Anything other than these basics should be considered a "treat" and be given in limited quantities. The amounts of these diet essentials varies with the age of the rabbit.
Pellets : Pellets are most important in the younger stages of rabbit development because they are highly concentrated in nutrients, helping to ensure proper weight gain. As a rabbit reaches maturity, however, pellets should make up less of the diet replaced with higher quantities of hay and vegetables. Overfeeding pellets in mature rabbits can lead to obesity and other medical conditions. Hay : Rabbits should have fresh hay available 24 hours a day.
Rabbits less than 7 months old may have alfalfa hay, but older rabbits should have grass hays such as timothy or oat hay.
Hay is essential to a rabbit's good health, providing the roughage that helps reduce the danger of hairballs and other blockages. Water : Fresh water should be available to your pet around the clock, as well. Each day, change the water in the dish or water bottle with fresh water. Vegetables : Vegetables provide valuable roughage, as well as essential vitamins. As early as 3 months of age, you can begin to offer vegetables. Introduce new vegetables one at a time.
This way, if a digestive upset occurs, you will know which food may be the culprit. Eliminate those that cause soft stools or diarrhea. Continue to add new varieties, including both dark leafy vegetables and root vegetables, and serve vegetables of different colors. Once your rabbit is used to several vegetables, feed him or her at least three different kinds daily for a mix of nutrients. Include a variety of vegetables from the list below.
Feed at least one of these each day. Kale, mustard greens, and spinach contain high levels of oxalates the salts of oxalic acid , which can accumulate in the system and cause toxicity over time.
Rather than eliminating these veggies from your list because they are highly nutritious and loved by most rabbits , limit your use of them to 1 or 2 meals per week. Rabbit chewing items : In addition to nutrition, hay and vegetables are also important to your rabbit's dental health.
A diet that requires little chewing produces uneven tooth wear, causing enamel to grow on the sides of the teeth. These spikes can cause severe oral pain and excessive salivation often called "slobbers". They also cause reluctance to chew, inability to close the mouth, and reduced food intake. The situation deteriorates as the teeth continue to grow, and, if it is not treated, results in severe malnutrition. In addition to hay and vegetables, you will want to provide your rabbit with chew sticks or gnaw "bones" of untreated wood of various sizes and shapes.
Cardboard tubes and untreated wicker can also be used. Rabbit treats : Treats, including fresh fruits, should be given sparingly because of their calorie content. Rabbits can digest small quantities of oats and barley, but again, they generally provide more calories than necessary. And, too much carbohydrate has been associated with enteritis in rabbits. Your rabbit probably will not get through the entire bag before the pellets start to spoil.
Preserve the pellets in a clean, closed container. Protect the pellets as much as possible from bacteria and other problems that can affect your rabbit's health. 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. Use it for an easy way to keep your rabbit's food fresh. Throw away pellets that look dry or smell rancid. Pellets that look rotten probably are rotten. Don't take a chance on feeding them to your beloved pet. Pellets dry out over time. Old pellets may look or feel crumbly, smell rancid, or show signs of mold growth.
Fresher pellets are always better for a rabbit. Method 4. Provide unlimited alfalfa hay for bunnies under 7 months old. Rabbits need hay for lots of reasons, including to wear down their teeth and improve their digestion. Provide the hay in a clean dish or tray. When your rabbit eats it all, put more in. Hay is the main component of your rabbit's diet and they will graze on it all day.
Feed unlimited timothy hay or an alternative to adult rabbits. Timothy hay is the main food source of adult rabbits, and you can get quality hay at a pet supply store. Oat hay, orchard hay, and brome are some acceptable alternatives. Keep a supply of hay in a bowl or tray that is always accessible to your rabbit. Your rabbit needs the hay to graze. If it doesn't eat enough hay, it may look for additional pellets or vegetables.
Add plenty of vegetables to a bowl of pellets. 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 g , or 2 cups, of vegetables for every 6 lb 2. The amount of vegetables you offer your rabbit depends on how many pellets you give it.
Keep it proportional. Your rabbit needs fewer pellets when you give it more vegetables. Offer small amounts of fruit as a treat for your rabbit. The high sugar content in fruit means it's not a replacement for pellets. Some options for fruit treats include bananas, berries, peaches, and apple slices.
Limit the treat to once or twice a week. Fruit like apples, watermelons, and cherries are safe as long as you take out the seeds. Other foods, including meat and grains, aren't safe for rabbits. Avoid giving your bunny human treats. Give your rabbit plenty of water in a clean bowl. The best way to serve water is in a heavy bowl. Place the bowl in a corner of your rabbit's cage. Change out the water every day, washing the bowl with soap and hot water. With a steady supply of food and water, your rabbit will be well cared for.
When it's empty, fill it up again. Hanging water bottles are an option, but many rabbits have problems using them. Also, they are more difficult to clean than bowls. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube.
Let your rabbit out of its cage to exercise! Daily exercise is a great way to improve your rabbit's health, including when it gains weight from eating too many pellets. Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0. Whenever you give your rabbit a new food, introduce it slowly.
For instance, offer a small piece of lettuce, then increase the quantity each day until your pet adjusts. Bigger rabbits naturally need more food than smaller rabbits.
Adjust the amount of food you offer according to your rabbit's size and activity level. Pellet manufacturers lure in customers through fancy packaging and colors. A variety of two or three vegetables is ideal. Add one new vegetable at a time, and watch for signs of loose stool or diarrhea because, as mentioned above, bunnies have delicate digestive systems.
Certain vegetables can be given every day, while others should be fed sparingly, one or two times a week. Do not feed your rabbit potatoes, corn, beans, seeds or nuts. Fruit should be given to your bunny one or two times a week.
The appropriate serving is one to two tablespoons of fruit either one kind or a mixture per five pounds of body weight. As with vegetables, fruit should be introduced slowly and one at a time. Like lots of people, many rabbits have a sweet tooth. As with humans, treats are at the top of the food pyramid for bunnies and therefore should be fed sparingly. Healthy treats for your bunny include small pieces of fresh or freeze-dried fruit the approved fruits listed above ; natural, unprocessed mixes that include hay and dried flowers the approved flowers listed above ; and Oxbow brand rabbit treats.
Always read the ingredient list on store-bought treats because not all of them are safe for bunnies.
Avoid treats that include added sugar, preservatives and artificial coloring, and never give your rabbit human treats. Some foods are not good for rabbits under any circumstances because they can make rabbits extremely sick. Here are foods to avoid giving your bunny completely:. Finally, rabbits need to stay hydrated, so they should have an unlimited supply of fresh water, which should be changed daily.
The water container should be cleaned with soap and water every few days.
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