So many people ask, “What do rabbits eat and drink?” A rabbit eats a variety of food items, including fresh and hay grasses, leaves, and fruit.
Also, rabbits are herbivores by nature. So its diet consists mostly of vegetables and fiber. Rabbits often have soft stomachs that make it difficult for them to digest foods that are high in sugar or fat.
Rabbits also eat tree bark, sprouts, seeds, and twigs, albeit in small amounts. When feeding rabbits, it is important to focus on providing them with a proper and balanced diet.
Rabbits are very fragile animals, and the wrong diet can make them very sick or worse, causing them to die. Therefore, it is important to be careful about the type of diet you give your rabbit.
In this article, we’ll tackle some of the things we need to know about rabbit diets.
This article will answer the following questions:
- What should I feed my rabbit?
- What should I not feed rabbits?
- What Foods Can Kill Rabbits?
- What fresh food can I feed my rabbit?
- List of rabbits that rabbits can eat?
Join us as we learn more about feeding your pet rabbit in this article.
What do rabbits eat?
A rabbit’s daily diet should consist primarily of hay, with less fresh vegetables, water and limited pellets. Hay is the most important part of a rabbit’s daily food intake. Do not limit high-quality hay, such as timothy grass or brome, which should make up the bulk of your rabbit’s diet.
Hay is rich in fiber, which is important for maintaining a healthy digestive tract in your rabbit. Adult rabbits can eat other types of hay, but alfalfa hay is not recommended for them. The reason is that it is very high in protein and calcium.
Give about 1/8-1/4 cup timothy pellets per 5 lb (2.25 kg) body weight. Overfeeding adult rabbits with pellets is a common cause of obesity and soft stools (due to abnormal bacterial overgrowth in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract) because pellets are typically low in fiber and high in carbohydrates. In addition to hay, hares eat a variety of other fresh plants.
Your rabbit’s diet should include a variety of leafy green vegetables every day. Rabbits can eat any number of vegetables per day as long as they don’t have diarrhea and the vegetables don’t contain high amounts of carbohydrates like carrots and potatoes.
Diversity is important. Introduce new vegetables slowly and in small amounts, and watch for signs of soft stools, diarrhea, or colic.
Particularly good vegetables include dark green leafy vegetables such as romaine lettuce, kale, broccoli, carrots, cilantro, watercress, basil, kohlrabi, broccoli, broccoli, and cilantro.
Some leafy greens are recommended, such as kale and dandelion, parsley, kale, Swiss chard, and bok choy, as they are high in calcium and can contribute to bladder stone formation. Calcium is produced if eaten in excess.
Other acceptable vegetables include broccoli, green peppers, Brussels sprouts, offal, wheatgrass, endive, and squash. Ice lettuce or lettuce should not be fed as it is mostly water and has few nutrients.
Carrots should be eaten sparingly because they are high in carbohydrates and can disrupt gastrointestinal flora. A small amount of multiple vegetables is much better than a large amount of a single food.
Young rabbits under 7-8 months should be fed alfalfa pellets and free-choice alfalfa; they need extra protein and calcium as they grow. They can also have a variety of vegetables. As mentioned above, at about 7 months of age, they must be weaned to adapt to an adult diet, as their growth rate will slow down.
What should I not feed rabbits?
Certain foods can disrupt your rabbit’s digestive process and be detrimental to their health. And some foods—some of them surprising—may be poisonous to them.
Here is our list of 15 foods you shouldn’t give your rabbit:
1. Yogurt drops
According to Rabbit.org, studies have shown that yogurt drips can lead to fatal cases of enterotoxins, “toxic overgrowth of ‘bad’ bacteria in the gut.” If you’re looking for a healthy food to feed your rabbit, please Try bell peppers or Brussels sprouts.
2. Bread, Pasta, Cookies and Crackers
These high carb sugary treats will really “treat” your rabbit’s stomach problems. Avoid foods high in sugar or artificial ingredients, such as yogurt, which can lead to intestinal toxicity.
3. Avocado
When you think of the ideal rabbit treat, you probably immediately think of fresh fruits and vegetables. However, avocados should not be included in a rabbit’s diet. According to Small Pet Select, this fatty fruit can be fatal if eaten by rabbits.
