Nutrition
Rabbits are designed to extract all the nourishment they need from the poor quality vegetation available to them in the wild. This means that they require a diet that is low in calories and high in fibre. If a rabbit is fed on a diet that is high in calories and low in fibre it can lead to problems with obesity, soft stools or diarrhoea, bone and tooth problems.
The following feeds are listed in order of importance:
1. HAY - low in calories, high in fibre.
2. WATER
3. FRESH FOOD - medium calories, medium fibre.
4. DRIED FOOD - high in calories, low in fibre.
HAY – the most important part of your rabbit’s diet - this is the staple diet and should be fed AD LIB. The fibre that is in hay is extremely important in promoting normal intestinal mobility. It also contains other essential proteins and nutrients.
Rabbits eat small amounts of food several times throughout the day and good quality grass hay must be available in unlimited amounts at all times. Avoid alfalfa hay however, as this contains excessive calcium. Generally, hay that is sold in bales to feed horses is usually better quality than that available in the small vacuum-packed bags from pet shops. The long, loose strands from a bale of hay are preferred because rabbits have to spend more time chewing the long fibres and this is better for their teeth and digestion. If you do buy large quantities of hay store it carefully to prevent it becoming damp or mouldy - do not store it in plastic bags.
The best way to offer fresh hay to your rabbit is to by using a hayrack. This keeps the hay clean and eliminates much of the waste through hay getting trampled or soiled. As a rule there should be a small amount of hay left over each morning, then you know that you have made sufficient available for your rabbit.
Freeze dried grass is also commercially available and can be fed alongside hay in unlimited quantities.
WATER - fresh water should be available at all times. Even if the rabbit eats a lot of greens and may appear not to drink much it must always be available. It can be provided in gravity bottles or in bowls; however bowls tend to become soiled very quickly. Bowls and bottles should be cleaned regularly and bottles should be check for leakage. In winter a few drops of glycerine, available from chemists, may be added to avoid freezing.
FRESH FOODS - These should be given daily. Hay can lose some of its vitamins when the grass is dried, therefore it is important to supplement the hay diet with fresh greens. A minimum of 3 types should be given daily alongside the hay. Variety is the key so try and offer small amounts of several items.
Young rabbits must be introduced to new foods gradually.
A carrot or other root vegetable can be suspended from the hutch roof. This helps to increase feeding time and also enriches the rabbit's environment.
Below is a list of some of the fresh foods that can be fed each day:
VEGETABLES
Beetroot Dandelion leaves (in small amounts only)
Broccoli Fresh grass
Brussel sprouts Kale (in small amounts only)
Cabbage Parsley
Carrot
Cauliflower Radish & radish tops
Celery Spinach (in small amounts only)
Chicory Swede
Cucumber Watercress (in small amounts only)
Fresh fruit should only be given in very small quantities due to the increased sugar content. Too much can lead to tooth and obesity problems.
E.g. Apple, banana, kiwi, melon, peaches, pear, pineapple, strawberries and tomato.
DRIED FOOD – the least important part of your rabbit’s diet – if dried food is to be fed then a good quality dried food such as Burgess Supa Rabbit Excel may be offered every day. It is a fully extruded nutritionally balanced food presented in a nugget form, which has the highest fibre content of any commercially available dried food. Each nugget contains all of the nutrients required. Adult rabbits only need 20g per day. It is important to accurately measure the amount of food to be fed to avoid your rabbit from becoming overweight. The aim is to keep adults at a constant weight therefore regular weighing of your rabbit is essential. Do not estimate the amount you should be feeding - overfeeding of dried food is the number one cause of health problems seen by veterinary surgeons.
Vitamin supplements - these should not be necessary if the rabbit is getting a balanced diet. Indiscriminate usage of vitamins may lead to overdose and serious disease.
HOW TO CHANGE THE RABBITS DIET
It is vitally important not to change the rabbit's diet suddenly. Gradual changes should be made over a period of at least 2 weeks. This is to allow the rabbit's digestive system time to adjust to the changes being made. Give the rabbit a healthier diet by introducing hay, grass and greens and change the dried food to a high fibre one as discussed above. Grass and greens should be introduced gradually.
Mix the new dried food in the same feeding bowl with the rabbit's original food in a ratio of 1 measure of the new food to 3 measures of the original food. Feed this for 3-4 days to ensure the rabbit is eating all of it. Watch carefully for signs of loss of appetite, abnormally runny droppings, bloating and any changes in behaviour and demeanour as these may indicate that the rabbit is not adapting well to the new diet. If the rabbit is normal, increase the quantity of the new dried food and decrease the quantity of the original food to give a ratio of half of the new food and half of the original food, again feeding this for 3-4 days and watching for any problems as before. If all is ok then increase the ratio to 3 measures of the new food to 1 measure of the original food for another 3-4 days, and finally 100% of the new dried food.
