- Hay: A rabbit should have unlimited grass-based hay available. ...
- Leafy greens: Leafy greens such as parsley, basil, carrot tops, leafy lettuces, kale, etc. ...
- Pellets: Only a small amount of pellets is necessary for a rabbit’s diet. ...
- Treats: You should stick to pieces of fresh or dried fruits and vegetables as treats for rabbits. ...
Can I put my rabbit on a pellet-free diet?
If your bunny doesn’t like to eat pellets and it’s not caused by health problems, then you can put them on a pellet-free diet. However, you may want to find ways to encourage them to eat their daily pellets before cutting the pellets out completely. Transition your young rabbit to an adult diet slowly.
How to choose the best hay pellets for rabbits?
Steps Determine which kind of pellet you should purchase your rabbit. In general, buy alfalfa hay pellets for rabbits younger than seven months, and timothy hay pellets for adults. Store the pellets in a clean, closed container. This way, the pellets will be protected from dirt, sunlight, dark, water and other animals.
What do you feed your rabbits?
This means you will need to be eating rabbit quite frequently. In addition to pastured rabbits, Daniel Salatin has also talked about feeding alfalfa pellets and greens to his rabbits in the Raken House.
Are rabbits OK without pellets?
We know that it's important to move pet rabbits to a hay-based diet, but some caretakers are now going a step further and giving their rabbits a completely natural, pellet-free diet. After all, wild rabbits are able to survive without pellets.
What can you feed rabbits besides rabbit food?
Green, leafy vegetables are good for bunnies. You can include arugula, basil, bok choy, broccoli leaves, carrot tops, celery, clover, collard greens, dandelion leaves, dill, endive, kale in small quantities, romaine and dark leaf lettuce, mint, mustard greens, parsley, and watercress.
Can you raise meat rabbits without pellets?
0:488:27Feeding rabbits naturally without using pellets | Raising meat rabbitsYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFor your rabbits as well as feeding them more naturally. In a situation where pellets are notMoreFor your rabbits as well as feeding them more naturally. In a situation where pellets are not available anymore rabbits can actually survive really really well on grass.
How can I make my own 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.
What human food can you feed rabbits?
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.
What food can rabbits eat daily?
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.
Can rabbits live on hay only?
Rabbits should be fed in a way that is as close as possible to their natural diet: mostly grass or hay. In fact, rabbits could live on hay and water alone, but we recommend providing some fresh leafy vegetables and a small amount of commercial feed.
Can rabbits have rolled oats?
Oats and oatmeal are non-toxic to rabbits. If you've been adding a few loose flakes to your rabbit's food, you don't have to worry about the long-term implications. Oats have been touted as heart-healthy with complex carbohydrates, plenty of nutrients, a source of protein, and as having a high fiber content.
What is the best food for meat rabbits?
You can also feed vetch, cow peas, and other rich hays. You can give your rabbits dried scraps of bread and crusts; also any kind of vegetable parings and tops they'll eat. You can feed them lawn trimmings and weeds.
Can you feed rabbit chicken food?
Chicken pellets are bad for rabbits. Chickens and rabbits are two very different animals with their own dietary needs. Since chickens are omnivores, their feed contains protein and calcium. Rabbits do not need calcium included in their diet, and are not able to digest the protein sources in chicken feed.
Can rabbits eat oats and corn?
The following feedstuffs are commonly used in rations for rabbits: Green feeds – growing plants such as grasses, weeds and leafy vegetables. Root crops – sweet potatoes, turnips and beets. Cereal grains – oats, wheat, barley, grain sorghums, corn and rye.
How much lettuce should a rabbit eat a day?
Fresh vegetables, such as lettuce, should not amount to more than 10% of your rabbit's daily food intake. The recommended daily amount is 2 cups of vegetables for every 6 lbs. of body weight. Wash the lettuce, shred the leaves, and mix them with other vegetables.
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.
Why Do Pet Rabbits Eat Pellets?
Rabbits are vegetarians since their birth, and they enjoy eating leafy greens and veggies. Many people find it strange that rabbits eat pellets which are tiny brown or green colored pieces. Many pet rabbits can eat pellets and like chewing on them. Rabbits have sensitive noses, and these pellets will smell like hay and other tasty snacks.
Is It Unhealthy For Rabbits To Eat Pellets?
