What to feed your rabbits

Hay

Hay makes up 85% of their diet. Your rabbits will need a constant supply of soft, long, green, sweet-smelling hay added fresh in their enclosure for them to graze on. Place it in large piles around their enclosure, in large trays, inside/on top of hiding spaces and in hay racks. It’s also great for helping to keep their teeth healthy. Offer a mixture of varieties such as:

• Baled mixed meadow hay
• Forage treat hay by Burgess
• Timothy hay
• Small amounts of Readigrass can be fed alongside other hay
• Alfalfa is high in protein and calcium, so it can be fed in small amounts alongside other hay to very young rabbits and females that are pregnant and lactating

Avoid short, brown or yellow, dusty or musty smelling hay as it is not very nutritional and may harm your rabbits.

Leafy greens

10% of your rabbits diet should be made up of a selection of safe plants – these can be plants and herbs safely grown and foraged from your garden, or even bought from your local supermarket. Vegetables can be fed too, however these should be fed in small amounts and introduced to your rabbits carefully for the first time to avoid any digestive issues. See the list below for all the healthy fresh foods you can pick and grow for your rabbits

Pellets

Their remaining diet (5%) is made up of a good-quality pellet food such as Burgess Excel Rabbit Nuggets. The amount needed for each rabbit will vary – read the food packet carefully to work out how much you will need to feed your rabbits, monitor your rabbits’ weights and adjust the amount of food you give accordingly.

Water

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. It can also result in rabbits drinking less water than if they were given a bowl.

Foods to avoid

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.

There are a few other plants, fruits and vegetables to avoid feeding your rabbits:

• Lettuce and many fruits, are the most common cause of loose faeces in rabbits – and have limited nutritional value
• Carrots are ok in small amounts, but are extremely fattening
• Pet shop treats such as yoghurt drops, chew bars etc are very fattening and can contribute to poor dental health
• Avocado
• Ragwort
• Ivy
• Privet
• Holly
• Yew
• Hemlock
• Wild garlic
• Lords and ladies – common in damp or woody areas.
• Any plants with bulbs
• Buttercup leaves and flowers can cause extreme discomfort and in some cases be fatal
• Foxglove
• Lillies
• Nightshade
• House plants such as and rubber plant
• Potatoes

Treats

When it comes to giving your rabbits a tasty treat, steer clear of brightly coloured, sweet treats that are sold for rabbits as these tend to be high in sugar leading to a number of health issues including obesity. Instead, you can give them an occasional healthy treat such as a small piece of apple, pear or even carrot.

Foraging wild and garden plants for your rabbits

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.

How to forage safely

• Use suitable secateurs and garden gloves for the prickly ones
• Take a plant ID or forage book with you so you don’t pick dangerous plants
• Don’t pick from areas close to roadsides or areas likely to have been toileted on by dogs and cats
• Only pick from gardens and areas you know are free from weedkillers and pesticides
• Introduce new foods slowly to avoid a bad reaction to the sudden change