What should I feed rabbits?

Rabbit Feed 

Providing proper feed for your rabbits is a very important part of successful rabbit raising. A healthy, balanced diet is based on providing commercial rabbit pellets, food mixes and fresh water. The feed ingredient that varies is the protein content and mature rabbits usually need a feed that provides 15 to 16% protein, whilst younger growing rabbits and active breeding does are often fed with a higher level of protein of say 17-18%.

Water

No matter which type of feed you provide, your rabbits will not eat well unless you provide the most important nutrient of all - water! We often do not think of water as food, but it is essential to your rabbits' health and they simply do not thrive without a constant supply of fresh clean water.

Salt

Salt is another ingredient that is important to a balanced feed. It is not necessary to provide a salt spool for your rabbit, but the commercial pellets and feeds normally already include enough salt to meet your rabbit's needs.

Hay

Many owners also feed hay to their rabbits though feeding hay will add more time to your feeding and cleaning chores, but rabbits really enjoy good quality hay and it adds extra fibre to their diet. If you feed hay, be sure it smells good, is not dusty, and is not mouldy.

Can I feed vegetables to rabbits?

Many new rabbit raisers think that they are being nice to their animals if they give them fresh greens and vegetables as treats. However, lots of these can actually be harmful to your rabbits and young rabbits are especially sensitive to too many treats, so it is best not to give them any or really research which vegetables are suitable for rabbits.

As rabbit matures, its digestive system can handle more things, but treats should never become a large part of your rabbit's diet. Some common treats that are okay for mature rabbits are slices of apple and a piece of carrot. Lettuce and cabbage are not good treats for rabbits of any age because they give the rabbits diarrhoea.

When should I feed rabbits?

In nature, rabbits have learned to stay in a safe place during the day and then, in late afternoon, hungry wild rabbits come out of hiding and they are ready for their big meal of the day. Wild rabbits are nocturnal animals, active throughout the night and into the early-morning hours.

So, if our pet rabbits could pick a mealtime, they would probably agree with their wild relatives and choose late afternoon. Indeed, most rabbit breeders feed the largest portion of their rabbits' daily ration in the late afternoon or early evening.

How often should I feed rabbits?

The best thing is to feed rabbits twice a days a day once in the morning and one in the late afternoon is best if you can. You should serve a lesser portion in the morning than in the afternoon. Whatever feeding schedule you choose, remember that it is very important to follow the same schedule every day. Your rabbits depend upon you, and they will settle into the schedule that you set.