House Rabbit Diet

One of the most important aspects of keeping rabbits is knowing what, when, and how much food to feed.  Poor or improper diet is responsible for many trips to the veterinarian and we want to help you keep your rabbit as healthy as possible.  Here are some tips and guidelines for feeding your rabbit.  

Grass hay is the most important component in a rabbit diet.  Chewing on hay helps keep rabbits’ teeth worn evenly and the fiber in hay helps maintain normal movement of stomach and intestinal contents.  Rabbits should have unlimited access to grass hay.  It should be available at all times and should consist of mixed grass, hay, timothy, oat grass, or meadow grass.  Alfalfa hay may be substituted if grass hay is not available.

Dark leafy greens are also important.  Approximately 1 cup tightly packed mixed leafy greens per kilogram of body weight should be offered daily.  At least 3 types should be used together in the mix.  Appropriate greens include kale, collard greens, parsley, dandelion greens, chicory, mustard greens, romaine lettuce, basil, endive, and Swiss chard.  If your rabbit hasn’t been offered greens in the past, you may want slowly introduce one  type of green at a time to avoid GI upset.

Other high-fiber foods that can be fed in smaller amounts include pears, peaches, apples, green or red bell peppers, mangos, papayas, pineapples, pea pods (not the peas), and Brussels sprouts  Limit these to 1 tablespoon per 5 lbs of body weight per day, or a few times a week.  

Rabbit pellets are NOT an adequate, necessary, or complete diet.  If pellets are fed, they should be high quality hay-based pellets such as timothy or prairie grasses.  Do not feed more than ¼ cup of pellets per 5 lbs (2.3 kg) of your rabbit’s weight.

Water should be continuously available in a heavy crock bowl or sipper bottle.  Water should be changed daily.

Do not feed Legumes and grains because of their high starch content.  Grapes and bananas should NOT be fed because they are “addictive” and distract the pet from eating more appropriate foods.

  Advantages to this more “natural” diet include proper wear of teeth, proper weight control, healthy GI function, and mental stimulation.  All of these things lead to less destructive behavior such as fur pulling or chewing on household items.