Caring For Rabbits
Diet & Nourishment
Daily Recommended Diet for Rabbits:
A rabbit's daily diet consists of unlimited access to fresh timothy hay and water. They should also receive fresh vegetables, high-quality pellets, and the occasional treat. Typical adult daily feeding should consist of:
- eighty percent timothy hay
- 1 to 4 cups of leafy greens
- ¼ cup of pellets per 4 to 8 pounds of body weight.
- Fruit is not recommended for house rabbits. Sugary treats, which can cause GI stasis, are not necessary to a rabbit's diet.
Rabbits under 6 months of age should be fed:
- unlimited amounts of alfalfa hay
- unlimited young rabbit pellets.
- Introduce fresh greens at 12 weeks of age in lesser amounts.
- Unlimited Grass Hay.
- Timothy-based pellets with NO additives or seeds and a minimum of 18% fiber. Limit to 1/4 cup per 5lbs of body weight per day.
- Rabbits under one year of age may have alfalfa-based pellets.
- Greens like Romaine, Green Leaf, and Red Leaf lettuces. Herbs such as Cilantro, Dandelion leaves, and Parsley. (❌ No Iceberg)
- Treats (all in moderation!):
- Fresh herbs
- Store-bought “healthy” treats like Oxbow Simple Rewards
- Apple wood twigs
- Very limited amount of fruit/carrots
- Pellets with artificial additives and seeds
- Treats with any dairy, seeds, molasses - even if a bunny is pictured on the package.
- Unlimited amount of fruit/carrots
HAY! Hay is an essential part of a rabbit's diet. Without hay, rabbits are subject to illnesses such as GI stasis (to be discussed later), tooth problems, and early death. They need unlimited access to fresh hay 24/7. Listed below are a just few of the reasons why hay should be 80% of your rabbit's diet:
- It helps rabbits maintain a healthy weight.
- It helps keep their constantly growing teeth trimmed.
- It promotes a healthy gut.
- Creating interactive toys with hay encourages natural behaviors such as foraging.
Types of Hay
High quality hay is essential for rabbits. Types of hay can vary from a pet store to a farm store. Good hay should be green and smell fresh; it should not feel like straw. Your rabbit will eat more hay if it is of better quality
Rabbits need unlimited access to fresh hay and it should make up 80% of their daily diet. Hay helps promote a healthy gut, files teeth down and reduces hairballs and other blockages. There are several different kinds of hay a rabbit can eat. Changing your hay choices and brands can encourage picky eaters to start munching and can sometimes reduce allergy symptoms for humans and bunnies.
| Type | Description | Uses |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Cut Timothy Hay | High in stem, low in leaf; long stiff pieces | Great for rabbits who struggle with GI Stasis or teeth issues. Helps to wear down teeth and since it is lower in fat, helps to maintain weight. This hay is high in fiber and low in fat and protein. |
| 2nd Cut Timothy Hay | Flexible stem with medium leaf | This type of hay has the perfect blend of nutrients and is the primary choice of hay for most rabbit owners. |
| 3rd Cut Timothy Hay | Darker green mixed with brown; softer pieces | This type of hay is great for picky eaters, tooth problems, mouth pain or for bunnies that need to gain a bit of weight. This hay is ultra-soft and leafy. |
| Orchard Hay | Thicker blade and softer and lower in protein than Timothy Hay | Great for bunnies and humans who have allergies to other hay types, as it produces less dust than other hays. Also a great hay for picky eaters or to fight hay boredom. |
| Oat Hay | Yellowish in color and has some oat attached to long stems | Great for humans and bunnies suffering from allergies to Timothy Hay. This hay will entice even the pickiest of eaters and can be helpful if your bunny needs to lose a little weight. |
| Botanical Hay | Blend of fragrant herbs mixed with Timothy Hay | This type of hay can stimulate your rabbit's appetite for hay. Can be eaten alone as a treat or mixed with other hays to create an appetizing long strand fiber meal. |
| Alfalfa Hay | High in fat and calories and has three times as much calcium as other hays. Considered a legume type of plant in the pea family, not grass like other types of hays. | Used for young growing rabbits. At the direction of your vet, it can also be fed to adult rabbits in small amounts recovering from surgery due to its high protein level. Feeding too much alfalfa to an adult rabbit can be harmful and cause serious health issues. |
Pellets
Pellets should make up about 5% of your rabbit's diet. As with any food, not all pellets are equal in quality. Pet stores stock their shelves with foods that promise to be “gourmet,” “premium,” “improve dental health,” “fortified with vitamins,” or contain “all-natural ingredients.” Do not be fooled by flashy advertising. Superior quality timothy hay-based pellets are all your rabbit needs. You should avoid commercial pellet food brands with seeds, fancy colored pieces, dried fruit, corn or oats, artificial ingredients, or brands that list added vitamins or minerals. If you are feeding your rabbit a healthy diet focused on hay and fresh greens, they do not need added vitamins and minerals.
