Small Pet Education Blog > Question of the Day: What Do Rabbits Eat?
Question of the Day: What Do Rabbits Eat?
Written by The Rabbit Hole Hay Team
If you are thinking about getting a pet rabbit, or already have a pet rabbit, you might have the question, "What do rabbits eat?"
Since rabbits have sensitive digestive systems, it is important for you to know what you should and shouldn’t feed your rabbit. Check out this list of things that your rabbit must eat in order to stay healthy and strong.
What Should Rabbits Eat The Most Of?
The majority (80-85%) of your adult rabbit’s diet should be grass hay.
Grass hays are Timothy Hay, Orchard Grass, and Mountain Grass. Although Timothy Hay is the #1 recommend hay for your rabbit to eat, all of the grass hays listed are high in fiber while being low in both protein and calcium. That kind of nutritional formula will keep their digestive system happy and healthy.
The constant chewing of the coarser hays will also keep their teeth at an appropriate and healthy length. First Cut Timothy Hay, Second Cut Timothy Hay, Coarse Orchard Grass, and Mountain Grass are considered coarse enough in texture to take care of your rabbit's teeth. A rabbit's teeth never stop growing, so without a hay to help wear their teeth down they can gain severe dental problems.
Alfalfa Hay is best for baby rabbits and as only a treat for adult rabbits. Alfalfa Hay is high in protein, which is great for growing baby rabbits but will have an adult rabbit gaining too much weight and eventually have them overweight.
What Do Rabbits Drink?
Keeping your bunny hydrated with water is crucial. If rabbits get dehydrated, this can cause a loss of appetite and/or diarrhea. This can be deadly for rabbits. To prevent this, give your rabbit access to cool, clean and fresh water 24/7. If you notice that your rabbit isn’t drinking from her bowl, try giving her water in a bottle. And visa-versa if your rabbit isn’t drink from her bottle, then try water from a bowl. Your little bun can be picky but make it a priority to get her drinking water again. If you think she is dehydrated, take your rabbit to the vet immediately.
What Other Food Can Rabbits Eat?
Along with the large amount of high quality hay you feed your rabbit, they will also love for you to add a little variety to it. When feeding your rabbit something other than hay make sure that you check how much is appropriate to give them. It's also important to note that no matter what you give them, even if it has some hay mixed in, nothing should replace the 80-85% grass hay they need to be fed.
You can feed your rabbit good quality pellets. The best type of pellets to give your rabbit is one that is Timothy Hay based along with a few other added nutrients that they need, but make sure it doesn't have dried fruit and cereal fillers. You can also give them an Alfalfa Hay based pellet as a tasty treat!
Again, even though pellets will be hay based they should never replace the grass hay you feed them. You'll need to limit the amount of pellets based on their weight! If you give your rabbit 24/7 access to pellets, they will most likely choose to eat the pellets over the hay, which isn't good for them. Think of it like giving a child the choice to eat candy all day instead of healthy meals.
What Should Rabbits Eat The Least Of?
Fruits and Vegetables can be a little bit tricky and can take some time to find out what your rabbit will like and digest well. Certain fruits and vegetables are high in sugars, carbohydrates and other things that can cause obesity and constipation. It is important to know what fruits and vegetables your rabbit can and can’t eat. Give them in moderation and as a treat for your rabbit. Click here for a list of safe fruits, veggies, and herbs to see if your rabbit likes them.
Now that you know the answer to what do rabbits eat, it's time to look at what you are feeding your rabbit currently and make a change if needed! Go to the store and buy the right pellets, fruits and vegetables and periodically check their water.
Know what type of hay to purchase for your little one? Find it in our store and get it shipped straight to your door! If you still aren't sure what kind of grass hay to feed your rabbit you can download our Hay is for Rabbits eBook below. You'll learn all about the different types of hay, the best ones to feed your rabbit based on their age, allergies, and more!