Feeding your rabbit
MOST people will feed their rabbits a pelleted diet. Some will feed a less pellet based diet. NOTE: a natural diet is doable, but it is NOT easy.
Cleaning out your rabbit so that it does not sit in it's own feces is a must.
That said let's get on to some of the particulars.
Cleaning out your rabbit so that it does not sit in it's own feces is a must.
That said let's get on to some of the particulars.
Pellets
Did you know that there are LOTS of rabbits that survive on a pellets alone.
NOTHING else is needed except for....and this is the caveat..a well balanced feed with long fibres in it.
That's all you need.
16-18% protein depending on the kind of rabbits you have and their tolerances with a good amount of fibre and not too high in the amount of fat. nd everything else well balanced out.
Feed should be green, not a musty brown. Should smell fresh and appetizing.
It should NOT be mixed with bird seed, coloured bits, or have corn mixed it in.
The feed itself should be based on either alfalfa or timothy. Pellets should be long enough to contain good fibre and small enough for the rabbit to eat it well. Should not be overly crumbly as rabbits tend NOT to eat crumbles well. Another word for crumbles is FINES.
I did a taste test on rabbit feeds at one point and learned that many rabbits prefer Martin's Little Friends Rabbit food. It is not the cheapest food, but helps to reduce the smell of rabbit urine (has yucca in it). Very important when living with a rabbit indoors. Rabbits LOVE this food, and everything I've read says that it is made to a high standard.
Do NOTE: Other rabbit feeds will work as well. Just go for a Pelleted product, and not one with added 'stuff' in it. Straight pellets, not a mixed ration.
NOTHING else is needed except for....and this is the caveat..a well balanced feed with long fibres in it.
That's all you need.
16-18% protein depending on the kind of rabbits you have and their tolerances with a good amount of fibre and not too high in the amount of fat. nd everything else well balanced out.
Feed should be green, not a musty brown. Should smell fresh and appetizing.
It should NOT be mixed with bird seed, coloured bits, or have corn mixed it in.
The feed itself should be based on either alfalfa or timothy. Pellets should be long enough to contain good fibre and small enough for the rabbit to eat it well. Should not be overly crumbly as rabbits tend NOT to eat crumbles well. Another word for crumbles is FINES.
I did a taste test on rabbit feeds at one point and learned that many rabbits prefer Martin's Little Friends Rabbit food. It is not the cheapest food, but helps to reduce the smell of rabbit urine (has yucca in it). Very important when living with a rabbit indoors. Rabbits LOVE this food, and everything I've read says that it is made to a high standard.
Do NOTE: Other rabbit feeds will work as well. Just go for a Pelleted product, and not one with added 'stuff' in it. Straight pellets, not a mixed ration.
Hay
This is one of the largest areas of contention with people. MUST you feed hay or not. And if you feed it, how often MUST you feed it.
My contention is this. If you are feeding a GOOD quality pellet hay is NOT a requirement BUT if you, like many people, think that variety in a diet is a good thing then feed it.
My rabbits in the cold months get hay every other day. In the warm months they get more greens so they get hay generally once a week, more often if there's a downpour.
WHY do I feed hay?
1. I like my rabbits to have options. Some rabbits if ONLY fed a pelleted diet will not eat anything else. This becomes problematic if they move to a new place and get stressed, or if they have a tummy ache and not having pellets is a good 'rest' for their gut. But since they need to have something in their guts to keep them working well...hay is a good stop gap measure.
2. Variety to me is the spice of life. Fed only one thing I as a human get bored so even though I am NOT a rabbit I transfer that thought to them. Giving them additional feed sources makes me happy though it's not necessary to them. Sometimes pleasing the owner/breeder is important as well.
3. Customer Service. I know that there is alot of division on feeding hay and I know that MOST of my pet rabbit buyers will feed hay to their rabbits, therefore I make it easier for them by feeding hay to my bunnies. Means bunny has less to deal with in a new situation and have lovely hay to eat to keep the gut stabilized as it adjusts to a new living arrangement.
WHAT kind of hay to feed?
A good quality horse hay...which means a nice fresh smelling grass hay - bermuda, timothy, oat hay, even straw works. Mixed grass hay works as well. Just make sure it doesn't have mould, smells like dried grass, isn't black in places and has minimal dust.
Here's an article on how to know if your hay is good or not. Blue ribbon Bale of Hay.
My contention is this. If you are feeding a GOOD quality pellet hay is NOT a requirement BUT if you, like many people, think that variety in a diet is a good thing then feed it.
My rabbits in the cold months get hay every other day. In the warm months they get more greens so they get hay generally once a week, more often if there's a downpour.
WHY do I feed hay?
1. I like my rabbits to have options. Some rabbits if ONLY fed a pelleted diet will not eat anything else. This becomes problematic if they move to a new place and get stressed, or if they have a tummy ache and not having pellets is a good 'rest' for their gut. But since they need to have something in their guts to keep them working well...hay is a good stop gap measure.
2. Variety to me is the spice of life. Fed only one thing I as a human get bored so even though I am NOT a rabbit I transfer that thought to them. Giving them additional feed sources makes me happy though it's not necessary to them. Sometimes pleasing the owner/breeder is important as well.
