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What’s the best food for my rabbit?
Looking at the ingredients of the rabbit food sold at the grocery store has made me suspicious. My rabbit eats it – but I thought they were herbivores? The rabbit food I got (Hartz brand) has “animal protein” in it. Is that ok?
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The grocery store brand of rabbit food is about the worst thing you can feed your rabbit. Your suspicions are right on target. From the time they’re weaned kittens until they’re about 1 year old, rabbits need to eat alfalfa hay. They can eat carrots (in small quantities – too much sugar for this to be a one-stop diet solution), but have unlimited hay.
By the time they’ve reached 1 year old, they need to eat unlimited Timothy hay. Some parts of the world (like Australia) cannot get Timothy hay – in which case Coastal hay is a good substitute.
The silica in the hay is very good for their teeth. Rabbits’ teeth never stop growing. The molars in the back need to be ground down all the time – which is accomplished by their grinding motion when they eat. The front teeth need to be worn by chewing approved items (not your furniture).
A great place to get hay is to order it online from http://oxbowhay.com. It’s cheaper per pound the more you get… but if you only have one rabbit, the hay will go bad by the time they get to all of it… so to keep your hay fresh, I’d recommend getting an air-tight food storage container at PetCo… they have them for storing dry cat and dog food. I had several for Weber’s hay.
A small wedge of granny smith apple is good for a treat – but only a wedge (like 1/8th of an apple) – not the entire apple. Hay has very small nutrition, which is why rabbits eat all the time when they are awake. Like a child, a rabbit is not going to stop eating just because you’ve fed them fattening junk.
The wrong diet can KILL your rabbit – quickly or slowly. Gastric stasis can kill your rabbit within 24 hours – and gastric stasis develops from improper diet.
A couple of miniature carrots per day is also a nice treat – not a main course.
From experience, I can tell you that your rabbit might end up having a tantrum initially when you take the junk food away and substitute it with a healthy diet.
Rabbits will sometimes naturally avoid food that is bad for them, but if they have no alternative, they will even eat meat if needed. An empty rabbit is a dead rabbit. They must eat every day.
They need hydration to eat – so make sure there is water available at all times. Not all rabbits know how to use a water bottle – some, like my Weber, would only drink from a small bowl.
Only feed your rabbit the freshest foods. Nothing wilted. If you would not eat it or serve it to your boss – do not offer it to your rabbit. A proper diet can make the difference between a rabbit that lives to be 6 months old or lives to be 16 years old.
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LikeDislikeThank you! I just ordered hay from OxBow… what do I feed my rabbit in the mean time, while waiting on the hay to arrive?
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LikeDislikeMany pet stores such as PetCo, PetSmart and even independent stores will carry Timothy hay. Ask where it is if you don’t see it right away – sometimes they have it hidden. If you cannot find any today – look for hay pellets (often mixed with dehydrated carrot chips) – this will substitute for the Hartz garbage until the hay arrives. My Weber totally threw a major tantrum when I switched to hay and stopped giving him the hay pellets – like feeding a kid cheetoh’s and cake, then deciding that they must now eat brussel sprouts. After a day or two, he got over his displeasure and still ate the the hay. Throw the grocery store food stuff in the trash. It will kill your rabbit. Pet food is best bought at pet stores.
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LikeDislikeI also feed as much hay as my rabbit will eat, But in addition, I give Kale, collards and other greens listed as safe on the House Rabbit Society website.
I also give small amount of apple & carrot. But my rabbit also likes a couple of dried blueberries as treats. But I limit this to just a couple a day. They are treats, not main courses.
I find my rabbit will bypass his good food for the treats, so I don’t give them at the same time.
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LikeDislikeOh, I agree that OxBow is wonderful. I really trust that company. Have used their products for years. I also have a little hay near the litter box so rabbit can nibble while pooping.
I also trust the “Yesterday’s News” for litter. Good product with minimum dust. I’ve heard that cedar and other wood based litters can cause breathing problems. Clumping cat litter is also a no-no since the bunny will eat some of the poop.
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