If you are a new pet owner, you might be
wondering what is the best rabbit food.
Should my pet rabbit be eating wild rabbit food? Is there a rabbit
food list?
Feeding you bunny should be simple.
Think of how they eat in the wild and try to mimic it as close as
possible.
In the wild rabbits primarily graze on grass. Not only because that
is one of the best foods for them, but also because it is plentiful
and available in most areas. Your bunny should have a very similar
diet.
If you have ever had a garden and there were any wild rabbits (or
unsupervised pet rabbits) around, you have probably discovered they
love certain types (and parts) of vegetables and fruits. Leafy
vegetables are good rabbit food. The best part for them is actually
the leafy tops or greens. Yes, this is where the saying "I don't eat
rabbit food" came from.
The occasional fruit is OK, but limit the amount because of the high
sugar content. Even though it is natural it can still lead to
obesity. The ones that are high in fiber are the best: pears,
apples, tomatoes, etc.
A list of the top rabbit foods may be helpful.
1. Fresh Grassy Hay and Water
You should provide your pet rabbit plenty of fresh grassy hay.
Timothy, brome, bahia, coastal, oat, paddock, meadow, ryegrass, and
wheat are good choices. Do not feed your rabbit alfalfa or clover
hay. They are too high in protein and calcium. Do not use any hay
that is moldy or old and brown.
Timothy hay is one of the most common. As a primary source of a
rabbit’s daily diet, hay keeps their digestive system in balance. If
they do not consume it regularly, they may have trouble with their
digestive track which can cause them to be sick.
2. Leafy Vegetables
The green leafy top of a carrot is better for your rabbit than the
actual carrot. This usually works out pretty good as humans do not
typically eat the tops of most vegetables anyway. Just be sure the
greens have not been treated with any kind of chemicals and are
washed thoroughly.
One common item to stay away from is iceberg lettuce. It has
basically no nutritional value and can cause gas in rabbits which is
very bad for them.
3. Commercial Pellets
These make a good supplement to your bunny's diet but should not be
their main source of food. You may choose from many different kinds
of pellets but the best ones are high in fiber. This type of
information is usually printed right on the bag, label, or webpage
if you are purchasing online.
4. Fruit
If your rabbit is overweight, do not feed them fruit. Other than
that you can give your bunny small amounts of fruit once or twice a
week. Sugary fruits like bananas and grapes are considered treats
and should only be feed to them occasionally. Yeah, they really like
them - just like kids like candy.