The pellets are not crucial for the rabbit’s daily diet, and depending on the ingredients, they also have a few essential nutrients. Instead of these pellets, it is healthy and safe for the rabbits to eat hay, grass, veggies, and greens. The pellet food allows the pet to eat nutrient-rich foods.
Should I Give Pellets To My Rabbits?
The rabbits can live without eating pellets. Also, eating them too much is bad for the pet’s health. But, these pellets contain some essential nutrients which can keep the rabbit happy and active. If you are in a dilemma of whether to feed pellets to the rabbit or not, contact the veterinarian.
What Type Of Pellets Should I Get?
If you want to add pellets to the rabbit’s foods, you can do it. There are different kinds of pellet foods, so you choose one from them. If the rabbit’s age is below six months, then the Alfalfa pellet is the best for them. As these rabbits have high-energy levels, the calories from these pellets will digest at a quick pace.
What Should I Do If My Rabbit Is Not Eating Pellets?
There are a few reasons why your pet would not eat the pellets that you offer them. First of all, your rabbit might be picky about food. The second reason is the rabbit does not like to eat that specific kind of pellet. It is better to feed pellets from different brands so that you can know which type of pellet your rabbit enjoys eating.
How Many Pellets Should Rabbits Eat?
Pellets are supplementary foods and are only a tiny part of the rabbit’s diet. But the amount of pellets varies depending on the rabbit’s breed and size.
Can I Give Pellets As Treats?
Of course, giving pellets to your rabbits as treats is a good thing! But many owners mix this in the rabbit’s routine food due to its high fiber and protein-rich nutrients. Fruits like strawberry, banana, and pieces of Apple are popular treat foods. But because of their high sugar content, you should not feed them too much to your rabbit.
Why won't my rabbit eat pellets?
Since rabbits are more likely to be excited about eating pellets than hay, a rabbit who suddenly refuses to eat their pellets is showing an immediate sign that they might be sick. Healthy brands of pellets are also fortified with vitamins and nutrients that are helpful for rabbits.
What is the best food for a rabbit?
A healthy rabbit diet should consist of about 80% of your rabbit’s daily food being grass-based hay (such as timothy hay). Fresh leafy greens should also be given to pet rabbits on a daily basis (about 1-3 cups depending on your rabbit’s size).
What to do if your rabbit is ignoring hay?
So if your rabbit is completely ignoring their hay, then you’ll want to reduce their pellets a little bit. Young rabbits should also be eating an alfalfa-based diet, rather than a timothy-based diet. Alfalfa hay has a higher concentration of calcium and proteins.
Why did rabbits gain weight?
The types of pellets that were made were high in fat and protein, sometimes even using animal fats. They caused these rabbits to gain weight quickly and survive in the harsh, stressful conditions they were kept in.
How do you know if a rabbit is active?
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...
Can rabbit pellets cause obesity?
In fact, research suggests that excess pellets can end up causing obesity and related illnesses in rabbits. The more we learn about rabbit health, the more we can adjust our rabbit’s diets to make them balanced and healthy. This means looking critically at the food we give our rabbits and deciding if it is all still important as part ...
Can you give rabbits pellets?
Many people will recommend giving young rabbits unlimited pellets, but it’s best to be cautious with this approach. You want to make sure your young rabbit is eating hay in addition to their pellets. So if your rabbit is completely ignoring their hay, then you’ll want to reduce their pellets a little bit.
How long can a bunny go without pellets?
Rabbits in the wild survive for a couple of years without ever eating pellets. What they do have is an unlimited supply of hay, water, and other natural plant life.
How much pellets do rabbits need?
The amount of feeds a rabbit needs depends on a variety of factors including it’s size, age, and breed.
Conclusion
Rabbits in the wild can survive for a couple of years without ever eating commercially available pellets that we usually feed our pets. So it’s safe to assume that forgetting to feed them pellets for a couple of days is fine.
How old do rabbits have to be to eat pellets?
Constantly choose pellets depending on your rabbit’s age with many other circumstances. Any rabbit that is younger than 7 months must feed on alfalfa hay based pellets. Rabbits older than 7 months which is considered an adult rabbit must only feed on timothy hay based pellets.
What is the role of rabbit pellets?
Rabbit pellets play an important role in a rabbits diet. Similar to rabbit hay which helps rabbits in many different ways, rabbit pellets aids domestic rabbits to get the necessary nutrition for their better health.
What do rabbits eat?
