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naturestee
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One of the most common questions people have is what they should feed their rabbits. There's no one right answer. Each rabbit is an individual and will respond differently to different foods. Some rabbits can't have veggies, others can't have alfalfa pellets, some gain weight easily while others always lose weight at the drop of a hat. Hopefully this will help answer some of your questions and help you learn how to make your rabbit's diet the best it can be for him.
If you'd like to read up more on rabbit nutrition and feeding recommendations, check out the threads in Bunny 101:
Feeding Your Rabbit
Pellets
Hay: All About It (And how to get your rabbits to eat it)
Vegetables
General guidelines
- Rabbit intestines are designed to process large amounts of fiber. Too little fiber can result in problems with diarrhea or GI stasis. The best sources of fiber are hay and good quality pellets.
- Growing and breeding rabbits need more energy than non-breeding adult rabbits. However, young rabbits are more sensitive to carbohydrates so foods such as grains, fruits, and other treats should be very limited.
- Small breeds tend to have higher metabolisms and often require more food per pound than larger breeds.
- Long haired rabbits need more energy because of their constantly-growing fur. Too little protein or or energy could result in the rabbit using it's own muscles to provide the nutrients to grow the fur. Keep a close eye and make sure the rabbit is neither underweight nor overweight.
- Sick and elderly rabbits have higher energy requirements.
Hay
Do I need to feed hay?
Yes. Hay is very healthy for rabbits and should always be available to them. It "scrubs out" their intestines, preventing problems with blockages, GI stasis, and diarrhea. It also helps to wear down those constantly growing teeth and keeps bored bunnies busy.
Breeders do not always feed hay because it's very difficult to clean up, especially with a large number of rabbits. In this case, it's more important to keep the rabbitries clean and prevent the spread of disease.
What hay should I feed?
Young, growing rabbits can be fed alfalfa, although be cautious because it is very rich. Rabbits of all ages should be given a grass hay such as timothy, orchard grass, oat hay, or one of the many other types. Some rabbits will like certain types more than others. It's a good idea to feed multiple types if you can, because it encourages them to eat more.
Feed loose hay, not cubes, for a daily diet. Hay cubes often have sweeteners added and also might not wear the molars down as well as long-strand hay.
A small amount of alfalfa hay or a piece of hay cube can be fed as a healthy treat.
Where can I get hay?
Many pet stores carry small bags of timothy hay. However, these are expensive and are often dusty due to the extra handling and shipping. Or you can order hay in bulk online from Oxbow, American Pet Diner, and other hay companies. This often costs less per pound, even after you add in shipping, and it might be more fresh than a bag that's been sitting in the pet store for months.
An excellent option is to buy hay in bales from feed stores or farmers. Always inspect the hay to make sure there's no mold, it's not too dusty, doesn't have too many weeds, and is an appropriate grass hay. In some areas most of the hay available has a lot of alfalfa mixed in and might not be appropriate for rabbits.
If you're having trouble finding hay locally, check these sites:
http://www.hayexchange.com/
http://content.fsa.usda.gov/haynet/default.asp
My rabbit doesn't seem to like hay. How can I get him to eat more?
Some rabbits prefer fresher, less dusty hay. If you're buying small bags of hay from a pet store, try buying better-quality bales or ordering in bulk from a company such as Oxbow. It's also a good idea to feed multiple types of hay. Some just aren't that thrilled with timothy, but might go head-over-heels for oat hay, brome, or one of the other types. Mixing several types of hay allows a rabbit to "forage" and often encourages them to eat more, plus since different hay types have different nutritional values (even hay grown indifferent soil types have different nutrients) it is a great part of a balanced diet.
Also, many rabbits love having hay in toys or different containers. Try putting it in cardboard boxes and tubes, tied up in paper lunch bags, stuffed into wicker balls or baskets, etc. Some rabbits prefer hay racks while others would rather have hay in their litterbox or on the floor.
Pellets
Do I need to feed pellets?