3. Customer Service. I know that there is alot of division on feeding hay and I know that MOST of my pet rabbit buyers will feed hay to their rabbits, therefore I make it easier for them by feeding hay to my bunnies. Means bunny has less to deal with in a new situation and have lovely hay to eat to keep the gut stabilized as it adjusts to a new living arrangement.
WHAT kind of hay to feed?
A good quality horse hay...which means a nice fresh smelling grass hay - bermuda, timothy, oat hay, even straw works. Mixed grass hay works as well. Just make sure it doesn't have mould, smells like dried grass, isn't black in places and has minimal dust.
Here's an article on how to know if your hay is good or not. Blue ribbon Bale of Hay.
Water
Make sure your rabbit has access to plenty of fresh water throughout the day.
I recommend water bottles since they are SO easy to keep clean.
I personally use the type of water bottle that has a roller ball. I use them in the warm months. In the winter I use crocks. A crock is merely a ceramic or metal bowl that holds water.
I recommend water bottles since they are SO easy to keep clean.
I personally use the type of water bottle that has a roller ball. I use them in the warm months. In the winter I use crocks. A crock is merely a ceramic or metal bowl that holds water.
Natural Feeding or a Non-Pelleted Diet
PLEASE if you are feeding a Non-pelleted diet do some thorough research first.
I have rescued too many rabbits that were thin and ORANGE because they were fed carrots and celery, or potato peeling. NOT an appropriate diet for a rabbit.
Rabbits Need grains, minerals, salts, hay, protein etc. Feeding a good non-pelleted diet takes hard work and good planning...it's more than just feeding lots of veggies.
Feeding Rabbits Naturally. Read the disclaimer. Be smart about what you are doing. And feed your rabbits carefully. Do note that if feeding a non-pelleted diet you want to feed variety over time. You need to provide a salt/mineral lick, and you need to know what you are doing. Rabbits do best if on a balanced diet.
Feeding your rabbits a non-pelleted diet requires knowledge into rabbit nutrition. In the wild, rabbits eat a whole variety of things. They are HERBIVORES. NOT Vegetarians. Therefore they need food to eat such as brambles, apple branches, grasses, vegetation, and much much more. They require access to minerals and vitamins and salts. They require a great deal of diversity. Feeding a diet of grass based hay, carrots and celery is insufficient. There are a few places I know to go on-line that will help people in feeding their rabbits naturally AND safely... just because it's green and/or growing, doesn't mean it's safe for bunnies. Rabbittalk is my go to place, they have a natural feeding section. If feeding a naturally based diet use alfalfa hay as a base for the rest of their diet.
Feedipedia. WOW... check out this on-line resource. Mentions so many different feeds AND the animals that can well utilize them!!!!
I have rescued too many rabbits that were thin and ORANGE because they were fed carrots and celery, or potato peeling. NOT an appropriate diet for a rabbit.
Rabbits Need grains, minerals, salts, hay, protein etc. Feeding a good non-pelleted diet takes hard work and good planning...it's more than just feeding lots of veggies.
Feeding Rabbits Naturally. Read the disclaimer. Be smart about what you are doing. And feed your rabbits carefully. Do note that if feeding a non-pelleted diet you want to feed variety over time. You need to provide a salt/mineral lick, and you need to know what you are doing. Rabbits do best if on a balanced diet.
Feeding your rabbits a non-pelleted diet requires knowledge into rabbit nutrition. In the wild, rabbits eat a whole variety of things. They are HERBIVORES. NOT Vegetarians. Therefore they need food to eat such as brambles, apple branches, grasses, vegetation, and much much more. They require access to minerals and vitamins and salts. They require a great deal of diversity. Feeding a diet of grass based hay, carrots and celery is insufficient. There are a few places I know to go on-line that will help people in feeding their rabbits naturally AND safely... just because it's green and/or growing, doesn't mean it's safe for bunnies. Rabbittalk is my go to place, they have a natural feeding section. If feeding a naturally based diet use alfalfa hay as a base for the rest of their diet.
Feedipedia. WOW... check out this on-line resource. Mentions so many different feeds AND the animals that can well utilize them!!!!
Treats
Treats treats, who doesn't like feeding treats to their critters. :)
My treats consist of the following: hay, oats, mixed grains, apple branches, a variety of green feeds.
The greens that I feed personally
BE CAREFUL with Cruciferous Vegetables. Some rabbits has problems eating from this family of plants. They can create gas which can lead to bloat, which can be life-threatening.
I DO NOT feed yogurt drops, chew houses etc.
My treats consist of the following: hay, oats, mixed grains, apple branches, a variety of green feeds.
The greens that I feed personally
- banana skins
- melon rinds: watermelon, cantelope, honeydew, etc
- apple - predominately skins/cores
- the odd time carrots
- in the summer a variety of grasses/wild plants: prickly lettuce, timothy, brome, dandelions, lettuces, bind weed (without flowers), pea plants, bean plants, corn plants, clover, twitch grass, plantain, parsley and more.
- everyone BUT the holland lops: ends and pieces of cabbage family plants. I'm very careful with brassica family plants since they can cause bloat.
BE CAREFUL with Cruciferous Vegetables. Some rabbits has problems eating from this family of plants. They can create gas which can lead to bloat, which can be life-threatening.
I DO NOT feed yogurt drops, chew houses etc.
