Brenda Khan
A rabbit's diet is extremely important to its overall health. Rabbits are herbivores and grazers, so they eat continuously throughout the day. They have very specific dietary needs and a complex, sensitive digestive system. A rabbit's diet should consist of fresh hay and grass, leafy greens, and a few pellets. They should be given fruit and root vegetables, like carrots, sparingly as a treat. Rabbits also need constant access to fresh, clean water.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet Consistency | Unlimited access to food throughout the day |
| Main Diet | Hay, grass, and leafy greens |
| Quantity of Hay | One bundle or ball of hay per day, as big as the rabbit |
| Type of Hay | Timothy, orchard grass, brome, and oat hay |
| Fresh Vegetables | 1/4 to 1/2 cup of leafy greens per 4-5 pounds of body weight |
| Variety of Vegetables | 2-3 types of vegetables, with one new vegetable introduced at a time |
| Frequency of Vegetables | 1-2 cups of vegetables per 4 pounds of body weight daily |
| Fruit | 1-2 tablespoons of fruit per 5 pounds of body weight, 1-2 times a week |
| Pellets | 1/4 to 1/2 cup of high-fibre pellets per 4-5 pounds of body weight daily |
| Water | Constant access to fresh, clean water, changed twice a day |
| Treats | Occasional treats like carrots, sweet potatoes, and apples |
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What You'll Learn
Hay and grass
Hay should be fresh, free of mould, dirt, and twigs, green to light green in colour, and low in dust. Second-cut hay, harvested partway through the growing season, is a good choice for most rabbits because it has a good balance of protein, fibre, and fat. If your rabbit is a little overweight, first-cut hay, harvested early in the season, might be a better option because it is high in fibre and lower in protein and fat. If your rabbit needs to gain weight, third-cut hay, harvested towards the end of the season, is a great choice because of its high protein and fat content.
Rabbits should be given at least one bundle of good-quality hay every day – it should be as big as they are. Unlimited, high-quality grass hay, such as timothy, orchard, brome, or oat hay, should make up the bulk of a rabbit's diet. Grass hay is high in fibre, which is critical to maintaining a rabbit's healthy digestive tract. Alfalfa hay is not a good choice for an adult rabbit as it is too rich to be fed daily. It can be given to rabbits under 1 year old, but older rabbits should be switched to grass hay. Timothy hay pellets can be given to bunnies in small quantities.
Rabbits need to chew to maintain the health of their continuously growing teeth. Chew toys should always be available. Hard wooden chew toys (blocks and sticks), huts or balls made of timothy hay, and cardboard are best.
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Vegetables
A rabbit's diet should consist of a variety of fresh vegetables and leafy greens. This should make up about 10% of their daily food intake.
Rabbits require a constant supply of hay or grass to nibble on throughout the day, and this should constitute 85-90% of their diet. Therefore, vegetables should be given sparingly, with adult rabbits consuming no more than 2 cups of fresh vegetables daily. Dwarf breeds and rabbits under 5 pounds should be limited to 1 cup per day. It is important to introduce new vegetables slowly and in small quantities, offering a variety of two or three vegetables at a time.
Some vegetables that rabbits can eat include romaine lettuce, bok choy, mustard greens, carrot tops, cilantro, watercress, basil, kohlrabi, beet greens, broccoli greens, collard greens, dandelion greens, parsley, kale, Swiss chard, and escarole. Vegetables like carrots, which are high in carbohydrates, should be fed sparingly, only once or twice a week.
It is crucial to avoid feeding rabbits certain foods, such as potatoes, corn, beans, seeds, nuts, grains, cookies, and bread. These items are difficult for rabbits to digest and can lead to serious digestive problems.
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Pellets
It is important to feed rabbits the right kind of pellets. Pellets should be high-quality and high-fibre, with a minimum fibre content of 18%. Alfalfa pellets are only suitable for young rabbits under 1 year old, as they need the extra protein and calcium as they grow. Adult rabbits should be fed grass hay pellets, such as timothy hay pellets, and only in small quantities. This is because rabbits get most of their nutrition from hay and grass, which should make up 80% to 90% of their diet. Pellets with seeds, grains, or nuts should be avoided, as rabbits are unable to digest their high-fat content.
When introducing new pellets to a rabbit's diet, it is important to do so gradually. This is because rabbits have sensitive digestive systems, and sudden changes in diet can make them ill. To transition to a new type of pellet, start by mixing a small amount of the new pellets with the current pellets. Over several days, slowly increase the proportion of new pellets until you have fully transitioned.
Rabbits also engage in coprophagy, a process by which they eat their own faecal pellets, known as cecotropes, cecal droppings, nocturnal droppings, or night droppings. These are different from normal rabbit droppings, as they are small, soft, or pasty, darker in colour, and have a strong fermented or sweet smell. Cecotropes serve as a rich source of nutrients for rabbits, specifically protein and vitamins B and K.
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Fruit
A rabbit's diet should consist of 80-90% fresh hay, with the remaining 10% made up of fresh vegetables and leafy greens. Fruits should be considered a treat and should make up less than 5% of a rabbit's daily diet.
Rabbits have sensitive digestive tracts, so it is important to introduce new fruits to their diet slowly and one at a time. Fruits can be given to rabbits one or two times a week, with the appropriate serving being 1 to 2 tablespoons of fruit per 5 pounds of body weight.
Some good fruits to feed your rabbit include:
- Strawberries
- Bananas
- Raspberries
- Pineapple
- Apples (without seeds)
- Melons
- Tomatoes (ripe only, unripe tomatoes are toxic)
- Blackberries
It is important to avoid giving your rabbit fruits that are high in sugar, as this can be bad for their health. It is also important to thoroughly wash all fruits before feeding them to your rabbit to remove any pesticides or chemicals.
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Water
Rabbits tend to prefer drinking water from a heavy ceramic bowl, but they can also drink from drip-feed bottles. If using bottles, the ends should be checked daily to ensure they are not blocked. Water containers should be cleaned daily and the water should be changed twice a day, even if the rabbit hasn't finished it.
In summer, look out for algae as the water or container may appear green. In winter, the water may freeze over, so it is useful to have a spare bottle or two at home.
Rabbits also need to chew to maintain the health of their continuously growing teeth. Chew toys should always be available, and hard wooden chew toys (blocks and sticks), huts or balls made of timothy hay, and cardboard are best.
Rabbits also engage in coprophagy, which means they eat their own faeces. This usually occurs at night and these faecal pellets are different from the ones normally excreted. They are called cecotropes, cecal droppings, nocturnal droppings, or night droppings, and they are rarely seen by owners. They are a rich source of nutrients for rabbits, providing them with protein and vitamins B and K.
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Frequently asked questions
A bunny's diet should consist of a balanced mix of hay, fresh vegetables, and a few pellets.
Bunnies should be fed grass hay, such as timothy, orchard grass, brome, or oat hay. Alfalfa hay is not recommended for adult rabbits as it is too rich, but it can be given to rabbits under 1 year old.
Adult rabbits should be given no more than 2 cups of fresh vegetables per day. Dwarf breeds and rabbits under 5 pounds should be given 1 cup per day. It is important to introduce new vegetables slowly and monitor your bunny's stool for any signs of digestive problems.
The amount of pellets fed to a bunny should be based on their body weight. Generally, bunnies should be fed 1/4 to 1/2 cup of pellets per 4-5 pounds of body weight daily. It is important not to overfeed pellets as it can lead to an upset stomach, diarrhea, and obesity.