Almost always yes, even if only a small amount to balance the rest of the rabbit's diet.. Pellets are designed to provide all the nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, that rabbits need. It's very difficult to provide a balanced diet without pellets. If your rabbit needs to have his pellets cut back due to health problems, keep feeding at least a tablespoon or two a day so he gets a little bit of the necessary nutrients. Also, switching from an alfalfa pellet to a timothy pellet can help manage many health problems for which pellet reductions are recommended such as obesity, cecotrope problems, and bladder sludge and stones. If you're interested in a no-pellet diet, I'll cover that later.
What type of pellets should I feed?
There's all sorts of different brands and types of rabbit pellets, some good, some decent, some horrible. Again, each rabbit is different. One rule is to only feed plain pellets, no treats added!
Rabbits that are growing or breeding should be fed a pellet with 16% protein and at least 18% fiber. More fiber is better as it will help keep the intestines moving properly. A lot of the best brands for this type of pellet are found at feed or farm stores.
Adult rabbits can be fed the same pellets as babies, but it's probably best to reduce the amount as they are rich. Some feed stores carry 15% protein maintenance pellets designed for that adult rabbits. Again, go for something with a decent amount of fiber. Some adult rabbits become sensitive to the extra, unneeded protein and get excess or mushy cecotropes (cecals). Other rabbits are prone to urinary tract infections, bladder sludge or stones, or need more fiber in their diets to help prevent intestinal problems. These rabbits should be fed a timothy-based pellet because they have less protein and calcium and more fiber.
Senior rabbits and those with chronic illnesses sometime have difficulties maintaining their weights. They may need alfalfa pellets again to help them keep their weight up.
How much pellets should I feed?
Growing rabbits should be allowed unlimited pellets. For breeding rabbits, it's best to consult a knowledgeable breeder. Some recommend a larger amount of measured pellets, others free-feed.
I use the HRS guidelines as a basis for adults. They recommend feeding 1/4 to 1/2 cup of pellets per 6 lbs of body weight,depending on how much veggies are fed and the rabbit's metabolism. Keep an eye on your rabbit's weight and adjust the pellet amount as needed. Also, reducing pellets slightly can encourage a rabbit to eat more hay.
Vegetables
Do I have to feed vegetables?
As long as you are feeding pellets, vegetables are not essential, although a rabbit diet with a large volume and variety of vegetables, unlimited hay and only a very limited amount of pellets can promote healthy GI tracts and teeth among other benefits. However, some rabbits are sensitive to certain veggies, while others can't tolerate any. Vegetables are crucial if you are not feeding pellets, and it's very important to feed a large amount of several different types.
Important tips:
-Start slowly. Only give a small piece of any new vegetable, once a day for several days before you increase the amount. Even rabbits that are fine with other vegetables may get problems such as gas or diarrhea from certain veggies. Not all rabbits will be able to tolerate vegetables either. Each rabbit has different dietary needs.
- Be especially careful with rabbits under the age of six months, as diarrhea in young rabbits can quickly become fatal. Many owners wait until their rabbits are older before they start introducing vegetables.
- Just because we can eat it doesn't mean a rabbit can or should. Print off one of the many safe vegetable lists available (such as The Rabbit Menu) and use it to help you shop. When in doubt, don't feed it!
- If you are feeding veggies as large part of the daily diet, try to feed at least three types of leafy greens a day. If you can, rotate some of the vegetables so they're not eating the same few things week in and week out. Don't make big changes, just small ones such as switching one veggie at a time.
- Carrots are high in sugar, so feed them sparingly and more as a treat.
- Some veggies have high calcium levels. Although the amount of calcium in fresh vegetables is much lower than in dried foods such as alfalfa, these vegetables may not be appropriate for rabbits with bladder sludge/calcium sensitivity problems.
As long as they're on a safe list, does it matter what veggies I feed?
It depends. Obviously you shouldn't feed something that you know your rabbit is sensitive to. And if he's prone to gas problems, avoid veggies like broccoli that are common culprits. If vegetables are a regular, significant part of your rabbit's diet then you should feed at least three different leafy green veggies per day, plus occasional non-leafy veggies like carrots, snowpeas, broccoli, etc. Also, it's a good idea to feed at least one veggie a day that is a good source of Vitamin A. Leaf lettuce, parsley, canned pumpkin, and carrots are good examples, and there are more on this list:
http://www.rabbit.org/care/veggies.html
If your rabbit has problems with bladder stones or sludge, it's still okay to feed veggies with high calcium contents (kale, collard greens, mustard greens) as the water content helps to flush it out of the system. However, you might want to feed them in smaller amounts to be sure. This list shows the calcium content of many veggies:
http://www.carrotcafe.com/f/calevel.html
I heard lettuce is bad for rabbits. Is that true?
