Feeding Rabbits for a Well Balanced Diet
What to Feed Rabbits to Achieve Optimal Health and Nutrition
Apr 2, 2009
Feeding your rabbit properly is an essential part of caring for your rabbit. Rabbits must be fed properly in order to maintain optimum health and avoid malnourishment and disease.
Feeding Rabbits with Commercially Available Pelleted Feed
Commercially available pelleted diets for rabbits have their place in the proper feeding of rabbits. However, it is easy to overfeed with these diets and cause obesity, especially in pet rabbits.
When deciding what to feed your rabbit, look for a feed which:
- is designed to maintain proper weight and health in the adult rabbit
- contains a fiber content of 18% or higher
- contains a protein content at around 13-14%
- contains a fat content at no more than 3%
When feeding an adult rabbit, feed this diet at a rate of 1/8 to 1/4 cup of food per 5 pounds of body weight for your rabbit daily.
Feeding Rabbits with Hay
Hay is essential in feeding rabbits. Hay provides fiber and other essential nutrients, such as proteins, minerals, vitamins and carbohydrates. Increased fiber content in the diet of a rabbit will help keep the stomach and intestines normal, avoiding problems such as chronically loose stools and hairballs.
Hay should be available for your rabbit at all times. It should be placed in a box or hay rack within your rabbit's cage.
Grass hay is more appropriate than alfalfa hay because grass hay contains fewer calories and is less likely to cause your rabbit to become overweight.
Store your rabbit's hay in a cool dry location and avoid getting it wet. Damp hay can become moldy, causing disease for your rabbit if you feed the moldy hay to your rabbit.
Feeding Rabbits with Vegetables and Fruits
Feeding your rabbit fresh greens is essential and almost as important as the hay. Like hay, greens provide significant quantities of fiber for your rabbit as well as vitamins, minerals, proteins and carbohydrates.
When deciding what to feed your rabbit, look for greens which are dark, tough and thick-leafed as opposed to those which are lighter in color with thinner leaves. Appropriate greens for feeding your rabbit are:
- dandelion greens (and flowers)
- raspberry leaves
- kale
- mustard greens
- escarole
- endive
- raddichio
- collard greens
- beet greens
- carrot tops
- parsley
- turnip tops
- romaine
- Swiss chard
- mint leaves
- cabbage (red and green)
Feed these foods at a rate of 1 cup per 4 pounds of body weight for your rabbit daily. Feed at least three different types of greens daily to give your rabbit some variety in his feed.
You can feed your rabbit other fruits and vegetables in smaller quantities. Appropriate fruits and vegetables include:
- pea pods (not the peas)
- carrots
- apples
- pears
- peaches
- strawberries
- raspberries
- blueberries
- squash
- tomatoes
- papayas
- mangos
Feed these foods at a rate of one tablespoon per 4 pounds of body weight for your rabbit daily.
Always wash any fruits or vegetables thoroughly before feeding them to your rabbit. Remove uneaten food from your rabbit's cage after 3 to 4 hours to prevent spoilage.
If your rabbit has not eaten hay or greens previously, feed the hay for approximately two weeks prior to introducing the greens. Introduce the greens slowly to avoid causing diarrhea or loose stools for your rabbit as a result of a sudden change in diet.
Foods to Avoid Feeding Rabbits
Avoid feeding your rabbit foods which contain large amounts of sugar or carbohydrates. Foods to avoid include:
- bananas
- peas
- corn
- beans
- grapes
- white potatoes
- sweet potatoes
- bread
- cookies
- crackers
- rolled oats
- breakfast cereals
- other grain products
Feeding your rabbit properly will help ensure that your rabbit lives a long, healthy life.
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