Why Your Rabbit Doesn't Eat Hay - You May Be the Problem

Sometimes, our small pets can act like children. They can be picky eaters, and like children, they are drawn to foods that taste better but aren't necessarily good for them. This includes foods that are sweeter in taste or foods that smell interesting but aren't okay to eat.

Just like a child, if you give your rabbit the option to eat more tasty treats versus their nutritious hay they will choose the treats 99.9% of the time. Being given this option may be the reason why your rabbit doesn't eat hay. If this is true then how do you get your rabbit to eat their hay instead?

Habits

A rabbit's diet should be at least 80% grass hay, but if they've never been introduced to hay then they can be resistant to it. Especially if all you are feeding them is pellets, fruits, and maybe some veggies. The reason that hay is essential to a rabbit's diet is because it helps them to maintain a healthy digestive tract and helps to prevent a whole stack of health issues that come with an unhealthy digestive tract.

BUT, if you've always fed your adult rabbit Timothy Hay (or another grass hays such as Orchard or Mountain Grass) then they will form the habit of eating it. You can still feed your rabbit pellets, fruits, and veggies in addition to their hay. You'll just need to become knowledge about how much you're suppose to give them.

Cage Set Up

If your little bun is neglecting to eat their hay and not even touching their water, it may be the way you set up their cage.

Rabbits typically poop while eating so placing the hay rack above the litter box will positively reinforce them to eat while using the bathroom. You'll also want to make sure that the hay is fresh and not moldy, wet, or dusty. They won't and shouldn't eat hay that looks unappealing. While the best hay for rabbits is Timothy Hay, you can also feed them Orchard Grass or Mountain Grass as long as it is fresh and high quality. You'll also want to watch their water bowl, making sure it is always full of clean water. Making sure to dump out any water that has any remnants of hay, fruits or veggies, or poop in it.

Routine

It is important to know your rabbit’s routine so you can detect if something is medically wrong with your rabbit. For example, if your rabbit is really healthy, eats Timothy Hay, a small handful of pellets, and their favorite treats are a few raspberries, you would recognize when they aren’t eating or not eating as much as normal.

Rabbits are good at hiding when they are sick or injured because they are prey animals. When you see that your bunny’s appetite has changed, you know that you need to act quickly. Try giving them their favorite treat and if they still don't want to eat then you know to call the vet immediately. Remember that pets can't speak so we need to take the time to understand them in order to protect them.

If you aren't making sure that your rabbit is eating at least 80% grass hay, then you could be the reason why your rabbit is overweight, has healthy issues, or more. We know that you want what's best for your rabbit, so begin changing their diet, and habits, now.

A rabbit's diet should be made up of at least 80% grass hay with quality pellets, fruits, and vegetables as treats. For a more specific rabbit diet tailored to your bun click here for the Adult Food Calculator.

Now that you know your rabbit needs more hay in their diet it's time to purchase some! If you already know what type of hay you want to buy, you can head over to 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!