80% of a rabbit’s diet must consist of hay or dried grass for a vigorous digestive system. Other than that a rabbit needs green vegetables and water to keep themselves hydrated. As well as green vegetables give rabbits all the nutrition required for good health.
What to feed a 7 month old rabbit?
A rabbit below 7 months old needs to grow and requires more protein in their diet. Hence choose alfalfa hay pellets for your young rabbits and a brand of pellet with no coloring. Same goes for the rabbits over 7 months old. Before you buy a brand of pellet for your adult rabbits choose timothy hay based pellets and with no coloring.
Which is better for pets: Timothy hay or Alfalfa hay?
A non-colored pellet brand is definitely better for this delicate small pets opposed to the colored ones. Timothy hay based pellets are made from timothy hay and contain more fiber and less protein, Alfalfa hay pellets contain more protein compared to the timothy hay pellets.
Is pellet good for rabbits?
I must say this, pellets with occasional treats like nuts and seeds in the packaging are not very healthy for rabbits. As well as some brands of rabbit pellets are colored and some are non-colored. I always choose a pellet that is non-colored. A non-colored pellet brand is definitely better for this delicate small pets opposed to the colored ones.
Can you feed alfalfa hay to rabbits?
Before you buy a brand of pellet for your adult rabbits choose timothy hay based pellets and with no coloring. If you feed alfalfa hay to your adult rabbits which contain more protein will result in an overweight rabbit.
What are the reasons why rabbits would suddenly stop eating pellets?
While it’s commonly not an emergency when a rabbit suddenly stops eating pellets, it’s still a good idea to know the reasons why it happens.
Is it okay for rabbits to not eat pellets?
What pellets provide to rabbits is their efficiency to deliver high amounts of nutrients to rabbits at a lower cost. While it’s advisable for young growing rabbits to eat pellets to maximize growth, having no pellets in their diet is also fine.
When to call a veterinarian?
Knowing when to call a veterinarian is critical when you notice any changes in your rabbit’s diet because rabbits are susceptible to digestive distress and it could lead to death extremely fast.
Summary
A rabbit not eating their pellets but still eating their hay could mean the following:
By Rei Garnet
I’ve loved and cared for rabbits since I was 9 years old, and I’m here to share my passion for rabbits. My objective is to help rabbit owners give their rabbits the best life possible.
How to keep rabbit pellets fresh longer?
Keep the container closed when you're not using it. Move it to a cool, dry place like a pantry or closet so the pellets stay fresh longer. Pick up a plastic pet food container at your local pet store or general store. Use it for an easy way to keep your rabbit's food fresh.
How long can you keep pellets for rabbits?
Keep fresh pellets for no longer than 6 weeks. Buy pellets in limited quantities so you don't end up feeding your rabbit spoiled food. After about 6 weeks, throw the old pellets away. Visit a pet supply store to get fresh pellets for your rabbit to enjoy every day.
How old can rabbits eat Timothy Hay?
Quality timothy hay feeds are not quite as nutrient-rich as alfalfa pellets, but they still have plenty to offer to rabbits over 7 months old. Pick out something nutritious that fits within your budget. Begin transitioning younger rabbits to timothy hay pellets by mixing small amounts in with their regular food.
How to feed alfalfa hay to bunnies?
Keep a supply of hay in a bowl or tray that is always accessible to your rabbit. If you fed your pet alfalfa hay as a bunny, mix in some with the new timothy hay to help transition it to a healthier diet. Your rabbit needs the hay to graze. If it doesn't eat enough hay, it may look for additional pellets or vegetables.
How to transition a rabbit to hay pellets?
Begin transitioning younger rabbits to timothy hay pellets by mixing small amounts in with their regular food. Transition your rabbit's diet gradually to avoid digestive problems. Change the food you put out by about 10% each day. Your rabbit will adapt quickly to the new food, especially pellets.
How to make rabbits feel better?
Replace about 10% of your rabbit's meal with the new pellets. Increase the amount by 10% each day until your rabbit adjusts. Rabbits have very sensitive digestive systems, so a sudden switch in pellets often makes them feel a little sick. Change out food gradually to keep your pet healthy.
What do rabbits eat?
Pellets are meant to be a small part of a rabbit's diet. Green vegetables like romaine lettuce, herbs, kale, and turnip greens are a few options to pick up from your local supermarket. On average, a rabbit needs about 10 oz (280 g), or 2 cups, of vegetables for every 6 lb (2.7 kg) of its body weight.