For the most part, this is a myth. Iceberg lettuce does often cause problems, but that's because it's essentially crunchy water. Even if your rabbit tolerates Iceberg lettuce it's not a good idea to feed it because it doesn't provide much nutrition at all.
Dark green lettuces such as green or red leaf, romaine, and endive are fine. They provide essential nutrients such as Vitamin A and are usually available year round, so they make great additions to a rabbit diet.
Treats
What treats can I feed my rabbit?
For one, I don't recommend buying treat sat a pet store except for alfalfa hay or hay cubes. Pet store treats are usually crammed full of sugar and many of them, such as seed-laden treat sticks, are larger than what a Flemish Giant should get in a week.
Most rabbits love small treats like rolled oats (Quaker Old Fashioned Oats), raisins, canned pumpkin, safe fruit, alfalfa, or hay cubes. Feed only a small amount at a time, no more than once a day but preferably less often. Be very careful with young, growing rabbits as they are more prone to upsets.
List of safe fruits:
http://www.rabbit.org/care/fruits.html
Be aware that some rabbits are sensitive to sugars and should not get any treats at all. Usually they end up as excess or mushy cecals.
Supplements
Does my rabbit need a salt block or mineral block?
No. Your rabbit's necessary salt and minerals should come from it's pellets, or if you're not feeding pellets then from the large, varied amount of veggies you are feeding. Many rabbits do not even like salt licks, although some will eat them to the point of dehydration.
Does my rabbit need a vitamin supplement?
No. The vitamins should come from the pellets and/or the veggies. As in humans, vitamin supplements are often not absorbed as well as naturally occurring vitamins. It's far better to ensure that the rabbit is getting adequate nutrition from it's food.
The No-Pellet Diet
I read that pellets can be bad for rabbits. Is that true?
For the most part, no. Some rabbits with health problems need temporary, or even permanent, no-pellet diets. However this is not to be undertaken lightly. Feeding pellets ensures that your rabbit is getting at least some of all the necessary vitamins and minerals. It's very difficult to feed a rabbit properly without any pellets.
How should I feed my rabbit if I'm not going to feed pellets?
First, do lots of research. Talk to a good rabbit-savvy vet who understands nutrition and read up on rabbit diets, their needs, and the nutrient content of different vegetables. If your rabbit is sensitive to vegetables or is very picky, then you can not do a no-pellet diet.
There's no "magic vegetable" that will provide all the necessary nutrients so you'll need to feed a large number of several different vegetables every day. Common recommendations are to feed the rabbit a pile of veggies as big as it's body every day. The veggies should be mainly leafy greens, at bare minimum three different types of leafy greens. More variety is better, and it's also better to choose from different families of plants. Make sure you're feeding at least one veggie that is a good source of Vitamin A, and also feed some veggies with a decent calcium content. A diet too low in calcium has been linked to weak bones in rabbits which increases the likelihood of a broken bone. This is can happen in both young rabbits and adults.
You should also look at feeding a small amount of fruit daily to add more vitamins and antioxidants. Berries such as blueberries and strawberries are good vitamin sources, and citrus fruits like oranges provide Vitamin C.
It's also important to feed several different types of hay. Different types of hay, and even hay grown on different soil types,will have different nutrition. Feeding several types balances out any deficiencies that one might have and also encourages the rabbit to eat more. It might be a good idea to feed a small amount of alfalfa too.
What about a hay-only diet?
No. It is not possible for a rabbit to get all his necessary nutrition from hay. It's just like a human living off of only rice. Nutritional deficiencies will occur.
Do you have any questions? Please ask!
Last edited on 4 Mar 2009 10:46 am by Pipp
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jupiterannette
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| Joined: | 27 Jan 2007 |
| Location: | Berlin, Massachusetts USA |
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| Bunnies: | Hunny Bunny & Chamomile (Cami) | | Name: | | | RO Blog: | |
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so I make up the best green sald for the kids...
