Rabbits enjoy their food, and as a responsible bunny owner you’ll need to make sure you’re feeding them correctly. So, what should you feed your rabbit?
A good rabbit diet is made up of hay, vegetables and pellets, and fresh water should be available to your bun at all times. And, of course, the occasional treat is very well received too!
Let’s take a further look at all the components that make up a healthy rabbit diet.
Hay
Hay is the most important part of your rabbit’s diet. About 85% of your rabbit’s diet should be grass or good quality hay. This is because hay has a number of health benefits to your rabbit, and without enough of it, you may run into a number of medical issues (and an expensive vet bill!)
Hay helps to mimic your rabbit’s natural grass-based diet in the wild as closely as possible. Hay contains a lot of fiber, which helps to keep your rabbit’s digestive system running smoothly.
Without sufficient fiber, rabbit’s can be prone to gastrointestinal (GI) stasis. GI stasis causes the digestive tract to become compact, making it difficult for the rabbit to pass any food. GI stasis can be fatal, and if you suspect your rabbit is suffering from it, you should take them to the vet immediately.
Hay also has benefits for your rabbit’s teeth. Unlike human teeth, rabbit teeth are constantly growing. Chewing on hay prevents their teeth becoming too long or sharp as it helps to wear the teeth down. Many rabbits struggle with dental health, so a healthy hay diet can help to prevent this.
You should give your rabbit a large handful of hay every day. As a guide, they should be eating a bundle about as big as they are each day.
What Kind Of Hay Should I Buy For My Rabbit?
Choosing the right hay for your rabbit can be confusing, particularly if you are a new rabbit owner. There are a few different types of hay, including timothy, orchard grass, oat and alfalfa hay.
Alfalfa hay should only be fed to baby bunnies. This is because alfalfa hay has a high protein and sugar content, which isn’t great for adult rabbits. Once your rabbit reaches seven months of age, they can be moved onto timothy, orchard grass or oat hay. You may have to try a few different types of hay until you find one your rabbit likes.
Your hay should look and smell fresh, and always store it away from water or damp so it doesn’t become moldy.
Fresh Vegetables
Fresh vegetables should also be a part of your rabbit’s daily diet. A handful of a few different vegetables a day is enough. Vegetables rabbits enjoy and can eat include:
- Basil
- Beet Greens
- Bok Choy
- Brussel Sprouts
- Carrot Tops
- Celery
- Cilantro
- Cucumber
- Dandelion Leaves
- Endive
- Green Peppers
- Kohlrabi
- Mint
- Mustard Greens
- Parsley
- Radicchio
- Radish Tops
- Squash
- Watercress
- Wheat Grass
- Zucchini
Certain vegetables are high in calcium and should only be given to your rabbit occasionally as a treat, otherwise they can develop calcium-based bladder stones. These include carrots, collard greens, kale, Swiss chard, and escarole.
Make sure you wash your vegetables thoroughly before feeding them to your bunny. If your rabbit is trying a new vegetable for the first time, give them a small amount to make sure they don’t have any adverse reactions to it.
There are certain plants and vegetables which are poisonous to rabbits. These poisonous garden plants include buttercups, dafodills, poppies, foxglove, azalea, hemlock and figwort.
Pellets
Pellets should only be given to your rabbit in small quantities. An adult rabbit that weighs between 6 to 10 pounds should eat around one-quarter cup of pellets daily, while a rabbit under 5 pounds will need only one-eighth of a cup.
You should buy pellets that have a high fiber conent, and avoid pellets that have dried corn, nuts and seeds added, as these can be harmful to bunnies. Muesli style rabbit food is not healthy and can encourage picky eating. Your rabbit will pick out all the “tasty” parts of the muesli, and leave the pellets, which can lead to an unbalanced diet.
If your rabbit is under one year old, then they can be fed alfalfa pellets. However, you should make sure you are not also feeding them alfalfa hay — opt for a grass hay instead.
You shouldn’t top up your rabbit’s pellet bowl after feeding them. This will encourage them to eat more pellets and they won’t eat enough hay and grass. However, if your rabbit is growing, underweight or pregnant, then they will need to eat larger portions of pellets.
Water
Just like humans, rabbits need sufficient water to survive. They should have an unlimited supply of fresh water and it should be changed daily. If you live in a very cold climate and your bun is housed outside, you may need to change your rabbit’s water more than once a day to prevent it from freezing. Or, you can purchase a heated water bottle.
You can choose to use a water bottle or a water bowl. Water bottles are easy to use and cause less mess, but can be difficult to clean. If you choose a water bowl, we recommend a ceramic one so it won’t tip over easily.
Treats
We all want to spoil our bunnies from time to time, and treats can be fed to your rabbit in moderation. Some of the best treats you can feed to your bunny are fresh or freeze dried fruits, such as apple, banana, berries, grape, melon, orange, pear, pineapple and watermelon.
You could also feed your bun some unprocessed mixes that include hay and dried flowers, and Oxbow brand rabbit treats. When choosing treats for your rabbit from a store, always make sure to read the ingredient list. Avoid any treats that include added sugar, preservatives and artificial coloring.
Don’t forget that spot cleaning of your rabbit’s hutch should take place every day, during which you should remove any old food and refill their water bottle or bowl with fresh water. This will help to keep their home clean and help prevent them from becoming sick.
How Much Should I Feed My Rabbit?
In general, your rabbit should be eating a bundle of hay as large as they are. This hay should make up about 85% of your rabbit’s diet, and it should be available to them at all times. Make sure to give them fresh hay every day.
As for pellets, these should only be given in small quantities. An adult rabbit should eat around one-quarter cup of pellets daily, while a smaller or younger rabbit under 5 pounds will need only one-eighth of a cup. Check the guidelines from the manufacturer on the back of the food packet.
No more than two cups of fresh vegetables should be given to your rabbit per day. One cup is enough if your rabbit is a dwarf breed or weighs under 5 pounds. A selection of two to three vegetables is a good mix.
Fruits and treats should only be given occasionally. Fruits contain a lot more sugar than vegetables, so should not be given every day.
What Time Of The Day Should You Feed Your Rabbit?
You should limit feeding your rabbit to two times a day. The times are not so important, but many owners choose to feed their bun’s once in the morning and once in the evening. You could give them fresh vegetables in the morning, and then pellets in the evening. Hay should be available at all times in large quantities, but you should make sure they have some new hay fresh every day.
Whatever times of the day you decide to feed your rabbit, make sure you stick to these times. Rabbits like a routine and sudden changes in their feeding times or diet can affect them. If you ever decide to change your rabbit’s food, make sure you do this gradually over time as to not upset their stomach or make them sick.