4. Grains
Feeding rabbits grains—such as cereal, a food made from corn flakes, peas, pellets, grains, and seeds—can cause dental and abdominal problems.
5. Iceberg Lettuce
This may come as a shock to your rabbit, but you should avoid feeding your rabbit brightly colored lettuce, including icebergs, as it may contain lactucarium, a chemical that can be harmful to your rabbit’s health if ingested. . Iceberg lettuce is also mostly water and has little to no nutrition to the diet.
6. Silver Beet
Like ice lettuce, morning glory — sometimes called turnip — is another leafy green that rabbits should avoid. According to the New Zealand Veterinary Centre, this vegetable can cause colic and bloating in rabbits and should be replaced with high-fiber fruits, vegetables and herbs. Radishes, alfalfa, and rosemary are all good choices.
7. Hamster food
We understand. You probably have a lot of companion animals, and maybe you want to be able to feed two birds with one hand, so to speak. But even if rabbits need a particularly high-fiber diet — think high-quality Timothy hay, fresh vegetables, and herbs — guinea pig food shouldn’t affect your rabbit’s nutrition.
8. Walnuts
Walnuts are high in fat, not fiber, which is difficult for rabbits to digest. If you’re looking for a healthy snack to feed your rabbit, try fresh vegetables or herbs.
9. Oatmeal
While feeding your rabbits oatmeal won’t hurt them, it’s not an ideal meal. Rabbits need plenty of timothy hay, hearty vegetables, and fresh water—oatmeal doesn’t enhance their nutritious diet.
10. Chocolate
Chocolate is definitely not for rabbits. For companion dogs, chocolate has no place in a rabbit’s diet. Sweets are poisonous to rabbits and should never be fed to rabbits.
Read more – Can Rabbits Eat Chocolate?
11. Peanut Butter
Like walnuts, peanut butter — which is also high in fat — should be avoided. Creamy treats won’t cause any harm to your rabbit, but they can cause an upset stomach.
12. Potatoes
While potatoes aren’t necessarily poisonous to rabbits, this human favorite vegetable isn’t an ideal food for them. Potatoes are high in carbohydrates and starches, both of which can cause problems with your rabbit’s digestive system.
13. Rhubarb
This common garden plant can be poisonous to animals if eaten raw. Even so, if a rabbit ingests raw rhubarb, it can die — according to the RSPCA — which is rare.
14. Meat
Some of you might be asking, “Really?” We just made sure we covered all the bases! Rabbits are herbivores, which means they eat plants. Hare can’t eat meat, and neither can your tame roommate.
Read more – Do Rabbits Eat Meat? No! That’s A Bad Idea!
15. Cauliflower
Cauliflower is a vegetable, so it’s a perfect and healthy snack for your bunny, right? Surprisingly no. While cruciferous vegetables are an ideal addition to the high-fiber hay your rabbit’s diet requires, cauliflower can cause your rabbit to become gassy and bloated. If you want to feed your rabbit some fresh vegetables, consider bell peppers, beets, or beets.
What fruits can rabbits eat?
Fruit is a healthy and delicious snack for rabbits. However, since fruit contains a lot of sugar, you should feed your pet in moderation
For this reason, you should also avoid giving your rabbit fruit. Fruit must be washed thoroughly (without soap) before feeding it to rabbits. You should also remove the seeds or pits from the fruit as they are very poisonous.
Make sure you feed raw fruits and vegetables to ensure your rabbit gets all the nutrients. About 2 tablespoons of fruit per 6 pounds of body weight is a good diet for your rabbit. You should not feed your rabbit fruit more than twice a week.
Here is a list of fruits that rabbits can eat:
- Blueberry
- Raspberry
- Pears (seeded)
- Banana
- Dream (remove pit)
- Strawberry
- Apple (seeded)
- Cherry
- Blackberry
- Peach
- Plums
- Orange
- Tomato
- Watermelon
- Cranberry
- Grapes
- Kiwi
- Mango
- Pineapple
What vegetables can rabbits eat?
