabbit per day). ...
What vegetables can rabbits eat daily?
Vegetables that can be fed to a rabbit daily:
- Bell peppers
- Bok choy
- Brussels sprouts
- Carrot tops
- Cucumber
- Endive
- Escarole
- Fennel
- Herbs: basil, cilantro, dill, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme
- Lettuces: romaine, green leaf, red leaf, Boston bibb, arugula, butter
How many times a day should I feed my rabbit?
The total amount of fresh food that you may give to your rabbit daily (once your bunny has been gradually introduced to it), is a minimum of 1 heaping cup (loosely packed), per 5 pound of body weight, given two times a day.
What do rabbits like eating the most?
hayRabbits love their food and enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables as part of a balanced diet. The main part of a rabbit's diet should be unlimited amounts of fresh hay (preferably Timothy or Meadow Hay), grass, and plenty of clean water available. See 'What do rabbits eat?
What vegetables can rabbits eat daily?
Vegetables that can be fed to a rabbit daily:Bell peppers.Bok choy.Brussels sprouts.Carrot tops.Cucumber.Endive.Escarole.Fennel.More items...•
Can bunnies eat bananas?
Fresh, raw bananas can be consumed safely, but only in moderation. While bananas are rich in water, potassium, vitamin B6 and antioxidants, they're also packed with starch and sugar. Too much sugar and starch in a rabbit's diet can lead to digestive problems, an upset stomach, gas and diarrhea.
What is toxic to rabbits?
Apples and pears are the most notorious examples, but the pits from apricots, peaches, plums, and mangos also contain cyanide, as do cherry pits. While the amount of cyanide contained in fruit seeds and pits is generally scant, it is best to avoid feeding them to rabbits altogether.
Is rice good for rabbits?
Rabbits should never be fed rice, either cooked or uncooked. This is due to the lack of fiber, high starch content, and lack of nutritional value. While rice is a staple food in many countries, this is something you should leave on your plate.
What is the best fresh food for rabbits?
Benefits and OptionsLeafy green lettuce (Romaine, butterhead, Bibb)Red or green leaf lettuce.Arugula.Endive.Turnip Greens.Dandelion Greens.Chicory.Raspberry Leaves.More items...•
Can rabbits eat broccoli everyday?
Do not give broccoli to rabbits. It will give them painful gas. Never give your rabbit kale or spinach. Kale and spinach can cause health problems over time, due to the high amount of oxalates and goitrogens.
What do rabbits eat?
The answer is simple. Rabbits thrive on high-fiber diets rich in grass hays including timothy, brome and orchardgrass hay. Those new to rabbit ownership may think the big bags of pellets for sale at the local pet store are all a rabbit should eat.
What should a baby bunny eat?
For the first seven weeks of life, a baby rabbit’s diet should consist of mostly its mother’s milk, according to the House Rabbit Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing abandoned rabbits and educating the public on rabbit care.
How old should rabbits be to eat alfalfa?
You should phase out alfalfa at around four to five months old. Around six months, slowly start swapping out alfalfa in favor of grass hays and ease up on the pellets. Adult rabbits should eat around 1/4 cup of pellets per day for every five pounds of weight they have, according to Helmer.
How much fiber is in hay pellets?
For pellets, the House Rabbit Society advises you look for brands that contain at least 18 percent fiber.
What are the most dangerous foods for rabbits?
The most problematic foods for rabbits, according to Helmer, include foods that have a high amount of sugar and foods that have a high amount of carbohydrates, as these items throw off the balance of the bacteria in their gastrointestinal tracts.
Do rabbit pellets have fiber?
Instead, the pellets are more like a rabbit multivitamin, providing supplement al minerals, protein and fiber. “Pellets are far too rich to make up the bulk of [a rabbit’s] diet,” said Dr. Peter Helmer, a specialist in small mammals at BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Clearwater, FL.
Can rabbits eat alfalfa hay?
