What To Feed Your Bunny

Hey everybody!!

If you’re thinking of adopting a bunny, but you still don’t know much about these amazing creatures, especially when it comes to their diet, then this is the right article for you! 🙂

Contrary to what most people think, a rabbit’s diet is not limited to just a few carrots and lettuce. In reality, hay, vegetables and, of course, water, are crucial for your bunny’s good health. But there’s more, so let’s get into the details 🙂

Hay: The most important of a rabbit’s diet

Hay makes up 80 to 90 percent of a rabbit’s diet, so they need to have an unlimited supply of fresh hay daily. Adult bunnies should eat grass, oat and timothy hays. However, young rabbits should be fed alfafa, specially beacuse it has a higher protein content than other hays.

The presence of mold or dust in your bunny’s hay can cause them to be sick, so make sure the hay is the freshest as possible. At home, store it in a dry place that also allows air to circulate.

But why is hay so important for your rabbit’s diet? Here are a few reasons:

• Provides fiber, essential for a good digestive health
• Rabbit’s teeth grow continuously, eating hay helps wear them down.
• If placed at the end of the litter box, it encourages your bunny’s litter training habits.

Vegetables

Veggies are among bunny’s favorite foods. They should be fed no more than 2 cups per day, with a variety from 2 to 3 vegetables. Since rabbits have sensitive tummies, make sure to check for signals of diarrhea every time you introduce a new vegetable. Remember to pre-wash the vegetables before giving them to your bunny, in case it has pesticides, for example.

Not all vegetables can be given in the same quantities. While a few can be fed every day, others should be given 1 or 2 times a week.

It’s important to know which veggies your bunny can eat, but it’s even more crucial to know which ones you mustn’t, like potatoes or nuts.

Here’s a list of vegetables that can be fed daily and from time to time, according to bestfriends.org:

Vegetables that can be given daily:

• Bell peppers
• Bok choy
• Brussels sprouts
• Carrot tops
• Cucumber
• Endive
• Escarole
• Fennel
• Herbs: basil, cilantro, dill, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme
• Lettuces: romaine, green leaf, red leaf, Boston bibb, arugula, butter
• Okra leaves
• Radicchio
• Radish tops
• Sprouts: alfalfa, radish, clover
• Watercress
• Wheatgrass
• Zucchini

Veggies that can be fed from time to time (1 or 2 times a week):

• Broccoli (stems and leaves only)
• Carrots
• Chard
• Clover
• Collard greens
• Dandelion greens (pesticide-free)
• Flowers: calendula, chamomile, daylily, dianthus, English daisy, hibiscus, honeysuckle, marigold, nasturtium, pansy, rose
• Kale
• Spinach

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Water

Your rabbit should have fresh water on a daily basis. A water bowl is a better choice than a hanging water bottle, even if your bunny lives in a cage. During Summer, dropping 1 or 2 ice cubes in their water bottle is a great help against hotter days.

Pellets

Pellets are also an important part of your bunnies’ diet, and they love them! As your bunny ages, you will need to limit the intake, since it can lead to obesity if fed in large quantities. Try to buy pellets that are high in fiber and low in protein. Artic’s favorites are the ones in the pictures above, from the brand Versele-Laga.

Never give pellets that have “treats” mixed in. They are not healthy for your rabbit, it can actually cause several digestive problems.

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Fruits

Fruits should only be fed to your rabbit once or twice a week. They should be given in tiny portions, and you must introduce them slowly and one at a time. Fruits can also work as treats, your bunny surely loves them!

Here’s a list of the fruits you can give to your bunny (according to bestfriends.org):

• Apple (no seeds)
• Banana
• Berries: blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, cranberries
• Cherries (no seeds)
• Grapes
• Melon
• Nectarine
• Orange
• Papaya
• Peach
• Pear
• Pineapple
• Plum
• Watermelon

Foods that aren’t good for your bunny

The following can make your bunny extremely sick, so make sure to always avoid them.

(According to bestfriends.org)

• All human treats
• Beans
• Beet greens
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Cereal
• Chocolate
• Corn or corn-cob treats
• Crackers
• Iceberg lettuce
• Legumes
• Mustard greens
• Nuts
• Pasta
• Peas
• Potatoes
• Rhubarb
• Seeds
• Sugar  
• Turnip greens
• Yogurt

And….that’s it!

Hope you’ve found this article helpful. If you have any doubts, pelase make sure to tell me about them in the comment section down below.

Stay safe,

FOR MORE BUNNY CARE TIPS, CHECK OUT:

5 Ways to Keep Your Bunny Cool During Summer

10 Things You Must NEVER DO To Your Bunny