- Give your New Zealand rabbit plenty of hay. Hay is a staple food for New Zealand rabbits. ...
- Offer your New Zealand rabbit some pellets. Plain pellets can also provide your New Zealand rabbit with some nutrition, but rabbits only need a small amount of pellets each ...
- Provide some dark leafy greens. Dark leafy greens also provide your rabbit with a good source of nutrients and your rabbit will enjoy nibbling on these.
- Let your New Zealand rabbit have a treat now and then. ...
- Make sure that your New Zealand rabbit always has water. Your New Zealand rabbit always needs to have access to fresh, clean water.
- Feed your New Zealand rabbit some foods in small quantities. ...
- Rabbits love grass, dandelion leaves, thistle/puha and plantain leaves.
- Ensure that any leaves or plants given to or accessible to the rabbits have not been sprayed with poison or pesticides, herbicides, or sprouting agents.
- Rabbits love fresh herbs which provide health benefits.
What should I Feed my Asa rabbit?
As rabbits are fibrevores, a diet containing mostly hay, leafy greens and pellets is recommended for optimum nutritional benefits. Fresh Meadow or Timothy Hay should make up around 80% of your rabbit's daily diet. Read our ' Tips and tricks for feeding your rabbit ' care guide.
What do you feed your rabbits to improve gut health?
This gives their gut bacteria tie to develop and change to digest the whole/fresh foods properly. These days we are feeding our rabbits a mix of lucerne hay (alfalfa), whole barley, rolled/crushed oats and pellets with free access to meadow hay and a salt block.
What fruits and vegetables can rabbits eat?
Potatoes, Daffodil, Rhubarb, Lillies, Mushrooms, Avocado, Broad beans, Oak, Sweetpea, Buttercup, Kidney beans, Jasmine, Nightshade, Snowdrop, Privet, Hemlock, Foxglove, Iceberg lettuce, Any leaves from evergreen trees. Just remember if in doubt, do not feed it to your rabbit!
How much hay should I Feed my Rabbit?
Hay and grass should form the basis (85%) of your rabbits’ diet. The remainder of your rabbits’ diet should be fresh vegetables (10%) and a small amount of pellets specifically designed for rabbits (around 5%). Good quality hay is the most important part of your rabbits’ diet.
What is the best thing to feed a rabbit?
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 can I feed my rabbit list?
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.
How much should I feed my rabbit NZ?
Pellets. Pellets only need to be a small portion of your rabbits diet, around 1/5 cup twice a day based on a 1.5kg - 2kg rabbit. No seeds, corn or colourful bits.
Are carrots good for rabbits?
Reality: carrots shouldn't be a main source of food. Rabbits don't naturally eat root vegetables or fruit. Carrots and fruit are high in sugar and should only be fed in small amounts as occasional treats. Rabbits need mainly hay and/or grass, some leafy greens and a small, measured amount of pellets.
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.
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 I feed my rabbit only vegetables?
While it is largely assumed that rabbits need only carrots and lettuce to survive, this simply isn't true. As with any other animal, rabbits need a whole rounded diet that includes various nutrients, such as lettuce and carrots.
What fruit can I feed my bunny?
Foods to feed your rabbit as a treatApples (seeds removed) High in sugar, apples should only be fed to rabbits as a treat.Banana. Also high in sugar, it's safe for rabbits to eat bananas occasionally.Blackberries.Blueberries.Carrot tops. ... Dandelion. ... Grapes.
What can rabbits not eat list?
Check out our list of 15 foods that you should never feed your rabbit:Yogurt Drops. ... Bread, Pasta, Cookies, and Crackers. ... Avocado. ... Cereal. ... Iceberg Lettuce. ... Silverbeet. ... Hamster Food. ... Walnuts.More items...•
What fruits and veggies can rabbits eat?
The best foods for a rabbitAsparagus.Bok Choy.Brussel Sprouts.Broccoli leaves.Celery.Collard Greens.Cauliflower leaves and stalks.Chicory.More items...
Can rabbits 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 veg can rabbits eat daily?
Rabbits must have an adult-sized handful of safe, washed leafy green vegetables, herbs and weeds daily.Feed a variety of greens daily - ideally 5-6 different types, such as cabbage, kale, broccoli, parsley and mint.Introduce new types of greens gradually, in small amounts, to avoid potential stomach upsets.
The Rabbit Food Pyramid
The Animates Vetcare team have compiled a list of tips and tricks, designed to help you understand how best to nourish your rabbit. Rabbits are herbivores and so a diet containing mostly hay, leafy greens and pellets is recommended for optimum nutritional benefits.
Pellets
Pellets only need to be a small portion of your rabbits diet, around 1/5 cup twice a day based on a 1.5kg - 2kg rabbit.
Animates Vetcare
Veterinarian care is available for your pet through Animates Vetcare clinics.
What should I feed my rabbit?
You should feed your rabbit a good quality rabbit pellet, which is dust free and high infiber/low in protein. You can pick up some good rabbit food pellets that are commercially made, from most pet shops which provide good nutrition for your rabbit. Overfeeding pellets can lead to obesity and should be limited.
Is hay good for bedding?
Hay is goodfiberfor them, is good for their digestion and is also used as bedding. Straw can be used as bedding but this is no good to eat as it has no nutritional value in it whatsoever. A good quality meadow hay or lucerne hay can be used, that is not dusty ormouldyas this can lead to respiratory illness.
Can you feed rabbits without pellets?
