If you think throwing in carrots or just plain pellets every day for your rabbit is healthy, you’re wrong. There are a lot of other things included in a proper bunny diet. Following the below listings can almost guarantee a healthy, happy rabbit with a long life.
Pellets: The main and most basic thing a rabbit needs to eat, are pellets. This will fill your rabbit up for sure, but will it provide Flopsy with a well balanced, nutritious diet? The problem is, many people would say yes; however, a proper rabbit diet includes more than just pellets.
Optional Gourmet Food: Just plain pellets are good for a base food, but they can get boring. If you have the mullah to fork up, you can always try a gourmet rabbit food. Gourmet usually includes: added minerals and vitamins, dried fruit, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, kibbled corn, and other ingredients. Don’t feel bad about getting the normal pellets, though, since gourmet isn’t exactly needed , plus you can also see what I listed as healthy treats and “add-ons” to a rabbit’s diet instead of paying a ridiculous price for a bag of bunny food.
Grass Hays: Besides the pellets, another very important factor in a rabbit’s diet, is hay. Why? Because a rabbit can have trouble digesting its normal food (just plain pellets don’t come with enough fiber), adding grass hays is one of the best things you can give Flopsy. It not only helps digestion, but prevents hairballs. Ask any veterinarian or experienced rabbit owner, and they will tell you to feed your bunny grass hay along with its normal food. There are, however, exceptions for which kind of hay to get your rabbit:
1. Alfalfa and Clover Hays : As a kitten (a baby or young rabbit) you should include with their main food, a constant supply of alfalfa or clover hays. Don’t use brown or moldy alfalfa. To keep alfalfa fresher longer, store in it in the refrigerator.
2. Timothy Hay and Other Grass Hays : By the time your rabbit reaches six months of age, it’s time to wean him/her off of alfalfa and/or clover grasses. This is simply because as a kitten, they were growing and needed more calories and a lot of calcium, but as an older rabbit, they don’t need nearly as much calories and calcium. In fact, feeding adult rabbits alfalfa or clover hay can lead to problems like obesity. You can wean your bunny by mixing timothy hay or other grass hays in with the rest of their alfalfa. Eventually, once your last bag of alfalfa or clover hay runs out, just use timothy hay or grass hays completely for the rest of its life.
Healthy Add-Ons: Pellets and grass hays are the two most important parts of a rabbit’s proper diet; however, this can not only get boring, but there are several things you can add on to enhance the nutritional value that your bunny receives. These would include fresh greens (no iceberg lettuce), preferably organic, although store bought won’t hurt. You can give Flopsy veggies like: kale, dill, basil, mint, cilantro, spinach, celery, dark lettuces, even broccoli. Carrots? Of course! But be sure not to overdue the carrots, oh, and include their tops, rabbits love those.
Healthy Treats: Here is a list of some very scrumptious and nutritious treats that your bunny will thank you for: parsley, cut up apples (no seeds), strawberries, bananas, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, blueberries, melon, pineapple.
Optional Vitamins: As long as you feed your rabbit pellets, grass hays, and an assortment of fresh vegetables every day, they probably won’t ever need extra vitamins. However, if you only feed them pellets and grass hays and none or rarely ever anything else, then definitely pick up some vitamins at the pet store. Several grocery stores sell rabbit vitamins as well.
What to Avoid: Don’t ever feed your rabbit: dairy, meat, fruits with seeds, fruit pits, iceberg lettuce, clover, iris, hemlock, poppies, foxglove, parsnips, tomatoes, potatoes (both sweet and “regular”), sugars and sweets, and foods rich in carbohydrates (i.e. cereal, chips, etc.) as this can lead to obesity.