15 differnt greens
a plumb tomato
a yellow zuchini
green seedless grapes
a granny smith apple
a bannana
raddishes
carrots
raw red potatoe
red lettuce
green peppers
snap peas
snow peas
green beans
and 2 cups of oatmeal (un-cooked)
one big hug, and
lots of luv
and the 10 birds 3 buns and the chinchilla LOVE IT
I usually make it 3 times a week for the kids and it last 2 days...
and I also add corn, peas, hard boiled eggs, and pasta for the birds, but not the buns
they love it..
and once a week I make a VERY WEAK pepermint tea caffiene free and they love it.. the "good" vet said it is good for the respiritory and digestive system of all the animals I have.
except the dog, he gets cooked beef, chicken , ham and rice,along with oatmeal, and veggies 3 times a week on top of his normal dryfeed. and lots of cookies!
I also grow green hay and wheat grass for my kids, the buns love it and so do the birds. they only get it once a week, green hay for one one week and then wheAt grass the next week.
I tried doing sprouts but I decided against it becasue I was afraid of the mould...
I buy them sometimes though..
just thought I would share!
Natalie & The Flock
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naturestee
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Please don't feed potatoes or green beans to your rabbits. They are on all the "Don't Feed This To Rabbits" lists. Then just make sure that the rabbits only get very small bits of the fruits, sweet veggies like carrots, zucchini and oats. Those are treat foods for them and too much can upset their stomachs.
Other than that it looks great.
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jupiterannette
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| Joined: | 27 Jan 2007 |
| Location: | Berlin, Massachusetts USA |
| Posts: | 506 |
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there are only small pieces of fruit and not much... most of the oats go to the bottom, and I didnt know they cant have potatoe or green beans, I have been feeding them foryears...
the bunny menu, says the potatoe sprouts are bad, didnt know about the rest of it!
I will stop now though!
Thank you!
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kathy5
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I know this may sound a bit weird but things to help keep teeth trim
can he eat dog bones?
we used to feed them to our hamsters for their teeth
I have apple sticks but he does not sem to like them to to much
the other day I found it on the floor under his hutch either he is trying to tell me something or he was just playing with it
Kathy
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naturestee
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I've heard of a few people using dog biscuits,but I wouldn't recommend it. Hamsters are omnivores and will eat insects and meat in the wild when they can. Rabbits are strict herbivores and should not get dog treats that are likely to have meat. Plus those biscuits are usually made with lots of carbs, which could upset a bunny stomach.
Hay should go a long way to keeping teeth worn down.
Aside from that, what other toys have you tried? Untreated wicker baskets and balls are very popular with my crew, as are untreated mini grapevine wreaths. Different rabbits have different tastes, so try new things until you find a few he likes.
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bouncy_weasel
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do any of you know what would happen if you were to feed a rabbit trix? I am not trying to screw up this thread. Please don't ban me just for saying this. I started think about this a few days ago and it has been in the back of my mind ever since. I can't find the answers on search engines so I came to this forum. I also have no friends or family who own rabbits. so seriously,what the heck happens when you feed a rabbit trix?
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naturestee
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You mean as a treat? It's really sugary, so it could possibly give the rabbit diarrhea.
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bouncy_weasel
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no risk of serious injury and/or death?
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kathy5
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do not take a chance with your bunnies life
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naturestee
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Well, how much is being fed? One piece as a treat might upset the stomach, while a whole handful could make the rabbit very sick.
Diarrhea can lead to death, especially if the rabbit is young (under 6months). Intestinal issues are not minor with rabbits- they can be very dangerous.
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Cutiebunny
Member
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Thank you for having a page about food, I have been very strict with vegetables and heard that water based veges are not good but I see you can feed them cucumber and dark green lettuce. Does that include rocket? This means that I can start introducing more to Fidget's already good diet.
Thank you!
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naturestee
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I just looked it up, what you call rocket is what we call arugula. It is safe to feed.
Cucumber is technically a fruit, and that's how I feed it. Only small pieces occasionally, not larger amounts daily like I would with a safe leafy green.