While baby rabbits (which are called kits) thrive on the protein and calcium-rich alfalfa hays, adult rabbits need something a bit more substantial. “It’s like feeding a dog puppy food,” Helmer said. Alfalfa hay is higher in calcium and protein than grass hay, which is ideal for growing rabbits but too rich for adults.
What to feed a rabbit?
Feeding your rabbit greens from your garden or grass and clover from your lawn is a great idea. Using greens from your own garden is a great way to give a variety of greens to your rabbit and you’ll be able to save money on all those greens your rabbit keeps munching up.
What is the best food for rabbits?
Fiber is essential in a rabbit’s diet. Hay is very high in fiber, which is absolutely essential to a rabbit’s diet. Because of the rabbit’s foraging ancestors, their long digestive tract is set up to break down fibrous vegetation.
What is the best way to keep rabbits' guts moving?
The long fiber strands of hay work much better than the ground-up fiber in commercial rabbit pellets for keeping the rabbits gut moving. One of the most common and dangerous conditions for a rabbit is known as GI stasis. This happens when your rabbits digestion slows down or stops completely.
Why is hay good for rabbits?
Because of the rabbit’s foraging ancestors, their long digestive tract is set up to break down fibrous vegetation. The long fiber strands of hay work much better than the ground-up fiber in commercial rabbit pellets for keeping the rabbits gut moving.
What kind of hay do rabbits eat?
It is incredibly important that your rabbit has is a constant supply of grass-based hay. Grass hay just means that the type of hay in question is made from a process of drying certain types of grass. The fiber and protein content of these grass hays make them ideal for regulating a rabbit’s digestive system.
Why is grass hay important for rabbits?
The fiber and protein content of these grass hays make them ideal for regulating a rabbit’s digestive system. It makes sure your rabbit is absorbing nutrients and everything is running smoothly.
How much water should a rabbit drink?
Rabbits drink a surprisingly large amount of water. They should drink about as much water as a small dog would drink in a day. That comes out to around 1-2 cups of water per day. But, of course, the amount of water a rabbit drinks will vary depending on a number of factors.
What do bunnies eat?
They require a balanced diet of hay, fresh veggies and fruit, and a few pellets. Rabbits have very sensitive digestive tracts, so the transition to hay or pellets, or the introduction of new fruits and vegetables, must be done gradually to allow the rabbit’s system to adjust.
What percentage of rabbits eat hay?
The bottom of a rabbit food pyramid would contain long-stemmed fiber, in the form of hay, which makes up 80 to 90 percent of a rabbit’s diet. As grazing animals, rabbits need to have an unlimited supply of fresh hay daily.
Can rabbits eat vegetables?
Rabbits count vegetables and herbs among their favorite foods. Most greens found in a supermarket are safe for rabbits, with a few limitations and exceptions. (See the list of foods to avoid below.)
How much hay should a rabbit have everyday?
Rabbits should have access to unlimited amounts of fresh hay. Ideally, they should be eating a ball of hay twice the size of their body every single day. Some rabbits will eat more, some may eat a little less, but in general, that’s what we should be aiming for.
How much water do rabbits need?
Rabbits need more water than you’d think – a small rabbit can easily drink the amount of water as a considerably larger dog. Drinking a lot of water helps rabbits to digest their hay and keep their digestive system running slowly.
Which pellets are best for rabbits?
I use rabbit pellets from Burgess, and Oxbow seems to be the favourite brand in the USA.
Which veggies can I give my rabbit every day?
Since rabbits have such delicate stomaches, always introduce new foods gradually. Some rabbits are more prone to gas than others, so if you notice a certain vegetable makes them sluggish, give it more sparingly.
How many veggies should I be giving my rabbits everyday?
A great rule of thumb is to give your rabbits a salad the size of their head. That’s the formula I use, and I stick to it. If your rabbit is overweight, you can cut out pellets and increase fresh vegetables.
What treats can I give my rabbits daily?
I don’t like the rabbit treats you can buy from pet stores, because they’re often full of sugar and even dairy (yoghurt treats for bunnies are a very real thing unfortunately). Instead, you can treat your bunny with veggies you already have.
