- Use kale, spinach and silver beet sparingly.
- Some fruit tree branches and leaves are suitable for rabbits to eat, but not all. ...
- Give carrots only as treats because these are high in starch.
- Celery must be cut into 1cm pieces before being given because larger pieces can get caught in rabbits’ intestines.
- Never feed your rabbit processed foods intended for humans, such as: chocolate, cookies, crackers, cereal, yoghurt, milk, pasta, or bread.
- 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.
How much food should I Feed my Pet Rabbit?
Feed your rabbits a small amount of good quality pellets/nuggets daily. Measure 25g (an eggcup-full) of pellets per kg of your rabbit's body weight; for a medium-sized rabbit (2kg) feed a maximum of two full eggcups. Muesli-style foods aren't recommended for rabbits. See: muesli is unhealthy for rabbits and how to slowly transfer rabbits onto a ...
What is the best food for a pet rabbit?
- 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)
What are the best vegetables to feed a pet rabbit?
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
What can you feed rabbits besides rabbit food?
You can also feed your pet rabbit fresh vegetables, but not the carrots we associate with Bugs Bunny. Carrots have more sugar than adult rabbits’ digestive tracts prefer. Small amounts are fine as treats, Helmer said, but dark leafy greens are preferred. Broccoli leaves and stems and dark leaf lettuces make more suitable rabbit snacks.
What is the best thing to feed a pet rabbit?
What do rabbits eat? 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.
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.
What can I feed my rabbit for food?
Barley, buckwheat and rye are easy to grow, too, and, of course, there is alfalfa. Alfalfa is high in protein, and in some places, such as my area, it is difficult to buy it baled because the farmers chop it and put in the silo. Rabbits love the stuff, and you can grow it just as easily as planting grass.
What fruit and veg 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...
What vegetables can rabbits eat daily NZ?
Grass and garden greens 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 veggies 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...•
What can I feed my rabbits instead of pellets?
Rabbits can get by without pellets as long as hay and fresh green vegetables are given every day. Avoid cereal/grain mixes (such as rabbit mix muesli) as these can encourage selective feeding, nutritional imbalance and obesity [1, 4]. Providing other objects to chew on is also a good idea.
How do you make homemade rabbit feed?
My Homemade Natural Grain Based Rabbit Food Recipe:6 cups rolled oats.3 cups golden wheat berries.3 cups pearled barley.3 cups hard red wheat berries.3 cups split peas.3 cups black oil sunflower seed.
Is broccoli good for rabbits?
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.
Can rabbits eat banana?
Fruit. Pretty much any fruit will make a good sweet treat, though the high sugar content means it should only be given in moderation. It's also important to remove any pips or stones that could become choking hazards. Bananas, apples, strawberries and raspberries have all proven a hit.
What can rabbits not eat?
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...•
Can rabbits eat cucumber?
Yes, it is safe for rabbits to eat cucumber! Most rabbits will love the fresh taste. Rabbits can also eat cucumber leaves.
How much hay does a rabbit eat?
A healthy rabbit's diet should consist of unlimited amounts timothy and other grass hays, 1-3 cups of fresh leafy greens daily, and only about 1/8-1/4 cup of quality timothy pellets for rabbits up to 5 lbs and up to 3/4 cup for rabbits up to 10 lbs. Fruits and sugary vegetables (i.e. carrots) should only be offered as ...
How long do New Zealand rabbits live for?
7-10 years7-10 years. Temperament: New Zealand Whites make ideal pets for children because of their docile, calm nature. They're easy to train and can be taught tricks.
Can rabbits eat broccoli NZ?
There are some that you should not feed as they can lead to stomach upsets and some are also toxic to the rabbit. Cabbage, Kale, Broccoli, silverbeet, spinach and brussel sprouts can cause tummy issues like colic and bloat so only feed very small amounts of these and lettuce can cause scours.
Can rabbits eat cucumber?
Yes, it is safe for rabbits to eat cucumber! Most rabbits will love the fresh taste. Rabbits can also eat cucumber leaves.
Grass hay
Fresh fibrous hay should make up at least 80% of your rabbit’s diet. You can choose to stick to one type of hay or mix up different types, as long as they are guaranteed to be fresh. Make sure that the hay you feed your rabbits are clean and free of molds and dust as these can contaminate the hay and make your pet rabbit sick.
Greens
Apart from fibrous hay, it’s also recommended to incorporate fresh greens into your pet rabbit’s diet. This should comprise approximately 10-20% of their overall food intake. Brussel sprouts, broccoli, celery, bok choy, parsley, coriander, mint, and basil are among the best options to choose from.
Fruits
As tasty as they are, fruits should only be given to bunnies around once or twice per week at extremely small portions. As a rule of thumb, give your rabbits around a tablespoon or two of fruit every time.
Pellets
Like fruits, pellets should be given to rabbits at limited proportions. They are not critical to rabbits’ diet, so it is important to make sure that you only provide the right variety and amount to your pets
Water
Rabbits need to stay hydrated throughout the day, so clean water must always be within their reach. Make sure to refill their water bowl every few hours, and clean their water bottles or bowls every few days.
What do rabbits chew on?
Rabbits love to chew. It also helps relieve boredom and wears down their teeth. Rabbit’s teeth are open rooted and grow continuously so they need hard vegetables/fruit or chew toys/wooden toys to help wear them down. You can get all sorts of safe wooden chew toys from petshops. Wood must be untreated. Willow branches or apple and citrus branches can be great for them to chew on. Have these available at all times.
Is hay good for a dog?
Hay is good fiber for 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 or mouldy as this can lead to respiratory illness.
Do rabbits need water?
Rabbits should have access to fresh clean drinking water at all times. This needs to be replaced daily. Bowls can be spilled over so bottles are a good choice. These can be attached to cages easily and prevents wet bedding. Bowls for pellets can also be knocked over so gravity bin feeders are a great way to go, which can be attached to hutches/cages also. Remember when changing a rabbit’s diet; do so gradually as this can cause tummy problems and on rare occasions, death.
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.
How to keep rabbits from pooping in hutches?
Place hutch away from rain, wind and direct sunlight. Layer bedding hay over an absorbent base like shredded ink-free paper, cat litter or wood shavings. Feed two large handfuls of timothy or lucerne hay daily as well as 1/4 cup of fresh vegetables and 1/4 cup of high-fibre rabbit pellets. Give occasional rabbit treats.
Why do hay pigs need hay?
They need lots of fresh hay every day because chewing it wears the teeth down. Keeping a wood block or fruit branch in their enclosure also helps.
Is it bad to separate two rabbits?
It’s a bad idea to ever separate two rabbits that have lived together.
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.
What is the best pair of rabbits?
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.
Why do rabbits need to be desexed?
Discuss neutering/spaying with your veterinarian. Desexed rabbits are often calmer, happier and it reduces the likelihood of many cancers and illnesses. To learn more about the benefits of desexing your rabbit, click here.
How big should a rabbit enclosure be?
You are best to provide your rabbit with the largest enclosure possible and the run should be at least four times the length of the adult rabbit with an attached secure hutch / sleeping area. Rabbits need to be able to stretch high, jump and run with ease. It is recommended to add extendable pens on to your hutch to further increase the maximum run size. The enclosure should be escape proof and safe from predators.
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 get a bunny to come to you?
Your rabbit should be handled frequently to help maintain a bond between the two of you. Open the hutch door and let them come to you to be lifted out. Offering a favourite treat or vege can help encourage them to approach you. Lift gently with both hands and hold them close to your body. It's important to remember to always support their hind legs.
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.
