Contrary to popular belief, a bunny diet is not limited to lettuce and carrots: these foods should be presented to him sparingly. The digestive system of the domestic rabbit is very fragile and a healthy and balanced diet made up of hay, greenery and pellets is essential to keep your bunny in good health and avoid overweight, digestive (diarrhea, stoppage of transit) and dental problems. Beyond the discomfort that an unbalanced diet can cause, it can also contribute to reducing your life expectancy.
Also, the introduction of each new food must be done in small quantities and gradually to allow your pet's digestive system to adapt.
Hay: Basis of the Rabbit's Diet
Hay should represent between 80 and 90% of the daily food intake. Provide your rabbit with hay at will and even hide it in its cage and in its toys. The diet of rabbits must be very rich in fiber and hay and greenery can easily cover this fiber intake. Not only will the fibers ensure good transit and digestion, but their chewing will also allow good wear of the teeth, and not to mention that these foods are part of the favorite menu of rabbits.
The types of hay to prioritize are:
- Timothy
- Orchard grass
- Bromine
- Oat hay
You can offer your rabbit a single type of hay or several mixed types. Be sure to buy the freshest hay possible and check for mold and dust, which could make your rabbit sick.
Avoid alfalfa hay (Alfafa) for an adult rabbit because it is too rich a legume to be consumed on a daily basis. This type of hay is however recommended for a young rabbit under one year old and can also be given to an adult rabbit as a treat.
Vegetables and Greens on The Menu
Greenery (vegetable leaves, branches, flowers, etc.), a big favorite of rabbits, is also rich in fiber and essential nutrients, but you still have to make sure to vary it to avoid creating other nutritional deficiencies. Most green vegetables found in a supermarket are safe for rabbits. However, some foods are difficult for rabbits to digest and can cause them digestive problems. The following foods should be avoided:
- Potatoes
- But
- Beans
- Seeds
- Nut
The following vegetables are safe and can be given daily to your furry friend:
- Peppers
- Bok choy
- Brussels sprouts
- Carrot tops
- Cucumber
- Endive
- Escarole
- Fennel
- Herbs: basil, coriander, dill, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme
- Lettuces: romaine, green leaf, red leaf, boston bibb, arugula, butter
- Okra leaves
- Radicchio
- Radish leaves
- Sprouts: alfalfa, radish, clover
- Watercress
- Wheatgrass
- Zucchini
The following vegetables should be given once or twice a week or used as an occasional treat:
- Broccoli (stems and leaves only)
- Carrots
- Chard
- Clover
- Green cabbage
- Dandelion greens (pesticide free)
- Flowers: Calendula, Chamomile, Daylily, Dianthus, English Daisy, Hibiscus, Honeysuckle, Marigold, Nasturtium, Pansy, Rose (Calendula, Chamomile, Daylily, Dianthus, English Daisy, Hibiscus, Honeysuckle, Marigold, Nasturtium, Pansy, Rose)
- Kale
- Spinach
Adult rabbits can consume 2 cups of fresh vegetables per day. Small rabbits weighing less than 5 pounds should consume 1 cup of vegetables per day. A mixture of 2 or 3 vegetables a day is enough. If you add a new vegetable to your rabbit's menu, be sure to offer it a small amount at a time and monitor its bowel movements (diarrhea). Since his digestive system is very sensitive, you should gradually increase the amount of any new food and introduce one at a time.
Learn more about which vegetables and greens to offer your rabbit!
Granules in Small Quantities
Pellets, on the other hand, should be given in limited quantities for several reasons:
- The pellets are low in fiber which can cause deficiencies in your animal.
- Chewing the pellets is often difficult and many rabbits swallow them without chewing them enough, which can cause digestion problems, especially if your rabbit does not eat enough hay and greenery. It can also cause serious dental problems.
- Most commercial pellets are high in sugar and fat and are unhealthy for rabbits. Read the ingredients carefully and avoid pellets that contain dried corn, nuts, and seeds, as these foods can be very harmful.
An average sized adult rabbit (6+ pounds) only needs a quarter cup of pellets per day. If her weight is less than 6 pounds, give her an eighth of a cup. Choose pellets with a high fiber content. For rabbits under one year old, there are alfalfa pellets ideal for this age group. On the other hand, if you offer your young rabbit alfalfa-based pellets, be sure to feed grass hay rather than alfalfa hay.
Read more about rabbit pellets.
Fruits for Delicacies Only
Fruit consumption should be limited to once or twice a week and should not exceed two tablespoons per 5 pounds of body weight. As with vegetables, fruits should be introduced one at a time in small quantities with monitoring of the stool.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of fruits to favor:
- Apple (seedless)
- Banana
- Berries: blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, cranberries
- Cherries (seedless)
- Grapes
- Melon
- Nectarine
- Orange
- Papaya
- Peach
- Pear
- Pineapple
- Plum
- Watermelon
Commercial Treats as a Reward
So as not to unbalance your rabbit's diet, favor healthy treats for small pets that include small pieces of fresh or freeze-dried fruit (dehydrated fruit), natural hay mixtures (timothy, orchardgrass, bromegrass, oat hay) and dried flowers (calendula, chamomile, daylily, dianthus, English daisy, hibiscus, honeysuckle, marigold, nasturtium, pansy, rose) and Oxbow brand rabbit treats.
Ideal Diet and Daily Food Composition
To recap, the correct daily composition for your pet should be:
- Hay at will
- Fresh greens (2 cups daily or 8-10% of pet's weight)
- Pellets (1/8 to 1/4 cup per day depending on weight or 3% of body weight)
- Fruits (2 tablespoons 1-2 times a week)
- Fresh water daily
Although the information provided in this article comes from sources believed to be reliable, nothing replaces the advice of an animal health professional, such as a veterinarian or a professional breeder.
