what to feed bunnies

Hay –some of the best options to feed wild bunnies are hay like clover hay, meadow hay, Timothy hay

, orchard hay. Hay should make up at least eighty percent of their diets. Flowers –sunflowers, daisies, yarrow, clovers, and dandelions are great additions to the rabbit’s diet.

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What are the best things to feed your Bunny?

• Arugula
• Carrot tops
• Cucumber leaves
• Endive
• Ecarole
• Frisee Lettuce
• Kale (all types)
• Mache
• Red or green lettuce
• Romaine lettuce

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What is the best food for a bunny?

• Apple (any variety, without stem and seeds)
• Cherries (any variety, without the pits)
• Pear
• Peach
• Plum (without the pits)
• Kiwi
• Papaya
• Mango
• Berries (any type)
• Berries (uncooked)

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What is the best hay for Bunnies?

Which is the best hay for your rabbit?

• Grass Hay for rabbits. Grass hay is basically different kinds of grass that dry naturally. Rabbit Hay has a very important role to play in your rabbit’s diet.
• Timothy hay for rabbits. Timothy hay is one of the best rabbit hay for adult rabbits. ...
• Dried Grass. This is hay which is dried faster compared to the naturally dried hay. ...

How often do you feed baby bunnies?

• Newborn – 1 week 4-5 cc formula
• 1-2 weeks 10-15 cc formula
• 2-3 weeks 15-30 cc formula
• 3-6 weeks, until weaned 30 cc formula

What can I feed to my rabbits?

Fresh, clean drinking water and good quality hay and grass should make up the majority of your rabbits' diet. A rabbit's digestive system needs hay or grass to function properly so a healthy supply is extremely important. You can supplement with leafy greens and a small amount of pellets.

What are 3 things rabbits 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.

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.

Can bunnies eat lettuce?

Myth #3 - Rabbits eat lettuce Some lettuce is 'worse' than others - light-coloured varieties are high in water and have very little nutritional value, so are not recommended. You can feed darker, more leafy and fibrous varieties (e.g. romaine lettuce) to your rabbit, as these are higher in fibre and actual nutrients.

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.)

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

Vegetables

As mentioned earlier, rabbits are herbivorous animals, so they can benefit greatly from a diet that also includes leaves and vegetables that are healthy for them. In the appropriate amounts, vegetables provide new flavors and textures, as well as nutrients, to the rabbits’ diet.

Granulated Feed (Pellets)

Up to 6 months of age, the pelleted feed can be provided. But in adult rabbits, it should always be offered rationed. The recommended amount is 2-3% of the animal’s weight.

Fruits

You can also give fruits to rabbits but they should be in very small portions. Fruits are foods high in calories and sugars. In the wild, rabbits can only access them for certain periods in a year.

What Do Wild Rabbits Normally Eat?

Rabbits are natural foragers. They will eat just about any kind of plant material they can find. Through most of the year this will consist of grass combined with other leafy plants they can find naturally, such as clover and wildflowers.

The natural way to help feed wild rabbits

If you want to feed the wild rabbits in your community, it’s best to give them a natural way to continue foraging for food. If you try to feed wild rabbits directly or simply leave out bowls full of food for them, you run the risk of causing the rabbits to become completely dependent on you for food.

What To Avoid Doing When Feeding Wild Rabbits

It’s best to help feed wild rabbits by providing food for them naturally. This will prevent them from becoming dependent on you for food. Big piles of food in the yard can also attract other unwanted animals that may be more dangerous or prone to spreading disease (such as raccoons).

What do rabbits eat in the winter?

When food is scarce in the winter, rabbits may resort to eating the bark off of bushes or trees.

What do rabbits need to survive in the winter?

In the winter, when plant life is scarce, wild rabbits need to be a lot more creative in order to survive. The rabbits need to compete for limited resources such as bark, twigs, and evergreen needles from trees and shrubbery that live through the winter. This is always a time of year that is most difficult for rabbits and results in the death ...

How to help wild rabbits survive?

You can help wild rabbits have food resources by planting shrubs and greenery that will live through the winter . This will make more resources available while also working with a wild rabbit’s natural foraging instincts. You can also grow plants year round to give wild rabbits more nutritious options.

How to tell if a rabbit is relaxed?

7 Signs of a Relaxed Rabbit. It’s easy to tell when a rabbit is active when they zoom and binky around the room, but that’s not the only way to know your rabbit is happy and content in your home. You can watch your rabbit's... Continue Reading.

Can rabbits eat sunflower seeds?

Most seeds and nuts are not great for a rabbit’s digestion. There are some exceptions, such as sunflower seeds, but for the most part you want to avoid setting these out where wild rabbits can eat them. Even though birdseed is not good for rabbits, they will probably try to eat it anyway if they find it available.

Can rabbits eat strawberries?

Leftover herbs, strawberry or carrot tops, or the trimmed ends of many different fruits and vegetables are safe for wild rabbits to eat. Instead of tossing these leftovers in the garbage, you put them outside for the rabbits. But try not to make this a daily habit.

Can rabbits eat cooked food?

Most wild rabbits won’t touch cooked food, but it’s best to avoid making it available to them at all. Cooked food, even if it is all plant based, is not good for a rabbit’s digestion.

What to feed baby rabbits without a mother?

You can feed baby rabbits without a mother with a milk replacer. But since they need more nutrients and fats, this must be mixed with goat milk. As well as heavy cream and colostrum. Then as they grow older, start offering them cecotropes and solid food. Like pellets, alfalfa hay, and leafy greens.

Can a baby rabbit survive without milk?

A baby rabbit won’t survive without milk. At age 0 to 3 weeks old, it’ll be the sole part of their diet. So it’s their only way to get the nutrients and energy they need to live longer. And even though they’re already eating solid food at 6 to 8 weeks old, they still need milk for more nourishment.

People also ask

Baby rabbits can go without nursing for up to 3 to 4 days. But since they don’t get any food, they’ll get weaker as days pass by. And this could lead to a slow death.

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.