Rabbits make wonderful pets, known for their playful personalities and adorable nature. Ensuring your bunny lives a long and healthy life starts with understanding their dietary needs. Just like any animal, rabbits thrive on a balanced diet that caters to their specific digestive systems. This guide will explore exactly What Do Rabbits Eat to maintain optimal health and happiness.
The Foundation of a Rabbit Diet: Hay
Before diving into vegetables and fruits, it’s crucial to understand that hay is the cornerstone of a rabbit’s diet. High-quality hay, such as Timothy hay, should make up the majority – around 80% – of an adult rabbit’s daily intake. Hay provides essential fiber, which is critical for their digestive health, preventing issues like GI stasis. It also helps wear down their constantly growing teeth, preventing dental problems. Rabbits should have unlimited access to fresh hay at all times.
Fresh Vegetables: A Daily Delight
Vegetables are a vital part of a rabbit’s daily diet, offering essential vitamins and minerals. Most leafy greens commonly found in supermarkets are safe and beneficial for rabbits, with a few exceptions and limitations.
Adult rabbits should consume approximately 2 cups of fresh vegetables daily. For smaller breeds, such as dwarf rabbits and those under 5 pounds, about 1 cup is sufficient. It’s best to offer a variety of two to three different vegetables each day to ensure a balanced nutrient intake.
When introducing new vegetables, do so gradually, one at a time. Monitor your rabbit’s droppings for any signs of digestive upset, such as loose stool or diarrhea, as rabbits can have sensitive digestive systems.
Some vegetables are suitable for daily feeding, while others should be given in moderation, just once or twice a week.
Daily Vegetables for Rabbits
These vegetables can be offered to your rabbit every day as part of their fresh food portion:
- Bell peppers (all colors)
- Bok choy
- Brussels sprouts
- Carrot tops (greens only, not the carrot itself daily)
- Cucumber
- Endive
- Escarole
- Fennel
- Herbs: Basil, cilantro, dill, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme. Herbs add flavor and variety to their diet.
- Lettuces: Romaine, green leaf, red leaf, Boston bibb, arugula, butter lettuce. Avoid iceberg lettuce.
- Okra leaves
- Radicchio
- Radish tops (greens only, not the radish itself daily)
- Sprouts: Alfalfa, radish, clover
- Watercress
- Wheatgrass
- Zucchini
Vegetables to Feed Sparingly
These vegetables should be given in smaller quantities and less frequently, about one or two times per week:
- Broccoli (stems and leaves only, florets can cause gas)
- Carrots (high in sugar, offer in small pieces as treats)
- Chard
- Clover
- Collard greens
- Dandelion greens (pesticide-free, ensure from a safe source)
- Flowers: Calendula, chamomile, daylily, dianthus, English daisy, hibiscus, honeysuckle, marigold, nasturtium, pansy, rose (ensure pesticide-free and petals only)
- Kale (offer in moderation due to calcium content)
- Spinach (offer in moderation due to calcium content)
Fruits: Sweet Treats in Moderation
Fruits are like candy for rabbits – they love the sweetness! However, due to their high sugar content, fruit should be given sparingly, only once or twice a week.
A suitable serving size is 1 to 2 tablespoons of fruit per 5 pounds of body weight. You can offer a single type of fruit or a mixture of different safe fruits. Similar to vegetables, introduce new fruits gradually and one at a time, observing for any digestive issues.
Fruits for Rabbits (Limited to Once or Twice a Week)
Offer these fruits in small portions as occasional treats:
- Apple (no seeds, seeds contain cyanide and are toxic)
- Banana (high in sugar, offer a small slice)
- Berries: Blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, cranberries (in moderation due to sugar content)
- Cherries (no pits, pits contain cyanide and are toxic)
- Grapes (high in sugar)
- Melon (cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew – rind and seeds removed)
- Nectarine
- Orange (small segments, peel removed)
- Papaya
- Peach (no pit)
- Pear (no seeds)
- Pineapple (small pieces, fresh is better than canned)
- Plum (no pit)
- Watermelon (rind and seeds removed, mostly water content)
Treats: Healthy Options and What to Avoid
Rabbits, like many animals and humans, enjoy sweet flavors. Treats should be given very sparingly and should not replace hay or vegetables as the main components of their diet.
Healthy Rabbit Treat Options
Choose healthy treat options such as:
- Small pieces of fresh or freeze-dried fruit (from the approved fruit list above).
- Natural, unprocessed mixes specifically designed for rabbits that include hay and dried flowers (from the approved flower list above).
- High-quality commercial rabbit treats like Oxbow brand rabbit treats, which are formulated to be nutritionally appropriate in small amounts.
Always carefully examine the ingredient list of any store-bought treats.
Treats to Avoid
Avoid treats that contain:
- Added sugar
- Preservatives
- Artificial colors
- Human treats of any kind
Foods Never to Feed Your Rabbit: Danger Zone
Certain foods are absolutely harmful to rabbits and should never be given under any circumstances. These foods can cause severe digestive problems and make your rabbit extremely ill.
Foods Toxic to Rabbits
Completely avoid feeding your rabbit these foods:
- All human treats (chocolate, candies, processed snacks, etc.)
- Beans
- Beet greens
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Cereal (oats, processed cereals)
- Chocolate (toxic to rabbits)
- Corn or corn-cob treats (difficult to digest, cob can cause blockages)
- Crackers
- Iceberg lettuce (low nutritional value, high water content can cause diarrhea)
- Legumes (peas, beans, lentils)
- Mustard greens
- Nuts (high in fat, difficult to digest)
- Pasta
- Peas (dried peas are problematic, small amounts of fresh pea pods may be okay in moderation)
- Potatoes (especially raw, high in starch)
- Rhubarb (toxic to rabbits)
- Seeds (difficult to digest, potential choking hazard)
- Sugar (any added sugar is harmful)
- Turnip greens
- Yogurt (rabbits are lactose intolerant)
Hydration is Key: Fresh Water Always
Consistent access to fresh, clean water is just as important as food for your rabbit’s health. Rabbits need an unlimited supply of fresh water daily.
- Change their water daily to ensure freshness.
- Clean the water container with soap and water every few days to prevent bacterial growth.
- Bowls are generally better than water bottles for rabbits. Bowls are easier to clean and more natural for rabbits to drink from.
- A heavy ceramic bowl is ideal as it is less likely to be tipped over.
By understanding what do rabbits eat and providing a balanced diet rich in hay, supplemented with fresh vegetables and limited fruits, and always ensuring fresh water, you can contribute significantly to your rabbit’s overall well-being and longevity. Always consult with a veterinarian specializing in rabbits if you have specific dietary concerns or if your rabbit exhibits any signs of illness.
