What rabbits need
A rabbit's digestive system needs hay or grass to function properly so a healthy supply is extremely important. Their teeth grow continuously and the right food will wear them down and keep them the right size and shape – think grass and/or hay and leafy green plants. The wrong diet can cause serious dental disease.
Avoid sudden changes in diet though, as this can upset a rabbit’s digestive system and make them ill.
Give your rabbits
- 85% hay and fresh grass
- 10% leafy green vegetables and herbs
- 5% pellets
Give fresh clean drinking water at all times
Without water rabbits become seriously ill. So make sure your rabbits have constant access to fresh, clean water.
Rabbits tend to prefer water in a heavy ceramic bowl, but can drink from drip-feed bottles. If using bottles, check them daily to make sure the end isn't blocked. Clean the water containers every day and change the water twice a day, even if the rabbits haven’t drunk it all.
Look out for algae in summer (the water or container will appear green) and the water freezing over in winter. It's useful to have a spare bottle or two at home, for when you're cleaning the bottle or if the water has frozen.
Feed them mostly hay and grass
Pet rabbits should always have good quality hay and/or grass available to eat, as it should be the main part of their diet. Give them at least one bundle of good quality hay every day – it should be as big as they are!
Their digestive systems need grass and/or hay to function properly. In the wild, they graze on grass and other plants, mainly at dawn and dusk. So, let them graze on growing grass or kiln-dried grass. But don't feed them lawnmower clippings, as these can make them ill.
Some rabbits might be fussy and reluctant to eat hay. If this is the case, take them to a vet to check there are no underlying health problems. Dental disease can make chewing uncomfortable, so they’re less likely to eat hay or grass. If the vet confirms that there are no health problems and your rabbit still refuses to eat hay, try them on a different type of hay or hay from a different provider to see if it suits them better.
Add in some leafy greens
Rabbits need a large handful of safe, washed leafy green vegetables, herbs and weeds daily. It’s best to give them a variety each day – ideally five to six different types. Good foods are spinach, celery, cabbage, kale, broccoli, rosemary, parsley, mint and dandelion leaves. Introduce new types of greens gradually, in small amounts, to avoid potential stomach upsets
Take care as some plants are poisonous – bluebells, foxgloves, holly and tulips, for example.
Find out more about which plants are rabbit-safe and which plants to avoid. A vet can also advise. But if in doubt, leave it out!
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Occasional treats
Pellets/nuggets
You can give pet rabbits a small, measured amount of good-quality pellets or nuggets each day – follow the manufacturer's instructions. Don't top-up the bowl as the rabbits might stop eating enough hay/grass. Growing, pregnant, nursing or underweight rabbits may need larger portions.
Root vegetables and fruit
Only give your rabbits small amounts of root vegetables and fruit, such as carrots and apples, as an occasional treat.
What to avoid
Muesli-style foods aren't recommended for rabbits as they can lead to serious dental disease and digestive problems and can cause rabbits to put on excessive weight, even becoming obese. Muesli is a commercial product and contains different foods such as flaked maize, peas, pellets, grains and seeds.
If your rabbits are currently on a muesli diet, you can still change them to a healthier diet as this will help their digestive system in a relatively short period of time.
Please note that we strongly recommend transferring them to a healthier diet gradually over several weeks, as any sudden change can cause serious digestive upset.
Moving your rabbit onto a healthy diet
Talk to a vet immediately if you have concerns while moving your rabbit from muesli to a healthy diet.
- Mix some pellets or nuggets with muesli, gradually reducing the muesli and increasing the pellets or nuggets until the muesli is completely replaced.
- Use good quality pellets or nuggets designed for rabbits.
- Good-quality hay and/or grass should eventually make up the bulk of your rabbit's diet and should be available to them constantly, along with clean water.
Monitor your rabbits at least twice daily during this time to make sure they eat plenty of hay and leafy greens and enough pellets/nuggets. If they're not eating enough, please take them to a vet immediately.
Do their droppings look normal? Are they eating their own droppings? See Know their droppings, below.
Top tips for keeping your rabbit healthy
Know your rabbit’s weight
The quantities of food they need depends on their age, lifestyle and general health, so you can adjust their food if they’re becoming overweight or underweight. Ask your vet for advice if you’re concerned.
Monitor the amount they eat and drink
If their dietary habits change, talk to your vet immediately as your rabbit could be seriously ill.
Know their droppings
Rabbits produce two types of droppings – hard, dry, waste pellets and softer moist pellets (known as ‘caecotrophs’). They eat the caecotrophs directly from their own bottoms. This is a healthy thing for rabbits to do as it helps them get as much goodness as possible from their food. So, if you see sticky droppings in toilet areas, bedding or stuck to the fur around their bottoms, it can be a sign that they’re not eating them. This can cause digestive problems and lead to flystrike.
Any change in the consistency of the hard poo pellets can mean your rabbit is poorly. If you're concerned, please monitor your rabbit closely. If you notice your rabbit has diarrhoea or is passing soft faeces, book an appointment with a vet as soon as possible. You should also take your rabbit to see a vet if you notice minor changes in poo pellet quantity and consistency that don't return to normal within 24 hours.
Different rabbits have different needs
Young, pregnant, nursing or ill rabbits have different needs, so talk to your vet about suitable diets.