A pet rabbit’s diet is usually best when it closely mimics its eating habits in its natural habitat. Most rabbits, be they a pet or wild, do not stick to a strict eating schedule, so it is no surprise that it can be rather tricky, as a first-time rabbit owner, to figure out when to feed them.
A pet rabbit should be given fresh food once a day, preferably in the morning, as they eat continuously throughout the day. Their diet consists of fresh water, grass and hay, leafy greens, and pellets. A rabbit should be fed 0.88 ounces of pellets per 2.2 pounds of their weight every day.
Keeping your rabbit happy and healthy is a pretty easy thing to do. These fluffy guys are primarily independent and will care for themselves – if you give them the right tools. One vital thing to do is give your rabbit the right amount of food at the right time. If you’re unsure how much and when to feed your rabbit, read on to find out more!
Contents
When And How Much To Feed Your Pet Rabbit?
While rabbits are one of the easiest pets to own, ensuring they maintain a healthy, balanced diet is crucial to ensuring they do not experience any health problems.
The two most important things to know about your rabbits’ diet are when and how much to feed them. Let’s hop into it!
When To Feed Your Pet Rabbit?
The best time to provide your rabbit with fresh food and water is in the morning. However, your rabbit will eat small amounts continuously throughout the day.
Rabbits are not like dogs – they do not have a strict morning and evening eating time but prefer to nibble on little bits throughout the day. The time rabbits are most likely to eat the most is early morning and the late afternoon, just before sunset.
Since rabbits continuously eat, the best thing a rabbit owner can do is provide fresh food for the day in the morning. This gives your rabbit access to a new batch of food that it can chew on at his leisure whenever he wants.
In the morning, you should replace their water and hay and give them new pellets and leafy greens. Another important thing to do is allow your rabbit some time to graze on fresh grass in your garden once a day. This will provide them with some exercise and stimulation as well as give them access to all the nutrients grass has to offer.
How Much To Feed Your Pet Rabbit?
A rabbit’s diet should consist of water, hay and grass, leafy greens, and pellets.
While many think that pellets are the most important part of a rabbit’s diet, this is far from true. In fact, the most important part of a rabbit’s diet is hay and grass. Below is the portion of foods that should be present in your rabbits’ diet:
- 85% – Hay and grass
- 10% – leafy greens
- 5% – pellets
Hay And Grass
Hay and grass are a vital part of any rabbit’s diet and should be included in their food variety daily.
One bundle of fresh grass hay, usually around the size of the rabbit, should be given to your rabbit daily. Grass hay is essential as it is high in fiber which is a crucial aspect of a rabbit diet.
There are two common types of hay that rabbits can eat, depending on their age; timothy hay and alfalfa hay. Alfalfa hay is more suitable for younger, growing rabbits as it is high in protein and calcium. However, once your rabbit is grown, you should switch to timothy hay.
In addition to hay, your rabbit should be given access to fresh grass that they can graze on at least once daily. Fresh grass forms part of their natural diet in the wild and is therefore essential to include. If possible, let your bunny onto your lawn for light grazing. In addition to getting some fresh grass, your rabbit with also be getting some exercise!
Leafy Greens
You should give your rabbit a handful of leafy green vegetables and herbs to munch on in the mornings. Ideally, at least five types of vegetables daily.
Although most vegetables are fine for rabbit consumption, some are better, and some are worse for the little guys. It would be best if you kept carrots and potatoes to a minimum as these have a high carbohydrate level which can upset your rabbits’ stomach.
Below are some vegetables and herbs that are perfectly safe for your rabbit’s consumption. Try to incorporate a variety of these into their daily diet:
| Vegetables | Herbs |
| Kale | Thyme |
| Spinach | Basil |
| Watercress | Mint |
| Broccoli | Parsley |
| Salad Leaves | Dill |
| Cauliflower | Coriander |
Pellets
Your rabbit should get a small number of fresh pellets every day. While pellets are good for your rabbit, they should only form a tiny part of their diet. On average, you should feed your rabbit 0.88 ounces of pellets per 2.2 pounds of their weight.
If your rabbit only weighs 2.2 pounds, then take 0.88 ounces of pellets and sprinkle them around the hutch – this will encourage your rabbit to forage for its food which is great for brain stimulation!
It’s important, however, to check with your vet about your rabbits’ specific dietary requirements. Some rabbits require more pellets, and others need less. While you may follow the above rule of thumb, checking with your vet is often a good idea.
Water
Water forms a vital part of your rabbits’ diet. Please make sure you give fresh water to your rabbit every day.
When preparing your rabbits’ food in the morning, remember to throw the water out from the day before and give them fresh water. This is especially the case in summer because algae can grow rather quickly and, if ingested, can harm your bunny.
Should You Give Your Rabbit Treats?
Treats are always fun to include in your rabbits’ diet and can be an exciting surprise for them to receive. However, treats are often high in sugar and calories. Feeding your rabbit treats too frequently can lead to an overweight bunny with health issues.
Fruits are a typical treat given to bunnies; however, you need to give these sparingly. Try to provide fruits only every second day and around one to two tablespoons, nothing more. Some safe fruit options are bananas, kiwis, strawberries, plums, and pears.
Some treats that should not be given are bread, nuts, and seeds.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a pet rabbit should be given fresh food in the mornings and have access to their food at all times. The largest portion of their diet should be hay and grass, vegetables, and a small number of pellets. Making sure your rabbit has fresh water daily is crucial to keeping your rabbit healthy!
If you’re thinking of giving your rabbit treats, please do so sparingly and keep it to every alternate day with only around one or two tablespoons.
