From vegetables to water and hay, a rabbit’s diet isn’t particularly varied but it provides them with what they need. Although fruit is a nice treat, it shouldn’t be something you regularly feed your rabbit as it can end up obese. Rabbits require a constant water supply as they dehydrate quickly. In order to help you care for your rabbit properly, please find below some rabbit food tips.

Pellets

Rabbits are generally fed a pelleted feed available from pet stores, supermarkets, and farm suppliers. Although still a popular choice with pet owners, pellets were originally used by breeders.

Hay

Hay is essential for the health of all rabbits. Rabbits sometimes have digestive problems, but as long as there is enough hay in the hutch, they are sure to stay much healthier. Hay doesn’t cost a lot, yet it provides essential nutrients which rabbits can benefit from. Most rabbits enjoy nibbling on hay and this prevents them from chewing other things, so it is definitely useful to have.

Treats

You can also find many rabbit food treats for your furry friend. Treats are unhealthy in large quantities for rabbits, just as they are for humans. Pet stores are notorious for stocking high sugar treats which aren’t designed to be fed to your rabbit every day. One of the healthiest ways you can treat your rabbit is to feed it fruit.

Acceptable fruits (seeds and pips MUST be removed): Banana, Mango, Pineapple, Peach, Apple, Kiwi, Berries, Orange and other citrus fruits.

As previously mentioned, all fruits and treats should be just that; a treat and not an everyday feeding ritual.   Their diet should consist of no more than half a tablespoon of fruits or treats per day.

It is also important to remember that rabbits less than 4 months old shouldn’t be fed fruit because it doesn’t digest easily.   It can cause enteritis that causes death within 48 hours.

Another tip worth noting is that lettuce isn’t all its cracked up to be – it actually shouldn’t be fed to rabbits because it has very little nutritional value and could also cause death.

Cecal pellets

Although an unpleasant sight, some rabbits do eat their own faeces, so please don’t panic if you see this. The official name for these is ‘cecal’ pellets and they are actually an important part of a rabbit’s diet. A rabbit needs to stay healthy, and cecal pellets help to give your bunny a good supply of vitamin B12. Because of the way a rabbit’s digestive system is designed,  they cannot get the vitamins they need directly from their food and therefore need to eat their faeces. If you have never had a bunny before, this can seem a bit weird, but be assured that it is normal.