What can you feed rabbits besides rabbit food?
“Rabbits have evolved eating grasses and roots; there are no pellet dispensers in the wild.” 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.
What is the best food to Feed Your 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)
How much food should I Feed my Rabbit?
Most veterinarians recommend feeding your rabbit at a rate of 1/8 cup to 1/4 Cup per day for every 5 pounds of body-weight. Make sure that the pellets you feed are of excellent quality and Timothy based like these Oxbow pellets. Rabbits need vegetables daily to maintain their health and happiness.
How often should you feed rabbits?
[Feeding Chart & Guide]
- Rabbit Feeding Chart. Since your pet is a herbivore, your rabbit can digest leafy foods relatively quickly. You can give them an unlimited amount of hay.
- Best Healthy Treats for Rabbits. Fruits and other foods are the best healthy treats for your rabbit. ...
- Conclusion. Rabbits are delightful pets that can bring joy to any home. ...
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.
What human foods can rabbits eat?
What human foods can rabbits eat?Fruit. Pretty much any fruit will make a good sweet treat, though the high sugar content means it should only be given in moderation. ... Vegetables. Similarly, most vegetables are safe for rabbits to eat. ... Herbs. ... Garden plants. ... Chocolate. ... Iceberg Lettuce. ... Avocado. ... Meat.
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.
Can rabbits drink milk?
You should not give rabbits milk to drink. Adult rabbits are lactose intolerant and milk products are bad for the rabbit's digestive system. Baby rabbits should also not have cow's milk because it is very different from the milk they get from their mothers.
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 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
What can I feed my rabbit?
There are many vegetables that you can feed your rabbit, including celery, collard greens, green peppers, and radish tops. Vegetables with high levels of vitamin A, such as broccoli, carrots, and mustard greens, are especially important to feed your rabbit.
What to feed a bunny?
Provide your rabbit with hay. Hay is the most important part of your rabbit’s diet. It has many benefits. For example, hay has fiber, which helps move waste through your rabbit’s intestines and prevent intestinal stasis (‘gut stasis’). Hay also gives your rabbit something to chew on, which helps him keep his teeth filed down.#N#In addition, hay can keep your rabbit entertained, since he can sift through it and move it around his enclosure.#N#Grass hay (e.g., timothy, oat) is higher in fiber than alfalfa or clover hays, and is thus the ideal type of hay to feed your rabbit. Alfalfa and clover hays are high in protein and calcium, which can lead to kidney and bladder problems in older rabbits.#N#Good quality hay is green and fragrant, and is free of mold and dust.#N#Consider buying your hay from your local feed store. Compared with the hay at a pet store, hay at a feed store will likely be fresher and contain more of the nutrients your rabbit needs.
What are the health problems of rabbits?
Rabbits have a very sensitive digestive system—nutritional imbalances can quickly lead to serious intestinal problems that can have fatal consequences. Knowing how to feed your rabbit properly will help you keep him in optimal health throughout his life. Steps.
What to do if your rabbit is addicted to pellets?
If your rabbit is addicted to pellets and won't eat hay, then make a gradual change over by cutting back on the pellets and making sure they have access to sweet, green hay. Pellets should be approximately 18% to 20% crude fiber, 14% to 16% protein, and 1% each of fat and calcium.
How to keep rabbits intestines hydrated?
Give your rabbit fresh, clean water. A constant supply of fresh, clean water is essential to keeping your rabbit’s intestines well hydrated. Without enough water, intestinal contents can become very dry and get stuck. This can lead to gut stasis, which could be life threatening if not treated immediately.
How to get rabbit water?
5. Provide your rabbit with water in a sturdy bowl and/or bottle. A heavy ceramic bowl is ideal for supplying water to your rabbit. Porcelain bowls are also suitable, as long as they are lead-free. Change out your rabbit’s water at least once a day.
What to feed a rabbit with a sweet tooth?
Include fresh fruits in your rabbit’s diet as occasional treats. Rabbits have a sweet tooth, and would probably love to eat a lot of fruit. However, because of the high sugar content, fruits should be fed only as treats.
What should I feed my rabbit?
These foods should make up about 75% of the fresh portion of your rabbit’s diet (about 1 packed cup per 2 lbs of body weight per day). Leafy Greens I (need to be rotated due to oxalic acid content and only 1 out of three varieties of greens a day should be from this list) Parsley. Spinach. Mustard greens.
What is the best food for rabbits?
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.
What do rabbits eat?
Rabbits will also eat bark on trees, tender twigs and sprouts, fruits, seeds and other nutritious foods in much small amounts.
What vegetables are good for rabbits?
Most of the fresh vegetables we feed rabbits have a low to zero level of oxalic acid, but a few, most notably parsley, mustard greens and spinach have relatively high levels. (Note that kale, which is often implicated as a high oxalate food is actually very low in oxalates).
How long does it take for rabbits to see blood?
One study done on rabbits indicated that it would take several weeks of exclusively feeding huge quantities of these foods to see any abnormalities in the blood. This is so far removed from normal feeding instructions for rabbits that there is no cause for concern in feeding these nutritious foods.
What are the chemicals in rabbits?
The one most talked about with rabbits is oxalic acid and it is completely harmless to animals or humans when consumed in small amounts.
What foods can cause GI problems in rabbits?
Foods that are notorious for causing rabbit GI problems when fed improperly are grains of any kind and legumes (beans, peas, etc). Even starchy root vegetables and fruits if fed to excess with their high load of sugars and starch could be a problem and should only be fed as a very small part of the diet.
What is the best food for a bunny?
Green Is Good. One of the best fresh foods you can give your bunny is green, leafy vegetables. It's important to use rot-free, thoroughly washed items. Offer three different types each day, around a cup of greens for every three pounds of rabbit. Here are some excellent suggestions.
How long should I feed my rabbit pellets?
1–3 months: Babies suckle until seven weeks old, but should have access to pellets from around four weeks, in small amounts. 4–7 months: Unlimited pellets.
Why is water important for rabbits?
In the case of rabbits, it's very important that they have fresh water available at all times. Without it, they die very quickly, especially during hot weather or when the rabbit is very active.
Is fruit good for pets?
Fruit is not food. View it as a snack that should be sparingly given. The sugars they contain are natural, but they're still not good for your pet. Don't give more than a tablespoon's worth and don't give it every day. Wash fruit thoroughly, remove all peels and seeds, especially from apples (apple seeds are toxic).
Do bunnies need fiber?
Fiber Is Essential. Rabbits are natural grazers that need a nutritious high-fiber diet. Both this natural behaviour and need can be whacked with one stone—grass hay. Your bunny should have access to this food at all times. There are several types available. Mixed orchid grass.
Can rabbits eat hay?
Hay, fresh foods and water are nutritionally sufficient. When a rabbit enjoys a balanced diet, it doesn't need supplements. Adding them could lead your pet to overdose on certain vitamins and minerals, leading to dangerous illness. You should also avoid these toxic foods. Anything high in carbohydrates, starch and fat.
Is rabbit a herbivore?
Your rabbit is an herbivore. Herbivores are animals that eat plant material. No chicken schnitzel for this customer! A correct diet has freshness and variety. Your favourite ball of fluff needs several items from the supermarket's fruit and vegetable section, minerals, vitamins, fiber and water.