Feeding rabbits without pellets is possible, the challenge to naturally feeding rabbits is getting the protein levels high enough for good rabbit growth. WARNING: This diary discusses housing and raising of rabbits for human consumption as well as feeding rabbits naturally.
Can rabbits eat pellets?
The benefits to feeding rabbits pellets. Pellets are an option for feeding rabbits. The pluses are they are a complete food, developed for optimum growt h and they are convenient.
How to teach a rabbit to use a litter box?
Rabbits can be taught to use a litter tray by placing the rabbit droppings into the tray over a period of a few days. They tend to use “corners” as toilets so place your litter box in the corner that your rabbit has chosen. Older rabbits can also be taught to use a litter box.
How to keep rabbits from getting sick?
Rabbits are notoriously good at hiding signs of illness or injury. It is important to keep up with regular veterinary checks and keep a close eye on your pet at home so you can act quickly if an issue arises. Regularly handle your rabbit and check their teeth, body condition, eyes and ears are all in good condition.
What do rabbits eat?
Feeding. Feeding your rabbit Superior Nutrition diet is essential for their health. As rabbits are fibrevores, a diet containing mostly hay, leafy greens and pellets is recommended for optimum nutritional benefits. Fresh Meadow or Timothy Hay should make up around 80% of your rabbit's daily diet.
How to keep rabbits safe in a hutch?
If your rabbit is to be housed in an outdoor hutch, make sure there is shelter from the wind and direct sunlight.
How to tell if a rabbit is sick?
The signs of an unhealthy rabbit are: 1 Prolonged diarrhoea or a dirty bottom 2 Overgrown teeth 3 Heat stroke – panting, loss of consciousness or seizures 4 Skin lesions 5 Gassy or bloated belly 6 Lack of stools/droppings 7 Lethargy/floppyness 8 Changes in behaviour or activity level
When are rabbits most active?
Rabbits are most active at dawn and at dusk, so these are great times for supervised play and exercise. For playtime, an outdoor play arena can be used or a rabbit harness allowing your new rabbit to explore safely. Make sure that the outdoor area is protected from predators and secure, and also provide a variety of enriching toys that allow for foraging, chew and play behaviours.
Can rabbits be desexed?
The most suitable pair is a male and female rabbit, both of whom should be desexed. Desexed rabbits often have reduced hormonal behaviours that would otherwise impact bonding a pair . Two males are not recommended and will rarely form a stable bond, even if raised from a young age together.
What is the white rabbit used for?
White rabbits are usually more in-demand for their luxurious fur. The white fur of this rabbit is easier to dye. New Zealand rabbits with high-quality furs were used to manufacture fur coats as well as fur trimmings. The lower-grade furs are used to make pelt hats, glove linings, and shoe linings.
What breed of rabbits were introduced to the US in 1916?
This breed was developed for its fast growth rate and its excellent quality meat. It was added to the US rabbit standard in 1916.
Why are New Zealand rabbits used in labs?
New Zealand rabbits are also used in laboratory testing due to their good health and docile temperament. Rabbits like New Zealand react very similar to humans when it comes to diseases as well as medications. This allows this breed to be used in laboratory studies and pharmacological research.
Why are rabbits white?
The white New Zealand rabbit breed is known for its genetic deviation called albinism. This is caused by decreased melanin, which is a pigment found in most animals. Albinism causes a snowy white fur. Also, white rabbits have bright eyes, which are very red.
What is a New Zealand rabbit?
Uses of the New Zealand Rabbit. The New Zealand rabbit was not really developed as pets but was created for their tasty meat and their lovely fur. Commercial fryers were slaughtered at 10 weeks, while older rabbits are called roasters. White rabbits are usually more in-demand for their luxurious fur.
What is the difference between a Belgian hare and a Flemish Giant?
Meanwhile, the Belgian hare is a large rabbit species that can weigh from 6 to 9 pounds. It has a full-arch body and comes in a variety of colors.
Where did the New Zealand rabbit originate?
New Zealand is a rabbit breed that was created in the United States and not in New Zealand. It originated in California from rabbit breeds that were imported from New Ze aland. Today, New Zealand is a breed recognized by the American Rabbit Breed Association or ARBA and is available in a variety of colors.
Raising rabbits for meat
Below we answer the most commonly asked questions about raising rabbits for meat so that you can be best prepared for keeping them at your place.
Benefits to keeping meat rabbits
There are some benefits to keeping meat rabbits, they are popular amongst both rural and urban homesteaders for good reason.
Keeping meat rabbits in the city
Back during the Great Depression most families grew a garden full of fresh vegetables, kept chickens for eggs and to eat the scraps and many also kept rabbits for meat as well. You can keep meat rabbits in a couple of hutches in the corner of your backyard and because they are small and quiet, they are less noticeable than chickens.
Choosing a meat rabbit
If you have decided to keep meat rabbits, choosing which ones to get can be overwhelming. Ideally you would choose a pair of proven breeders if you are starting from scratch, because at least you know they know what they are doing.
Housing meat rabbits
There are a lot of different opinions on how to raise rabbits, and as long as they are clean and healthy, you can choose what method will suit you best.
Feeding meat rabbits
How you choose to feed your meat rabbits is up to you, but there are two main schools of thought – pellet based or without pellets.
Breeding meat rabbits
Rabbits breed like, well, rabbits. Usually the buck and doe know what to do. Take the doe to the bucks cage and usually within 10 minutes he will have done what he needs to do and you will have babies due in 28-34 days.