Vegetables should make up 20% of your rabbit’s diet. You should feed your rabbit about a handful (adult-size) of fresh leafy greens.
Make sure to feed your rabbits a variety of vegetables to ensure they get as many nutrients as possible.
Don’t just feed the same vegetables. Instead, feed your rabbit a few different vegetables each day (around 3 to 6 are usually ideal) and change them frequently.
Below is a list of vegetables that are safe to feed to rabbits. Some of these vegetables can be fed regularly (like zucchini), while others should be fed in moderation (like carrots and radishes).
- Parsley
- Carrots (occasionally)
- Broccoli (sometimes)
- Celery vegetable
- Kale
- Cucumber
- Lettuce (dark color – avoid icebergs!)
- Radishes (occasionally)
- Watercress
- Pumpkin
- Mint tree
- Green mustard
- Cauliflower
- Pumpkin
- Radish top
- Mung bean
- Peas
- Chicory
- Cabbage (can cause indigestion and bloat, rare!)
- Ssparagus
- Brussels sprouts (occasional)
- Beetroot (occasionally – use sparingly with topping)
- Popcorn (not full size!)
- Dill vegetable
- Celery
- Artichoke leaves
- Eggplant
- Oats
Frequently Asked Questions
Can rabbits eat apples?
Yes, rabbits can eat apples. However, apples contain more sugar than other fruits, so they should not be given to children on a regular basis.
You should remove the seeds and stems of apples before feeding them to your rabbit. The seeds and stems of apples contain small amounts of cyanide, which can be harmful to pets if ingested.
Cut apples into small pieces and feed them to the rabbit. As with all fruits and vegetables, wash apples thoroughly (without soap!) before feeding your rabbit.
Can rabbits eat grapes?
Grapes are safe to feed to rabbits. You should also choose seedless grapes.
Grapes should not be fed very often as they contain a lot of sugar. About 4 grapes per week are more than enough for your rabbit!
Cut the grapes into small pieces before giving them to the children. Make sure you wash them thoroughly too!
Can rabbits eat bananas?
Rabbits can eat bananas. However, bananas are high in sugar and contain a lot of starch.
Starchy foods can cause digestive problems in rabbits, so bananas should be eaten sparingly. A small slice of banana will be enough for your rabbit.
Rabbits can also eat peels/bananas, but only less than bananas! Banana peels contain a lot of starch (even more than bananas), which can cause gastrointestinal problems in your pet.
Can rabbits eat strawberries?
Strawberries are perfectly safe to feed rabbits, but they should not be fed too often.
Strawberries are high in sugar, so a few slices from time to time should be more than enough for your rabbit. Wash strawberries thoroughly before feeding them to pets.
The tops and seeds of strawberries can also be fed to rabbits, so you don’t need to remove them.
Can Rabbits Eat Raspberries?
Yes, rabbits can eat raspberries. You should ripen raspberries before feeding them to your rabbit.
If the blackberries are slightly reddish, they are immature! Blackberries are high in sugar and should be eaten in moderation.
If you are harvesting wild raspberries, make sure they are not sprayed with chemicals! You should also wash the raspberries thoroughly before feeding them to pets.
Can rabbits eat pears?
You can feed your rabbit in moderation. Pears contain a lot of sugar, so they shouldn’t be given to children on a regular basis.
Before giving your rabbit a pear, make sure you remove the stem and seeds. These contain trace amounts of cyanide, which can be harmful to your pet if ingested.
Cut pears into small pieces and feed them to the rabbit. As with all fruits and vegetables, wash pears thoroughly before feeding them to pets.
Can rabbits eat watermelon?
Watermelon is a safe food for feeding rabbits. In hot weather, this fruit is a great cooling treat to feed your pets!
However, watermelon is high in sugar, so it should not be given to rabbits on a regular basis.
You should remove the seeds from the watermelon, but you can keep the rind.
Watermelon rind has less sugar than pulp and is safe for your rabbit (again, in moderation!).
Can rabbits eat tomatoes?
Tomatoes are safe for your rabbit. However, you should never feed your rabbit tomato tops or leaves (or any green parts!) as they are very toxic to your pet!
