What should I give my rabbit to eat everyday?
Rabbits should have a daily diet of mostly hay, a smaller amount of fresh vegetables, and a limited number of pellets. Hay is the most important part of a rabbit's daily intake. Unlimited, high-quality grass hay, such as Timothy, orchard or brome, should make up the bulk of a rabbit's diet.
What vegetables should I feed my rabbit every day?
Vegetables that can be fed to a rabbit daily:Bell peppers.Bok choy.Brussels sprouts.Carrot tops.Cucumber.Endive.Escarole.Fennel.More items...•
How much should you feed a rabbit daily?
Rabbit Feeding ChartWeight of RabbitTotal Amount of Leafy Greens per DayServing of Pellets per Day5 lbs.2.5 cups1 tbsp + ¼ cup6 lbs.3 cups2 tbsp + ¼ cup7 lbs.3.5 cups3 tbsp + ¼ cup8 lbs.4 cups½ cup5 more rows•Jan 12, 2022
Can rabbits eat arugula?
Rabbits can eat arugula, also called rocket. Rocket, or arugula, is safe to feed to bunnies as part of a varied diet mainly based on hay. Rocket provides a variety of essential vitamins and minerals, and with other vegetables and hay is part of a healthy diet for a rabbit.
What greens can I feed my rabbit daily?
7 Best Vegetables for Your Pet RabbitCilantro. Cilantro is a fragrant herb that is generally very enticing to rabbits. ... Leafy lettuces. Leafy lettuces (including red, green, escarole, romaine and more) are a staple for your rabbit's daily vegetables. ... Arugula. ... Basil. ... Celery leaves. ... Dandelion greens. ... Kale.
What fruit and veg can rabbits eat daily?
Your rabbit's diet should include a variety of the following greens: Asparagus. Bok Choy. Brussel Sprouts.
What are the best vegetables 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...•
How many times a day should I feed my rabbit pellets?
Don't overfeed pellets – one eighth of a cup for a small rabbit per day is more than adequate OR you could choose to not feed pellets at all! There are no pellets out there in the wild and rabbits do very well without them! Don't skimp on the hay – a ball about the same size as your bunny per day is a great guide.
Can rabbits eat grass instead of hay?
Rabbits can eat grass instead of hay, however it's not a change that should be made overnight. This kind of major change in a rabbits diet needs to be made in a slow transition over the course of a few weeks.
Can rabbits eat arugula everyday?
Arugula is ok to be fed to rabbits, but in moderation. Small amounts, two or three times a week should be enough for every bunny to enjoy a different and tasty treat, but make sure you don't make it his or her daily menu, as it may become dangerous.
Can rabbits eat kale everyday?
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 are the benefits of arugula?
Arugula is full of antioxidants -- compounds that can protect against or reverse damage to your cells. Arugula also has glucosinolates. These natural substances, which give arugula its bitter taste and strong scent, may protect you against certain cancers, including breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancers.
What vegetables can my bunny eat?
The bulk of fresh foods should be made up of leafy greens (about 75% of the fresh part of the diet). Any leafy green that is safe for a human or a horse to eat is safe for a rabbit to consume.
How many greens should I feed my rabbit?
We recommend feeding a rabbit 1 - 3 cups of leafy greens every day, along with unlimited timothy hay and a small amount of pellets. Other vegetables can be fed in small amounts, no more than 1 tablespoon per 2 pounds of body weight. Fruits should only be fed RARELY as treats.
Can rabbits eat kale everyday?
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 vegetables can rabbits not eat?
Poisonous vegetables for rabbits include potatoes, rhubarb, mushrooms, broad beans, kidney beans and iceberg lettuce, Dacombe says. On the fruit side, avocado is a fatty fruit that contains a fungicidal toxin called persin that can be deadly if ingested by a pet rabbit.
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.
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
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.
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.
Main Diet
- It has already been stated that a rabbit needs good quality hay daily. Timothy hay is what is most often suggested. The rabbit’s daily diet should be 80% Timothy hay, 10% leafy greens, 5% fruits, and vegetables, and 5% rabbit kibble. There are sound reasons for this division the way it is. To begin with, Rabbits are wild creatures, they still have ...
Preferred and Best Foods
- Dark leafy greens are the best choice. These will include some such as but are not limited to just these. 1. Bok choy 2. Carrot tops 3. Kale 4. Romaine lettuce 5. Mustard Greens The dark leafy greens that should be given in very limited quantities include, but are not limited to: 1. Parsley 2. Collards 3. Dandelion Greens 4. Swiss Chard All of these are higher in calcium and could cause …
Fruits
- As stated, fruits can be given. However, it must be in limited quantities, every 1 to 2 days. The amount given to a rabbit every 1 to 2 days should be no more than 2 tablespoons of high fiber, fresh fruit such as pear, berries, or apples.
Other Treats
- I am sure you are wondering if it is okay to give other sorts of treats. Your rabbit may appear hungry and as though he is asking for food when you sit with him and are eating. There are certain foods that are not good to give to any rabbit at any time. These will include bread, grains, cookies, seeds, and nuts. One thing that a rabbit should have more than enough of daily is a freshwater s…
Disgusting Behavior
- If you happen to see your rabbit doing this, do not panic. It is normal for a rabbit. It does not mean that your rabbit is so hungry he is eating his own feces. The rabbit will do this only at night and the pellets they consume are different from those normally seen by the owners or human parents. These pellets are filled with Vitamins B and K and loaded with protein. Just remember if you hap…
Toys
- It is also extremely beneficial to find toys that your rabbit likes to chew on. Obviously, it must be ones that are safe to chew on also. The reason that rabbits chew on so many things is to keep their teeth from growing out of control. The gnawing on the hay and chewing toys help to wear down the teeth. If the rabbit does not do enough gnawing or chewing, his teeth will grow out an…
Social
- Your rabbit is a social creature. Normally rabbits will live in groups. If you have a solitary rabbit, they may become lonely and despondent. This can happen even if you sit with your rabbit for a short time each day. Do not get me wrong, playing or talking to your rabbit will help stave off the loneliness to an extent, but not entirely. Just as humans need other humans, rabbits also like to …
Things to Keep in Mind
- Your rabbit’s digestive system is delicate. In order to keep their digestive system at optimum health levels, they need to eat frequently. However, rabbits do not know or realize when it is time to stop eating. So, as the owner, they need you to limit the quantities each time you feed him or her. They can have Timothy hay throughout the entire day, which is beneficial to their digestive tr…