Rabbit Food

Rabbits need:

  • Fresh clean drinking water continuously, checked twice daily. Ensure water doesn’t freeze in winter. Without water rabbits become seriously ill.  
  • Good quality hay and/or grass, always available, should constitute the majority of rabbits' diets.  - Rabbits graze, naturally eating grass/other plants for long periods, mainly at dawn and dusk.  - Rabbits’ digestive systems need grass and/or hay to function properly.
  • Hay and/or grass as they’re much more important than commercial rabbit pellets ('nuggets').  - If giving pellets, follow manufacturer’s instructions.  - Don’t top the bowl up as rabbits might stop eating enough hay and/or grass.  - Growing/pregnant/nursing/underweight rabbits may need larger portions.  
  • Healthy diets. Avoid muesli-style foods as they are associated with health problems. Rabbits' teeth grow continuously, needing wearing down and keeping at the correct length/shape by eating grass/hay/leafy green plants.  - Not eating the right diet results in serious dental disease.  
  • Root vegetables (e.g. carrots) or fruit only in small amounts as treats. Don’t feed other treats as they may harm your rabbits.  - Rabbits don’t naturally eat cereals/root vegetables/fruit.  
  • Safe, washed leafy green vegetables/herbs/weeds daily. Take care – some plants are poisonous.  - Avoid sudden changes in diets and do not feed lawnmower clippings as both these upset rabbits’ digestive systems causing illness.  
  • Feeding quantities adjusted to prevent them from becoming underweight/overweight.  - Quantities rabbits need to eat depend on age/lifestyle/general health.  - Rabbits become overweight and may suffer if eating more food than needed.