what shoul i feed my rabbit?

Question

i have a mini rex rabbit i feed it pellets hay and water
what sort of vegetables cani give it ?and how much of it?
how about fruits what kind of fruits and how much ?

Answer 1

A rabbit's diet should be made up of good quality pellets, fresh hay, (alfalfa, timothy or oat), water and fresh vegetables. Anything beyond that is a "treat" and should be given in limited quantities.

Pellets should be fresh, and should be relatively high in fiber (18% minimum fiber). Do not purchase more than 6 weeks worth of feed at a time, as it will become spoiled. Pellets should make up less of a rabbit's diet as he or she grows older, and hay should be available 24 hours a day.

When shopping for vegetables, look for a selection of different veggies. Look for both dark leafy veggies and root vegetables, and try to get different colors. Stay away from beans, corn and rhubarb.

Hay is essential to a rabbit's good health, providing roughage which reduces the danger of hairballs and other blockages. Apple tree twigs also provide good roughage, just be sure to let them dry for three months before given them to your bunny.

Good Veggies for Bunnies
alfalfa sprouts basil beet greens
(tops)
bok choy broccoli
(mostly leaves/stems) brussels sprouts
carrots and carrot tops celery
(chop in small pieces) cilantro
clover, clover sprouts collard greens dandelion greens and flowers (no pesticides)
endive escarole green peppers
mint parsley pea pods
(the flat edible kind)
peppermint leaves raddichio radish sprouts, tops
raspberry leaves romaine lettuce
(no iceberg or light colored leaf lettuce) watercress
wheat grass

Veggies to Give Occasionally
kale mustard greens
spinach Swiss chard

Special Treats
apple bananas blueberries cranberries (dried) grapes melon orange papaya peach pear pineapple plums
raspberries strawberries

Babies and "teenagers"

Birth to 3 weeks - mother's milk
3 to 4 weeks - mother's milk, nibbles of alfalfa and pellets
4 to 7 weeks - mother's milk, access to alfalfa and pellets
7 weeks to 7 months - unlimited pellets, unlimited hay
12 weeks - introduce vegetables (one at a time, quantities under 1/2 oz.)


Young Adults (7 months to 1 year)

introduce grass and oat hays, decrease alfalfa
decrease pellets to 1/2 cup per 6 lbs.body weight
increase daily vegetables gradually
fruit daily ration no more than 1-2 oz. (1-2 tablespoons) per 6 lbs. body weight (because of calories)


Mature Adults (1-5 years)

Unlimited grass hay, oat hay, straw
1/4 to 1/2 cup pellets per 6 lbs. Body weight (depending on metabolismand/or proportionate to veggies)
Minimum 2 cups chopped vegetables per 6 lbs. body weight
fruit daily ration no more than 2 oz. per 6 lbs. body weight
Senior Rabbits (over 6 years)

If sufficient weight is maintained, continue adult diet
Frail, older rabbits may need unrestricted pellets to keep weight up.
Alfalfa can be given to underweight rabbits, only if calcium levels are normal.
Annual blood workups are highly recommended for geriatric rabbits.

Answer 2

Make sure he has as much fresh hay as he could ever want all the time. I like to use timothy hay for my rabbits, as they seem to love it best. There's also oat hay, so just give your rabbit some of both and see what he likes. The rule of thumb for amount of pellets to feed your rabbit is 1/2 a cup per six pounds of weight. He should have as much vegetables as he wants of at LEAST three different types daily. The darker the green, the better. Kale, romaine, dandelion leaves (get them from your yard and just wash them down), escarole, mint, brussel sprouts, grated carrots, so on, are all good choices. As long as you don't use lighter lettuces like iceberg, you're fine. I like to give my rabbits a spring mix or medditeranian mix of leaves, so they can pick and choose what they want to eat. Fruits are all right, but should be used only as a treat, as they're high in sugar content. Diced apples, strawberries, banana, and non-citrusy fruits are best for them. Think of what they'd eat in the wild when you're picking out fruits.

Answer 3

Provided they are well cared for, rabbits can make friendly and playful pets. They are widely kept throughout the world, both indoors and out. Rabbits kept indoors are typically healthier and more social than rabbits kept outdoors. Housed indoors and provided with adequate damage-proofing (especially of electrical cables and house plants that may be toxic), rabbits are relatively safe from predators, parasites, disease, and temperature extremes. Rabbits kept outdoors must be provided with shelter that is heated in winter and shaded in summer. Domesticated rabbits are most comfortable in temperatures between 10 to 21 degrees Celsius (50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit), and cannot endure temperatures above 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit). Veterinarians specializing in rabbits recommend a diet consisting of clean water, a small amount of commercial pellets and unlimited grass hay daily. Other vegetables (2 cups per 5 pounds of body weight) should be fed: good choices include romaine lettuce (not iceberg), parsley, cilantro, dandelion, radicchio, endive, and basil. Carrots and fruits should be used sparingly. Domestic rabbits should be checked daily as infections and illnesses can occur very quickly. Teeth should not be too long because if they are the rabbit cannot eat. Do not attempt to grind or clip a rabbit's teeth; one is advised to seek a veterinarian. Rabbit's teeth can grow up to five inches a year. A rabbit's whiskers are a major sensory organ and should never be clipped.

The eyes should be clean with no crusts evident. Ears also should be clean along with any other part of the rabbit.

Answer 4

Stick to the rabbit pellets and water. Dry stemmy hay (orchard grass and timothy) can also be given them in moderated amounts. It is unwise to give them fruits and vegetables. The starches and sugars do not agree with a rabbit's diet and will cause the rabbit, if given in excess, to get diahrrea which is the disease that kills more rabbits than any other disease.

Answer 5

I have 3 rabbits. Make sure it has pellets at all times. Fresh water is very important. Three times a week I treat mine with whatever fresh vegetables and fruits I have on hand. Usually carrots, cabbage, apple, celery. No lettuce. It will give them diahrrea. In the spring and summer I pick fresh clover,good if it's available. In warm weather get a bottomless cage and set it in the grass. Your bunny will love that.

Answer 6

This link is a page that will tell you all you need to know about feeding a rabbit.

The overall web site is a great reference for all rabbit questions.

Good luck. Having a pet rabbit is great.

If you want to show your rabbit remember that your breed has an upper weight limit.

Answer 7

I feed my rabbit 1/2 stalk celery and it makes him very happy.You can also feed him the special feed pellets.If you think there is additive in feed pellet .There are a lot of feed pellet mill.If you have any question,please feel free to contact me.
My Skype: elina881130

Answer 8

DONT GIVE HIM LETTUCE!!! I know it seems like a good idea, but it's not! It could cause them to have diarrhea -seriously! And that's not a good thing for rabbits! A few carrots now and then are good - apples are great...check out Drs. Foster and Smith website for small animals and they have a great fruit and treat selection available for good prices.

Answer 9

Rabbit pellets but also twice a week a bowl with carrots, lettuce and apple

Answer 10

Lots of hay, plenty of water, enough pellets as directed

I eliminated lettuce from my bunny's diet (too much water).

For treats I give her an occasional piece of apple or melon, or a bit of cucumber to go along with her daily vitamin.

Answer 11

I feed my rabbit 1/2 stalk celery and it makes him very happy...also i feed my Rabbit a vitamin kid of pellet from pets mart and it has more minerals than just ordinary pellets.