Rabbit Diet

Pellets are compressed hay, meals (wheat, soybean, etc.), vitamins, proteins, and fats. Always used hay-based pellets, not corn. Some good brands are; Blue Seal (I use their 16%), Oxbow, Poulin Grain (I use their 18% for babies and nursing does), Sherwood, and Calf-MannaPro. 

I feed 1/4 cup per 2 lbs. of weight (which means most of my rabbits get a 1/4 cup). If you decided to do more fresh foods in your rabbit's diet, I recommend bringing pellets down to a 1/8 cup. You don't want your rabbit to get overweight.  

There are several different kinds of hays out there. I have used orchard grass, oat hay, and timothy hay in the past. Timothy is my favorite. I find that orchard grass is a little too rich for some of my girls. 

Alfalfa hay is not to be given to a rabbit over 3 months of age. It has to much protein for an older rabbit. 

Hay should always be available to your rabbit, it wears down their teeth which are always growing.

Rabbits drink a ton of water. Bowls/bottles should always be full and clean. Especially, in the summer. A few ice cubes in the water can help avoid heat-stroke in the summer.

If you want to give your rabbit a diet that consists of more fruits and veggies, you need to know the limits of your rabbit and healthy fresh foods for them. Anytime you introduce a new food to your rabbit do a little at a time.  

WARNING: A rabbit under 6 months should not be eating mass amounts of fresh foods! They are too rich for their stomach! 

Listed are acceptable foods for your rabbit.

• Apple

• Apricot

• Banana

• Basil

• Bok Choy

• Bell Pepper

• Blackberry

• Brussel Sprouts

• Broccoli

• Cabbage

• Cantaloupe

• Carrots

• Celery

• Cherry

• Cherry Tomato

• Cilantro 

• Collard Greens

• Cranberry

• Dandelion Greens

• Dill

• Fennel

• Grape

• Green Bean

• Kale

• Mint

• Mustard Greens

• Oregano

• Papaya

• Parsley

• Raspberry

• Rosemary

• Romaine Lettuce

• Sage

• Strawberry

• Spinach

• Sugar Snap Peas

• Summer Squash

• Swiss Chard

• Tomatoes

• Turnip Greens

• Watercress

• Watermelon

• Zucchini

Like any animal, there are foods that can hurt or kill your rabbit. Listed are these foods. 

• Avocado

• Chocolate

• Dairy

• House Plants

• Iceberg Lettuce

• Nuts

• Rhubarb

• Seeds

• Silver Beet (Chard)

• Yogurt Drops

There are a few common household items that can be given (in small amounts) to your rabbit. 

• Cheerios (plain) 

• Oats 

• Unfrosted Mini-Wheats 

My rabbits love Cheerios and will beg for them.