To help your rabbits live a long and healthy life, their diet should be as natural and varied as possible.
Rabbits are herbivores who require a full belly of fibre at all times. A healthy rabbit diet should include the following:
Daily fresh water is extremely important. Many rabbits prefer to drink from a bowl – bottles are suitable but can often leak and be tricky to clean.
Foraging for your rabbits is a cost-effective and organic way of feeding them. Some forage, like stinging nettles and rose petals, can be dried out and given as treats later in the year. Other plants such as vegetables or soft leaves like mallow can be fed on the day.
You can feed your rabbits plenty of different garden plants and herbs when they’re in season. Here are some examples:
The twigs and branches of several trees are a great source of enrichment for your guinea pigs. You can put large branches inside their run and bundle up the smaller twigs and tie them to the sides of the run. Here are some examples:
It is important to remember most fruit and vegetables aren’t normally part of a rabbit’s diet. Naturally rabbits feed on large quantities of hay/grass and a wide variety of wild weeds, herbs and bark. Feeding any of the below in large and regular amounts can lead to digestive, urinary or weight issues and should ideally be mixed in with a variety of fresh forage.
As an extra, occasional treat, you can give your pets a small piece of apple or pear. Rabbits also love to eat strawberry leaves, blackberry leaves and raspberry leaves.
You should avoid all muesli-style feeds, as they’ve been proven to be one of the most common causes of fatal dental and digestive disease. Colourful treats, sticky honey based treats, salt licks and mineral blocks can all be harmful to your rabbit and are unnecessary. If you’re feeding a good quality, natural diet, you’ll not require any form of supplements.
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