| Education, Rescue, and Respect |
| Diet |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
The hindquarters should not have any folds of skin covering or interfering with the digestive tract or urinary
openings. The dewlaps in females should not be so large as to interfere with grooming or eating. If you are in doubt
about your rabbit’s proper weight, please consult your veterinarian.
Poisonous/Problem Causing Foods
It may be poisonous and kill bunny outright, even if bunny loves it and doesn't die after eating it. Some foods that
your rabbit likes can take longer to kill him. But, they should never be given to your bunny.
Foods that produce gas will cause your rabbit, who has no ability to burp, some very serious pain or cause a very
painful death. Gas producing foods like cruciferous vegetables could literally make Bunny "bust a gut". OUCH!!
Rabbits love Alfalfa hay. But, Alfalfa hay is very HIGH in calcium. Bunnies more than a year old should avoid alfalfa
based pellets and alfalfa hay. Alfalfa based foods for bunnies over one year old will give your bunny kidney and
bladder stones due to the high calcium content.
Foods/Fruits that are high in carbohydrates will throw off the delicate balance of bacteria in Bunny's digestive
system. Your bunny will be unable to extract nutrition from what he eats. This will cause your bunny to become
malnourished and sickly.
Medicinal herbs, that's basically all plants, in small amounts are great. But poisonous in larger doses. Bunnies are
bad at setting limits for themselves. So you need to do it for them.
Recommended Foods
IT’S VERY IMPORTANT THAT BUNNY ALWAYS HAS UNLIMITED TIMOTHY OR OAT
HAY.
Give Bunny a pile of mixed vegetables about the size of his body. Divide them into two different servings. One for
morning and one for the evening. Give a few tiny tasty treats - like 3 raisins, or an inch of banana or carrot.
Lastly give about one quarter cup of TIMOTHY BASED pellets per day.
NEVER GIVE THE PELLETS WITH THE PUFFS AND SEEDS! These are very bad for your
bunny.
Available food sources vary by region and vegetables can be pricey. A good way to find out what works in your
area is to search http://www.bunspace.com for rabbit owners near you and ask them where the best farmers
markets and feed stores are and what works for them. Also you may find other bunny feeding resources at the
house rabbit society web site, http://www.rabbit.org.
We have an unlimited supply of fresh timothy hay available for a donation of $5.00 per HUGE BAG!
When you come to pick it up we'll happily trim your bunny's nails for you
Below are some commonly asked questions. If you have questions that are not answered
below or on this site, please feel free to email us with your questions at Contact Us
What are the basics of a good pet rabbit's diet?
A rabbit's diet should be made up of good quality pellets, fresh hay, alfalfa for babies and timothy or oat for adults
over one year old, water and fresh vegetables. Anything beyond that is a "treat" and should be given in limited
quantities.
What makes a good pellet?
Pellets should be fresh, and should be relatively high in fiber (18% minimum fiber). Do not purchase more than 6
weeks worth of feed at a time as it will spoil. Pellets should make up less of a rabbit's diet as he or she grows
older. Hay should be available 24 hours a day and be the staple of the diet.
What kinds of vegetables should I feed my rabbit?
When shopping for vegetables look for a selection of different veggies. Look for both dark leafy veggies and root
vegetables. Try to get different colors. Stay away from beans and rhubarb.
Is feeding hay important?
Hay is essential to a rabbit's good health Hay provides roughage which reduces the danger of hairballs and other
blockages. Apple tree twigs also provide good roughage.
What quantities of food should I feed babies to young adults of 6 months of age?
Birth to 3 weeks: Mother's milk
3 to 4 weeks: Mother's milk, introduce alfalfa hay and pellets
4 to 7 weeks: Mother's milk, 24 hour access to alfalfa hay and pellets
7 weeks to 7 months: Unlimited pellets, unlimited hay
12 weeks: Introduce vegetables one at a time, quantities under 1/2 oz.
What quantities of food should I feed young adults 7 months to 1 year?
Introduce timothy, grass, and oat hays, decrease alfalfa hay
Decrease pellets to 1/2 cup per 6 lbs. of body weight
increase daily vegetables gradually
Ration fruit to no more than 1 or 2 ounces per 6 lbs. of body weight. Fruit is very high in calories and can cause
bunny to become over weight and unhealthy.
What quantities of food should I feed mature adults from 1 to 5 years of age?
Unlimited timothy, grass, and oat hay, and straw
1/4 to 1/2 cup pellets per 6 lbs.of body weight (depending on metabolism and/or proportionate to veggies)
Minimum 2 cups chopped vegetables per 6 lbs. of body weight
Ration fruit to no more than 2 oz/2 Tablespoons per 6 lbs. of body weight.
What quantities of food should I feed adult rabbits over 6 years of age?
If sufficient weight is maintained, continue adult diet
Frail, older rabbits may need unrestricted pellets to keep weight up.
Alfalfa can be given to underweight rabbits if the calcium levels are normal. Annual blood workups are highly
recommended for geriatric rabbits.
