As mentioned in my previous post, rabbits have very delicate digestive systems and so it is very important that you only feed your rabbit foods that are good for them. There is a lot of information out there but I thought it would be handy to have it all in once place, so here we go!
What should a rabbits diet consist of?
Rabbits need to have constant access to fresh hay. This should be given in unlimited amounts and be available to them throughout the entire day to eat. for my rabbit, for example, she has a litter tray that is filed with hay twice a day - I give her a healthy load in the morning and another healthy load before I go to bed. If it ever looks a bit empty, I will top it up again. It is always best to igve a rabbit too much hay rather than not enough. Rabbits can maintain their own body weight quite easily and so will only eat as much hay as they need to as and when they are hungry, so while giving them access to too much hay won't harm them, not giving them enough can lead to a whole heap of health issues. The hay should make up 80-90% of their diet.
Your rabbit should also have a handful of leafy greens each day. I give my rabbit her greens in the evening as her dinner but you could sprinkle this in throughout the day or have it first in the morning if that works better for your routines.
Rabbits should also have a tablespoon of pellets every day. I however split this up, so my rabbit gets half in the morning when I first wake up, and then the other half in the evening just before I go to bed. Always check the ingredients of pellets though - you want them to be timothy hay, not alfalfa. Alfalfa is very sugary and is meant for baby rabbits. Giving the wrong pellets again can lead to health problems.
Treats should be given as a treat. They do not need to be given everyday and even then should only be given in very small amounts. The best treats are fruit for your rabbit, although some pet store treats can be suitable. Avoid any rabbit treats though that include dairy (so no yogurt drops!) or are brightly coloured. Anything brightly coloured is very likely harmful to your rabbit and so is not worth the risk.
In additional to all of the points above, always ensure that your rabbit has access to water. The best way to do this to have a water bowl placed where it can be easily accessibly for your rabbit and the water should be changed at least once a day - likely more in extreme temperatures or if the water if filled with grass or hay or anything else. Water bowls are the most natural way for a rabbit to get water as water bottles can limit water flow and this could cause dehydration.
Rabbit safe foods
DISCLAIMER: I am a very protective bunny mom so I am never willing to risk it with my rabbit's health. If it has even the smallest chance of upsetting her stomach, I won't feed it to her. I have marked with a * below which ones we feed Lola.
Rabbit safe vegetables
- little gem lettuce *
- basil *
- parsley *
- coriander *
- mint
- dandelion greens
- romaine lettuce
- bok choy
- dill
- fennel
- watercress
- carrots
UNSAFE vegetables
- potatoes
- rhubarb
- mushrooms
- beans of any sort
- onions
- iceberg lettuce
- broccoli (technically ok in very small doses but can cause gas, which in turn can cause GI problems for your rabbit)
Rabbit safe fruit
- banana *
- apple * (but no seeds)
- strawberries
- raspberries
- grapes
- currants
- blueberries
Are there any others I have missed off the list that your rabbits love/have regularly? Let me know and I can add them on!
T xxx
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