You will find articles arguing the true benefit of pellets in a rabbit's diet. Rabbit owners and even vets are split on the issue. If you choose to feed a lower quality of pellets, you must replace the nutritional value lost by increasing the vegetables you provide. Consult a rabbit-savvy vet about the best diet plan for your rabbit.
Vegetables
Vegetables are known as “greens” to most rabbit-savvy people and are crucial to your rabbit's health. However, the KIND of vegetables is just as important as the quantity. The list below is not all-inclusive, but the list of what NOT to feed your rabbit is significant to its health. Rabbits have a delicate digestive system, and anything that could upset that system is dangerous to their health.
Feed a variety of these daily:
- Alfalfa sprouts
- Arugula
- Basil
- Carrot tops
- Celery (cut into small pieces)
- Cilantro
- Clover and clover sprouts
- Dandelion greens and flowers
- Dill
- Endive
- Escarole
- Green leaf lettuce
- Red leaf lettuce
- Green peppers
- Lemongrass
- Mint leaves
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Radicchio
- Radish tops
- Romaine lettuce (❌ No Iceberg)
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Turnip greens
- Thyme
- Watercress
- Wheatgrass
- Yellow squash
- Zucchini squash
The following foods should not be offered more than once per week. Kale and spinach are high in calcium, which rabbits do not need. If given in high quantities over an extended period of time, it may cause kidney problems in the future.
- Beet tops
- Bok choy
- Broccoli leaves and stems
- Kale
- Mustard greens
Foods that are high in carbohydrates and sugar can cause gas in rabbits. Instead of giving fruits and carrots to your rabbit, you should give them decent quality treats.
NEVER FEED THESE TO YOUR RABBIT- Avocados
- Bread
- Cabbage
- Chocolate
- Cookies
- Crackers
- Cereals
- Corn
- Iceberg lettuce
- Nuts
- Onion
- Pasta
- Raw potato or skin
- Rhubarb
- Seeds
- Sugary treats
- Yogurt drops
These items and other human “treats” can cause intestinal problems, including a toxic overgrowth of “bad” bacteria in the intestinal tract. Beware of “rabbit treats” sold in stores. They may include seeds, nuts, corn, or too much sugar. If you grow your own herbs, make sure the herbs are NEVER sprayed with pesticides or treated with any repellants sprayed from lawn maintenance companies.
Water
Rabbits drink a lot of water. Unlike other small animals, rabbits should not drink from bottles hung on the side of a pen. A water bottle forces a rabbit to tilt its head in an unnatural way to drink. Bottles are difficult to clean thoroughly, which can make it easier for algae and bacteria to grow. In several cases, rabbits have gotten their lip or tongue stuck under the ball, resulting in extremely painful injuries to their mouth and even death.
Bottles are not an acceptable option to provide your rabbit with water. Ceramic bowls, gravity water dispensers, or bowls that can attach to the side of the pen make an excellent option for your rabbit.