The only watery veggie I've heard of as being a problem is iceberg lettuce. There are more problems from the gassy veggies which some rabbits can't tolerate- cabbage, broccoli, rappini, etc.
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Cutiebunny
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Thank you very much. I am sure Fidget will be happy to eat other things now except for Carrots and Apple!
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Penny-Rabbit
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that recipe sounds cute, but i was just wondering, why cant they eat chocolate, potatos, or green beans
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Haley
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Rabbits are very sensitive and cant have anything too surgary, starchy etc. A rabbit's diet should be made up of good quality pellets, fresh hay (alfalfa or timothy), water and fresh vegetables. Anything beyond that is a "treat" and should be given in limited quantities.
Here as the HRS suggested veggies:
Alfalfa, radish & amp; clover sprouts
Basil
Beet greens (tops)*
Bok choy
Broccoli (mostly leaves/stems)*
Brussels sprouts
Carrot & carrot tops*
Celery
Cilantro
Clover
Collard greens*
Dandelion greens and flowers (no pesticides)*
Endive*
Escarole
Green peppers
Kale (!)*
Mint
Mustard greens*
Parsley*
Pea pods (the flat edible kind)*
Peppermint leaves
Raddichio
Radish tops
Raspberry leaves
Romaine lettuce (no iceberg or light colored leaf)*
Spinach (!)*
Watercress*
Wheat grass
(!)=Use sparingly. High in either oxalates or goitrogens and may be toxic in accumulated quantities over a period of time
And again, here is a link to suggested fruits,which should be given sparingly.
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naturestee
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Penny Rabbit, chocolate is toxic to most animals, including dogs and cats. Not to mention the sugar could easily overload a rabbit's digestive system and cause diarrhea. Here's a thread about Honeypot's Charlie, who had to be rushed to the vet after eating chocolate:
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=20257&forum_id=16
I think raw potatoes are also poisonous, not to mention way way way too starchy. I'm not sure about green beans, I think they just tend to cause a lot of gas problems.
There are so many veggies that they can eat, there's really no need to try anything that's not on one of the "safe lists."
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Orchid
RO Friend
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The Rabbit menu link...says its not being found...just an FYI
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Lindiwe
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At what age do my bunnies become "adult" and stop growing. They are Netherland Dwarf-types (pretty sure they're not pure-bred though), and just over three months old.
I want to know at what point I should stop giving them unlimited pellets...
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james waller
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also homers(pigeons)-20-strong in captivity, | | Name: | | | RO Blog: | founder of s.o.b.s-save our buns society |
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whew,i better read on,the thread gotta be better than the answer ,james waller
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james waller
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cucumber is a vegtable and always will be ,.i love this website,but i cannot change peoples bad habits,but i will try ,i can agree with some things however,but other stuff sounds midevil,wow  ,james waller
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james waller
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bull.-ony,,,james waller
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james waller
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pipp,.wow,.did you read this stuff,wow i am ,james waller
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james waller
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and the debate goes on,..is pluto a planet???,,,rrrr..james waller
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naturestee
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Hi, it would help me understand what your concerns are if you would say what they are. Everyone has different opinions on what exactly should be fed to rabbits and I try to take a lot of things into account. I've also found that food has to be tailored to each rabbit. What's good for one could make another sick. For example, one of my rabbits can't tolerate pellets but can eat huge amounts of just about every veggie she tries, while other rabbits get diarrhea from any veggies but do well with pellets.
As for the vegetable vs. fruit arguement, I'm a trained botanist. Fruit= mature ovary containing seeds, and in technical/scientific literature this includes cucumber, tomatoes, squash, and others that our culture labels as vegetables because they're not as sweet. They are often more sugary or starchy than the stems or leaves that we would feed our rabbits, so I prefer to feed them as fruits. You can call it whatever you want to call it as long as you keep the nutritional content in mind.
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Rhun and Speckle
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There is never anything about Lemon Tree or their branches.
Does anyone know if Buns can have them to chew on? I have a huge Lemon Tree (no Spikes/thorns) out the back and would love to give my buns a branch to chew but just can't find anything to tell me if I can or not...
Hhmmm maybe I should ask this in a thread all of it's own.
Nik
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