Considered to be grazers that eat continuously, the first thing you need to know about your rabbits is that they only eat plants, which means they are herbivores. Although they have complex digestive systems that can process food very well, they also have specific dietary needs. Make sure not to introduce new foods too suddenly and quickly or to give them unsuitable foods.
Listed down below are foods suitable for your rabbit that can help them maintain a well-balanced diet:
Hay: The bulk of your rabbits’ diet, about 80-90% of it is made of hay which is a long-stemmed fibre. Because rabbits are grazing animals, they require a lot of unlimited fresh hay every day.
Your rabbit will require rabbit grass hays. While purchasing hay, make sure that it is fresh and does not have mould or dust that can cause illnesses in rabbits. You can choose to feed them one kind or a mixture of different kinds of rabbit grass hay.
While alfalfa hay is good for baby bunnies, adult rabbits need grass and not leguminous alfalfa hay. It is also too rich to be fed every day and can only be given as an occasional treat to adult rabbits.
Vegetables: Ensure that your rabbit’s diet has a varied variety of vegetables. Choose vegetables that are very fresh and free of pesticides. Only feed your rabbit vegetables that are thoroughly washed.
When introducing new veggies, feed in small quantities and notice if your rabbit reacts well to them. Never feed houseplant leaves to rabbits as they tend to be poisonous. You can research the vegetables available in your area and get the list checked by your vet, thus making it safer for your bunny to consume them.
Water: It is important that you make fresh water available to your rabbit 24 hours a day. You can either use water bowls or sipper bottles. Regularly inspect your sipper bottle for clogs and fill daily with clean water daily. Or if you choose to offer water in a bowl, ensure that your rabbit does not soil the water with faeces or spill it in its shelter.
Pellets: Bunnies will refuse stale pellets, so do only purchase fresh ones. While shopping for pellets, find those that are low in protein and high in fibre. As your rabbit ages, you will need to limit your pellet intake.
Treats and Fruits: Rabbits do not naturally eat cereals, root vegetables and fruits. They can only be fed in small amounts as treats once or twice a week. These can include carrots, apples without seeds, melon, orange, papaya, grapes, cherries without seeds, plums, watermelon, pineapple, and pear.
Rabbits’ sensitive digestive systems are prone to illnesses that can be fatal if not dealt with quickly. Be careful about the food your offer to your rabbits so that they can live long and healthy lives. Talk to your vet immediately if their eating or drinking habits change, soft droppings stick to their back, or the dropping decrease or stops.