The following feeds are listed in order of importance:
1. HAY - low in calories, high in fibre.
2. WATER
3. FRESH FOOD - medium calories, medium fibre.
4. DRIED FOOD - high in calories, low in fibre.
HAY – the most important part of your rabbit’s diet - this is the staple diet and should be fed AD LIB. The fibre that is in hay is extremely important in promoting normal intestinal mobility. It also contains other essential proteins and nutrients.
Rabbits eat small amounts of food several times throughout the day and good quality grass hay must be available in unlimited amounts at all times. Avoid alfalfa hay however, as this contains excessive calcium. Generally, hay that is sold in bales to feed horses is usually better quality than that available in the small vacuum-packed bags from pet shops. The long, loose strands from a bale of hay are preferred because rabbits have to spend more time chewing the long fibres and this is better for their teeth and digestion. If you do buy large quantities of hay store it carefully to prevent it becoming damp or mouldy - do not store it in plastic bags.
The best way to offer fresh hay to your rabbit is to by using a hayrack. This keeps the hay clean and eliminates much of the waste through hay getting trampled or soiled. As a rule there should be a small amount of hay left over each morning, then you know that you have made sufficient available for your rabbit.
Freeze dried grass is also commercially available and can be fed alongside hay in unlimited quantities.
WATER - fresh water should be available at all times. Even if the rabbit eats a lot of greens and may appear not to drink much it must always be available. It can be provided in gravity bottles or in bowls; however bowls tend to become soiled very quickly. Bowls and bottles should be cleaned regularly and bottles should be check for leakage. In winter a few drops of glycerine, available from chemists, may be added to avoid freezing.
FRESH FOODS - These should be given daily. Hay can lose some of its vitamins when the grass is dried, therefore it is important to supplement the hay diet with fresh greens. A minimum of 3 types should be given daily alongside the hay. Variety is the key so try and offer small amounts of several items.
Young rabbits must be introduced to new foods gradually.
A carrot or other root vegetable can be suspended from the hutch roof. This helps to increase feeding time and also enriches the rabbit's environment.
Below is a list of some of the fresh foods that can be fed each day:
VEGETABLES
Beetroot Dandelion leaves (in small amounts only)
Broccoli Fresh grass
Brussel sprouts Kale (in small amounts only)
Cabbage Parsley
Carrot
Cauliflower Radish & radish tops
Celery Spinach (in small amounts only)
Chicory Swede
Cucumber Watercress (in small amounts only)
Fresh fruit should only be given in very small quantities due to the increased sugar content. Too much can lead to tooth and obesity problems.
E.g. Apple, banana, kiwi, melon, peaches, pear, pineapple, strawberries and tomato.
DRIED FOOD – the least important part of your rabbit’s diet – if dried food is to be fed then a good quality dried food such as Burgess Supa Rabbit Excel may be offered every day. It is a fully extruded nutritionally balanced food presented in a nugget form, which has the highest fibre content of any commercially available dried food. Each nugget contains all of the nutrients required. Adult rabbits only need 20g per day. It is important to accurately measure the amount of food to be fed to avoid your rabbit from becoming overweight. The aim is to keep adults at a constant weight therefore regular weighing of your rabbit is essential. Do not estimate the amount you should be feeding - overfeeding of dried food is the number one cause of health problems seen by veterinary surgeons.
Vitamin supplements - these should not be necessary if the rabbit is getting a balanced diet. Indiscriminate usage of vitamins may lead to overdose and serious disease.
HOW TO CHANGE THE RABBITS DIET
It is vitally important not to change the rabbit's diet suddenly. Gradual changes should be made over a period of at least 2 weeks. This is to allow the rabbit's digestive system time to adjust to the changes being made. Give the rabbit a healthier diet by introducing hay, grass and greens and change the dried food to a high fibre one as discussed above. Grass and greens should be introduced gradually.
Mix the new dried food in the same feeding bowl with the rabbit's original food in a ratio of 1 measure of the new food to 3 measures of the original food. Feed this for 3-4 days to ensure the rabbit is eating all of it. Watch carefully for signs of loss of appetite, abnormally runny droppings, bloating and any changes in behaviour and demeanour as these may indicate that the rabbit is not adapting well to the new diet. If the rabbit is normal, increase the quantity of the new dried food and decrease the quantity of the original food to give a ratio of half of the new food and half of the original food, again feeding this for 3-4 days and watching for any problems as before. If all is ok then increase the ratio to 3 measures of the new food to 1 measure of the original food for another 3-4 days, and finally 100% of the new dried food.