Tomatoes contain a lot of sugar, so they shouldn’t be given to children on a regular basis. All tomatoes are good for your rabbit, including cherry tomatoes and beef tomatoes.
Do not feed your rabbit green (unripe) tomatoes as they are very poisonous!
You should remove the tomato seeds before feeding them to the rabbit.
Can rabbits eat carrots?
Yes, rabbits can eat carrots. It’s hard to find a rabbit who doesn’t like carrots.
However, children should not eat carrots very often. While carrots are a good source of vitamin A, they are also high in sugar and calcium.
On the other hand, rabbits can be fed carrot tops frequently.
Can Rabbits Eat Lettuce?
Lettuce is fine for rabbits, but it’s best to stay away.
Light-colored coats tend to be very watery and have little national value, so are not good for rabbits and should be avoided.
Ice lettuce should not be fed to rabbits because it contains milk lettuce.
Romaine lettuce is a vegetable with more fiber and more fiber, so it can be fed to rabbits. However, even romaine lettuce can cause digestive problems, so it is not recommended to give children large amounts.
Your rabbits may be able to feed them dark paper (but in moderation!)
When feeding your rabbit safe lettuce for the first time, you should only give them a small bite. You should monitor your pets for 24 hours to make sure they don’t react badly.
Can Rabbits Eat Cucumbers?
Cucumbers can be fed to rabbits, but they are very watery and have low nutritional value.
Cucumbers can cause diarrhea and digestive problems in rabbits if fed to rabbits in large quantities or frequently. It is best to feed small amounts of cucumbers every now and then
Your rabbit can eat cucumber peels, so you don’t need to remove them. Cucumber seeds are also safe for rabbits, but you should make sure to remove the seeds/pits from most fruits and vegetables.
Occasionally feeding your rabbit on a hot day, cucumbers are a great treat. The high moisture content in cucumbers is great for keeping your pet hydrated and refreshed in warm weather!
Can rabbits eat celery?
Celery is a good vegetable to feed to rabbits. Celery contains potassium, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, folic acid and other nutrients!
Celery is an ideal vegetable to feed your rabbits on a regular basis because it is so beneficial for rabbits!
You can even feed your rabbit celery and celery leaves! However, make sure to wash these thoroughly before feeding your pet.
Make sure to provide your rabbit with a variety of vegetables and replace them frequently!
Can rabbits eat spinach?
Spinach is safe for rabbits, but should not be fed frequently. Spinach contains a lot of oxalate and iron, so you shouldn’t feed it every day.
Spinach is rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, and many other nutrients that your rabbit will benefit from. However, spinach is also high in oxalic acid.
If your rabbits consume oxalates regularly, they can be harmful to them. When fed in large quantities, they can cause urinary tract problems, as well as itchy skin/mouth.
Can rabbits eat cabbage?
You should avoid feeding your rabbit cabbage. Eating large amounts of cabbage can cause an enlarged goiter in rabbits. It can also cause digestive problems such as bloating and diarrhea.
With this in mind, it’s best to avoid feeding your rabbit cabbage.
Can Rabbits Eat Chili?
Chili (not spicy!) is a great food to feed your rabbit on a regular basis. They are high in vitamin C, which is great for your rabbit.
Be sure to remove the seeds before feeding your rabbit with peppers, as they can cause suffocation!
Bell peppers are great for your rabbit. They come in a variety of colors: green, yellow, red, purple and black.
All of these colors can be fed to rabbits except black. However, green peppers should be fed in moderation due to their high acid content.
Can rabbits eat sunflower seeds?
Striped sunflower seeds should not be given to rabbits because their shells are tough and tough. Striped sunflower seeds are a choking hazard and can get stuck in a rabbit’s teeth and digestive system!
However, black oil sunflower seeds have a softer shell and can be fed to your pet occasionally.
Black oil sunflower seeds are also sunflower seeds, so they are very high in fat.
They should not be fed to rabbits frequently, but only for occasional treatment.
Summary
Hopefully this article has helped you answer your question about “What do Rabbits Eat and Drink”. Any questions or suggestions, please leave a comment.
