Diet

The rabbit diet is a vast topic but here are the basics:

Hay should make up 80-90% of your bunny’s daily food.  Feed an assortment of timothy or other grass hays such as orchard.  Offer supplemental hays such as oat, or 3-way hay which is oat, wheat & barley. There are also hays such as meadow or mountain hay offered for sale by some vendors.  Alfalfa hay should only be a primary hay source for senior or baby bunnies up to 7 months old.  If you have hay allergies, try avoiding timothy and use orchard as your staple or try oat hay.

Pellets: choose a basic (confetti, seed, fruit free) brand such as Supreme Science Selective, Oxbow etc.  Feed about ⅛ cup per day for a small to midsize bunny and up to ¼ cup for a larger bunny.  We don't recommend a pellet free (vitamin deficient) diet, so if your vet is suggesting that, do your research and get a second opinion.

Greens, veggies:  Feed your bunny a variety of 3-5 different greens per day or rotate the greens you feed every week. Avoid large amounts of cruciferous veggies like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts that may cause gas/upset tummies. Limit greens high in oxalates like spinach & kale.  Bunnies love dandelion but you may choose to rotate that in or use it as one of your weekly greens 2 times per week. You can look up which greens/veggies are higher in calcium or oxalates, per cup serving by mg/cup.

Treats: feed 1-2 treats per day that are healthy (no seeds or yogurt) and limit carrots & fruit (consider them a treat food).  For fruit or carrots, especially banana, serve only in moderation and a tiny slice, not a chunk.  Fruits and carrots (starch that converts to sugar) may cause weight issues, affect teeth adversely and are unhealthy if fed in excess.

Chew sticks are helpful and bunnies enjoy.  Helps to keep teeth worn down and provides enrichment.  You can offer apple sticks, willow or other safe branches sold for bunnies. If you have a yard, try planting an apple tree.  Fresh leaves and branches are a welcome treat for most bunnies and that way you know the tree is unsprayed.