ADULT RABBITS: The
basic diet for a healthy adult rabbit should consist of
unlimited access to grass hay (not pelleted, cubed or
chopped) along with a variety of fresh vegetables and a
limited amount of timothy hay-based rabbit
pellets---every day.
BABY RABBITS:
Alfalfa pellets and hay should be available in unlimited
quantities to baby rabbits starting at about three weeks
of age.
Hay is crucial to your
rabbit's health as it is the main source of
fiber/roughage which aids the digestion, helps prevent
g.i. stasis and hairballs and it is helpful in keeping
your rabbit's teeth in good shape. Grass hays should be
available in unlimited quantities to all rabbits over
three weeks of age.
Pellets should always
be fresh. Don't buy more than a month's supply at a time
or they may get stale and lose nutritional value. By the
time your rabbit is 7 months to 1 year old you should
begin switching over to a timothy hay-based pellet, such
as Oxbow Hay's Bunny Basics/T.
Vegetables should be
fresh and free of pesticides. Feed at least 3 kinds of
vegetables every day. See our
Veggie/Fruit list for more
information.
Time balance is just
as important as nutritional balance. Divide the pellets
and vegetables between the morning and evening meals.
Hay should always be available.
Following are
dietary recommendations for the different phases of your
rabbit's life. ALL recommendations are based on a
healthy rabbit. These are just guidelines. You should
always consult your Rabbit Vet about diet and other
health issues, especially for older, ailing or frail
rabbits.
BABIES AND TEENAGERS
- Birth to 3
weeks - mother's milk
- 3 to 7 weeks -
mother's milk, unlimited access to alfalfa pellets
and grass hays (timothy, oat, orchard)
- 7 weeks to 7
months - unlimited alfalfa pellets and grass hays
- 4-5 months -
introduce *vegetables (one at a time, under 1/2 oz.)
YOUNG ADULTS: 7 MONTHS TO 1 YEAR
- Decrease
pellets to 1/4 cup per day per 5 lbs body weight,
start switching rabbit to timothy hay-based pellet
- Increase daily
vegetables - slowly
- Fruit, 1-2
times a week, no more than 2 oz. (2 TBL)
MATURE ADULTS: 1 TO 5 YEARS
- Unlimited
timothy, oat or other grass hays
- ¼ to ½ cup
timothy hay-based pellets per 5 lbs body weight
(depends on metabolism)
- 2-3 cups of
veggies per 5 lbs of body weight, decrease if bunny
is not eating enough hay
- Fruit, 1-2
times per week, limit to 2 TBL - NO FRUIT for
overweight rabbits
SENIOR RABBITS : 6 YEARS AND UP
- If weight and
health are OK, continue diet as above
- Frail and/or
older rabbits may need unrestricted pellets and/or
other dietary enhancements to keep weight up
NOTE: For older rabbits
it is important to have a blood workup done by your vet
- at least once a year - to check the calcium
level and kidney function (among other things)