What to feed an overweight rabbit
It can be hard, because like I said, some rabbit just can’t seem to lose weight. Either cut pellets out completely, or just sprinkle half a dozen on their salad, and make sure they’re eating plenty of hay.
Rules to Avoid Rabbit Diarrhoea
Rabbits are herbivores. Think of your rabbit as a strict vegan, and never give your rabbit any meat or dairy products of any kind, they will make your rabbit ill. Diarrhoea can be very dangerous to rabbits, so it’s important to follow four simple rules that avoid upset tummies.
Change Rabbit Food Gradually
When you first bring your rabbit home, feeding is very easy. For the first 48 hours, just give your rabbit lots of nice fresh hay, and a little of whatever dry food they were being fed on previously. We’ll look at exactly how much dry food to give in a moment.
Feed Mainly Hay or Growing Grass to Rabbits
Hay should comprise the majority of your rabbit’s diet. The exception would be if you are able to graze your rabbits on pasture. As most people keep their rabbits indoors, it’s hay that they need. And hay needs to be at least 80% of an indoor or caged rabbit’s diet.
Feeding Vegetables To Rabbits
Introduce one safe veggie at a time. When you bring a new rabbit home, I suggest you give a piece of cabbage or bok choy leaf, not much bigger than your thumbnail, or at most 1 X 1 inch, on day 1. Increase the quantities each day, over the next week.
Safe Veggies for Rabbits
Some plants are toxic to rabbits and some, such as iceberg lettuce can cause diarrhoea. But you can share the following basic green veg that many of us have in our kitchens, with your rabbit
Root Vegetables for Rabbits
You can also feed small quantities of some root vegetables such as carrots and parsnips, as treats. They are very sweet and more of a treat than a necessity, so not too much of these unless your rabbit needs to put on weight.
The Importance of Hay for Rabbits
Did you know that rabbits can actually survive and thrive on good quality hay alone? Good hay contains everything a rabbit needs in terms of nutrients but also has two other important roles. Hay helps to keep your rabbits teeth and intestinal tract in good working order. Let’s take the teeth part first
What to feed a bunny?
Fruits and other foods are the best healthy treats for your rabbit. They will provide additional nutrients to ensure that they’re getting the full slate of vitamins and minerals that they need.
How much fiber does a rabbit need?
Rabbits require up to 20% fiber and 45% carbs in their daily diet. These foodstuffs do an excellent job of satisfying those needs. Rabbits can also eat other greens, albeit in limited quantities. These animals have sensitive digestive systems and can react adversely to sudden changes in their diet.
Why is it important to have fresh water for rabbits?
It’s especially vital given the amount of fiber that your pet is consuming. Ample water will ensure that their digestive system functions properly and reduces the risks of constipation or blockages .
What to do if your rabbit is not eating?
What to Do If Your Rabbit Isn’t Eating. Giving your pet occasional treats is an excellent way to gauge their appetite. If your pet is acting lethargic, you can try offering them one of their favorites. One of the most common causes of food disinterest is overgrown teeth, hence the need for a hay-based diet.
Why do rabbits gain weight?
Although these are nutritionally rich, they can lead to weight gain because they are also calorie-dense. Obesity is an issue with animals kept in confined quarters with limited exercise. While rabbits aren’t rodents, their teeth, i.e., incisors, continue to grow their entire lives.
Can you grow fresh produce for a bunny?
You might want to consider growing fresh produce for your rabbit. It can save you money on supplies, given that food alone makes up to one-third of the annual expenses of owning a bunny. You’ll know exactly how it was grown, so you can rest assured that you’re feeding your pet something safe for them to eat.
Can rabbits eat leafy food?
Since your pet is a herbivore, your rabbit can digest leafy foods relatively quickly. You can give them an unlimited amount of hay . However, you should limit commercial rabbit food diets to small amounts each day. Although these are nutritionally rich, they can lead to weight gain because they are also calorie-dense.
