- Hay. This should be the basis of the rabbit diet. It is the most important food for rabbits because it is high in fiber.
- 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.
- 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.
- Fruits. You can also give fruits to rabbits but they should be in very small portions. Fruits are foods high in calories and sugars.
What do Rabbits eat?
Thus, rabbit feed includes the following: This should be the basis of the rabbit diet. It is the most important food for rabbits because it is high in fiber. It must always be freely available and must never be lacking. Hay makes up 80% of rabbits’ diet and they must also have access to fresh hay throughout the day.
How much hay should I Feed my Rabbit?
Large, unlimited amounts of fresh hay should be offered daily. Young bunnies should be introduced to hay as soon as they can eat on their own. Mixed grass hay or Timothy hay is preferred because it is lower in calories and calcium than alfalfa. Use a good quality, high fiber alfalfa or timothy based pellet as a small part of your rabbit’s diet.
What should I Feed my 1 year old rabbit?
By the end of its first year, your rabbit’s daily diet should consist of unlimited grass hays, a small portion of pellets and two to four cups of at least three different fresh vegetables for every six pounds of weight. Wash and chop all vegetables thoroughly and serve them moist to help aid digestion.
What can I Feed my Pet Rabbit for digestion?
Feed your rabbit fresh vegetables. Fresh vegetables keep your rabbit’s intestines well hydrated, which helps with overall digestion. There are many vegetables that you can feed your rabbit, including celery, collard greens, green peppers, and radish tops.
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.
What kind of food do rabbits like to eat most?
Rabbits love their food and enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables as part of a balanced diet. The main part of a rabbit's diet should be unlimited amounts of fresh hay (preferably Timothy or Meadow Hay), grass, and plenty of clean water available.
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.
What fruits can I feed my rabbit?
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 is rabbit Favourite vegetable?
Beyond leafy greens you can feed other vegetables such as root vegetables or “flowers” such as broccoli and cauliflower. These foods are often higher in starch or sugars and should be fed in lesser amounts than the leafy greens.
What do rabbits eat and drink mostly?
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 else can rabbits drink besides water?
In short, water is vital. Rabbits must have access to plenty of fresh water at all times. Rabbits eating lots of fresh grass and greens will drink less, whilst those eating mostly hay will drink more. Bowls are better than bottles as lapping from a bowl is more natural to rabbits.
What should I not feed my rabbit?
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 to feed bunnies?
Alfalfa hay is higher in calcium and protein than grass hay, which is ideal for growing rabbits but too rich for adults. If you are feeding alfalfa it's a good idea to feed it mixed with grass hay. This stops your rabbits getting so hooked on alfalfa that it's difficult to make the transition to grass hay when they reach adulthood. You should phase out alfalfa at around four to five months old.
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.
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 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.
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.
Why do rabbits eat hay?
Also, because rabbits possess two pairs of continuously growing incisor teeth, they need to consume hay constantly to help them wear them down and keep them at a healthy size.
What are the health problems of rabbits?
Two of the main health problems in rabbits are intestinal tract problems and dental (tooth) problems. Both can be largely avoided by providing the correct or appropriate rabbit feed or diet.
Is rabbit feed a herbivore?
It is important to point out that rabbits are herbivores; therefore their natural feed is rich in fiber and poor in energy. Thus, rabbit feed includes the following:
Can rabbits eat fruit?
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.
Do rabbits have teeth?
Dental problems are not always obvious. Many rabbits are seeing their teeth deteriorate, both on the outside and the roots without giving visible symptoms. Unfortunately, many times, when we realize it, the problem is advanced and difficult to solve. Once again, proper nutrition, especially the consumption of large amounts of hay, plays a fundamental role in the prevention of these problems.
Do rabbits eat leaves?
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.
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.
How to clean fruit before feeding rabbit?
Rinse the fruit thoroughly before feeding it to your rabbit .