Primary Author(s): Marinell Harriman
Sources: HRH, various articles from the HRJ,
openings. The dewlaps in females should not be so large as to interfere with grooming or eating. If you are in doubt
about your rabbit’s proper weight, please consult your veterinarian.
Poisonous/Problem Causing Foods
It may be poisonous and kill bunny outright, even if bunny loves it and doesn't die after eating it. Some foods that
your rabbit likes can take longer to kill him. But, they should never be given to your bunny.
Foods that produce gas will cause your rabbit, who has no ability to burp, some very serious pain or cause a very
painful death. Gas producing foods like cruciferous vegetables could literally make Bunny "bust a gut". OUCH!!
Rabbits love Alfalfa hay. But, Alfalfa hay is very HIGH in calcium. Bunnies more than a year old should avoid alfalfa
based pellets and alfalfa hay. Alfalfa based foods for bunnies over one year old will give your bunny kidney and
bladder stones due to the high calcium content.
Foods/Fruits that are high in carbohydrates will throw off the delicate balance of bacteria in Bunny's digestive
system. Your bunny will be unable to extract nutrition from what he eats. This will cause your bunny to become
malnourished and sickly.
Medicinal herbs, that's basically all plants, in small amounts are great. But poisonous in larger doses. Bunnies are
bad at setting limits for themselves. So you need to do it for them.
Recommended Foods
IT’S VERY IMPORTANT THAT BUNNY ALWAYS HAS UNLIMITED TIMOTHY OR OAT
HAY.
Give Bunny a pile of mixed vegetables about the size of his body. Divide them into two different servings. One for
morning and one for the evening. Give a few tiny tasty treats - like 3 raisins, or an inch of banana or carrot.
Lastly give about one quarter cup of TIMOTHY BASED pellets per day.
NEVER GIVE THE PELLETS WITH THE PUFFS AND SEEDS! These are very bad for your
bunny.
Available food sources vary by region and vegetables can be pricey. A good way to find out what works in your
area is to search http://www.bunspace.com for rabbit owners near you and ask them where the best farmers
markets and feed stores are and what works for them. Also you may find other bunny feeding resources at the
house rabbit society web site, http://www.rabbit.org.
We have an unlimited supply of fresh timothy hay available for a donation of $5.00 per HUGE BAG!
When you come to pick it up we'll happily trim your bunny's nails for you
Below are some commonly asked questions. If you have questions that are not answered
below or on this site, please feel free to email us with your questions at Contact Us
What are the basics of a good pet rabbit's diet?
A rabbit's diet should be made up of good quality pellets, fresh hay, alfalfa for babies and timothy or oat for adults
over one year old, water and fresh vegetables. Anything beyond that is a "treat" and should be given in limited
quantities.
What makes a good pellet?
Pellets should be fresh, and should be relatively high in fiber (18% minimum fiber). Do not purchase more than 6
weeks worth of feed at a time as it will spoil. Pellets should make up less of a rabbit's diet as he or she grows
older. Hay should be available 24 hours a day and be the staple of the diet.
What kinds of vegetables should I feed my rabbit?
When shopping for vegetables look for a selection of different veggies. Look for both dark leafy veggies and root
vegetables. Try to get different colors. Stay away from beans and rhubarb.
Is feeding hay important?
Hay is essential to a rabbit's good health Hay provides roughage which reduces the danger of hairballs and other
blockages. Apple tree twigs also provide good roughage.
What quantities of food should I feed babies to young adults of 6 months of age?
Birth to 3 weeks: Mother's milk
3 to 4 weeks: Mother's milk, introduce alfalfa hay and pellets
4 to 7 weeks: Mother's milk, 24 hour access to alfalfa hay and pellets
7 weeks to 7 months: Unlimited pellets, unlimited hay
12 weeks: Introduce vegetables one at a time, quantities under 1/2 oz.
What quantities of food should I feed young adults 7 months to 1 year?
Introduce timothy, grass, and oat hays, decrease alfalfa hay
Decrease pellets to 1/2 cup per 6 lbs. of body weight
increase daily vegetables gradually
Ration fruit to no more than 1 or 2 ounces per 6 lbs. of body weight. Fruit is very high in calories and can cause
bunny to become over weight and unhealthy.
What quantities of food should I feed mature adults from 1 to 5 years of age?
Unlimited timothy, grass, and oat hay, and straw
1/4 to 1/2 cup pellets per 6 lbs.of body weight (depending on metabolism and/or proportionate to veggies)
Minimum 2 cups chopped vegetables per 6 lbs. of body weight
Ration fruit to no more than 2 oz/2 Tablespoons per 6 lbs. of body weight.
What quantities of food should I feed adult rabbits over 6 years of age?
If sufficient weight is maintained, continue adult diet
Frail, older rabbits may need unrestricted pellets to keep weight up.
Alfalfa can be given to underweight rabbits if the calcium levels are normal. Annual blood workups are highly
recommended for geriatric rabbits.
Primary Author(s): Marinell Harriman
Sources: HRH, various articles from the HRJ,
| Too Many Bunnies |