Say Yay to Hay!
Feeding governs the well-being and condition of rabbits and in most feasible ways should mimic that of the domestic rabbits wild counterpart. A rabbits digestive system is made to make the most out of a fibrous plant diet which is very poor in nutrients, such as that of grass and wild forage. Hay is the domestic alternative to grass which wild rabbits would readily graze on. A domestic rabbits diet should be made up of primarily hay or grass (at least 80%), appropriate herbs, leafy greens or dried wild plants (15%) high fibre (at least 20%) quality pellets to aid appropriate nutritional and mineral consumption (5%) and healthy treats such as a slither of carrot or parsnip, or appropriate hay based goodies (a maximum of one or two small treats per day).
HAY
Hay is the most important part of a rabbits diet, it keeps their digestive system healthy and wears down their teeth. It is important to provide a variety of types so that your rabbit can use its natural foraging behaviour, as well as using this as a great form of enrichment and mental stimulation. Giving a variety of hays allows for your rabbit to feed selectively, but not jeopardise the nutritional value it is getting from the hay. Your rabbit should eat an amount of hay the same size as their body each and every day!
Hay is quite coarse, even if it’s soft hay, and it’s covered in silicas. Microscopically it’s made up of a fibre called long fibre. Your rabbit chews hay (and grass) in a side to side motion and that and the abrasive action of the silica is what wears down rabbit teeth as unlike humans rabbits teeth continue to grow throughout their lives. The long stranded fibre keeps your rabbits gut moving and prevents dental issues. Sadly many pet rabbits die because they cannot eat due to dental disease being left untreated.
Hay is the most important part of a rabbits diet, it keeps their digestive system healthy and wears down their teeth. It is important to provide a variety of types so that your rabbit can use its natural foraging behaviour, as well as using this as a great form of enrichment and mental stimulation. Giving a variety of hays allows for your rabbit to feed selectively, but not jeopardise the nutritional value it is getting from the hay. Your rabbit should eat an amount of hay the same size as their body each and every day!
Hay is quite coarse, even if it’s soft hay, and it’s covered in silicas. Microscopically it’s made up of a fibre called long fibre. Your rabbit chews hay (and grass) in a side to side motion and that and the abrasive action of the silica is what wears down rabbit teeth as unlike humans rabbits teeth continue to grow throughout their lives. The long stranded fibre keeps your rabbits gut moving and prevents dental issues. Sadly many pet rabbits die because they cannot eat due to dental disease being left untreated.
TYPES OF HAY
Meadow hay: is classified as a grass hay that is soft and sweet, with long strands. This type of hay is good for everyday consumption and is the ideal substrate to use in litter trays for grazing behaviour. This is usually quite cheap to obtain and can usually be brought in bales, rather than from a store.
Timothy hay: is also classified as a grass hay which has a greener and fresher look to it than meadow hay. It is a coarser texture and has a sweet odour which makes it highly tempting to rabbits. This is also a type of hay that can be fed daily. Timothy & rye hay is also available.
Orchard grass/hay: is a soft, flat bladed hay with a fruity odour. Yet again this is highly palatable for rabbits due to the sweet smell and texture and is also an amazing alternative to coarser hays for rabbits with dental issues.
Oat hay: is a short stemmed, sweet smelling “treat” hay. A small amount (a large handful) can be fed daily however can be highly calorific if fed in large quantities, so only a small amount of it needs to be fed at one time. This hay usually includes husks which can be problematic in longer coated breeds, so do make sure you check their fur regularly.
Dried readigrass: Is a rich, sweet smelling hay, full of nutrients. However, this needs to be fed in moderation, and is not suitable for rabbits that have a sensitive tummy, or those with genetic or mobility issues that prevents them cleaning their bottoms. A healthier, less rich alternative to this is oat hay.
Dried wild plants and herbs: this is a fantastic alternative/addition to hay, that promotes foraging behaviour, and is the perfect choice if you have a fussy or dental rabbit. They make a fantastic additive to hay, whereby they are sprinkled over the existing hay and the rabbit is encouraged to forage for a tasty snack. They are also perfect for wearing down teeth and make a tasty, healthy treat in the process.
Alfalfa hay: is a high fibre, legume hay. This is only really suitable for weaning mothers and babies under 6 months due to the high protein and calorie content, it is also very high in calcium.
Meadow hay: is classified as a grass hay that is soft and sweet, with long strands. This type of hay is good for everyday consumption and is the ideal substrate to use in litter trays for grazing behaviour. This is usually quite cheap to obtain and can usually be brought in bales, rather than from a store.
Timothy hay: is also classified as a grass hay which has a greener and fresher look to it than meadow hay. It is a coarser texture and has a sweet odour which makes it highly tempting to rabbits. This is also a type of hay that can be fed daily. Timothy & rye hay is also available.
Orchard grass/hay: is a soft, flat bladed hay with a fruity odour. Yet again this is highly palatable for rabbits due to the sweet smell and texture and is also an amazing alternative to coarser hays for rabbits with dental issues.
Oat hay: is a short stemmed, sweet smelling “treat” hay. A small amount (a large handful) can be fed daily however can be highly calorific if fed in large quantities, so only a small amount of it needs to be fed at one time. This hay usually includes husks which can be problematic in longer coated breeds, so do make sure you check their fur regularly.
Dried readigrass: Is a rich, sweet smelling hay, full of nutrients. However, this needs to be fed in moderation, and is not suitable for rabbits that have a sensitive tummy, or those with genetic or mobility issues that prevents them cleaning their bottoms. A healthier, less rich alternative to this is oat hay.
Dried wild plants and herbs: this is a fantastic alternative/addition to hay, that promotes foraging behaviour, and is the perfect choice if you have a fussy or dental rabbit. They make a fantastic additive to hay, whereby they are sprinkled over the existing hay and the rabbit is encouraged to forage for a tasty snack. They are also perfect for wearing down teeth and make a tasty, healthy treat in the process.
Alfalfa hay: is a high fibre, legume hay. This is only really suitable for weaning mothers and babies under 6 months due to the high protein and calorie content, it is also very high in calcium.
APPROPRIATE FEEDING
Inappropriate feeding can lead to illnesses such as dental disease, gastrointestinal stasis, impaction and intestinal blockages as well as behavioural issues. It is always important to know the nutritional composition of the food you are feeding, and the correct portion to prevent obesity and illness.
Rabbits being grazing animals means they need an unlimited supply of hay to satisfy their continuous eating schedule, which in turn keeps the gut moving. However feeding the right food alongside this is crucial in the means of providing the correct nutrients and not exceeding their nutritional requirements.
Inappropriate feeding can lead to illnesses such as dental disease, gastrointestinal stasis, impaction and intestinal blockages as well as behavioural issues. It is always important to know the nutritional composition of the food you are feeding, and the correct portion to prevent obesity and illness.
Rabbits being grazing animals means they need an unlimited supply of hay to satisfy their continuous eating schedule, which in turn keeps the gut moving. However feeding the right food alongside this is crucial in the means of providing the correct nutrients and not exceeding their nutritional requirements.
PELLETS
The general rule for pellet rations is around 20g per kg of your rabbit being fed daily, however we find that a small handful (approximately 40g) is all most healthy pairs of rabbits require. This is enough to provide the nutrients that they may not get from the hay and forage in their diet. Excessive amounts of pellets can lead to weight gain and picky eating, which in turn can lead to dental issues. Pellets should always have the highest fibre content possible of at least 20%. Extruded pellets should be chosen over compressed as the fibre length is greater which is better for teeth and is a better preventative for dental disease.
The best way to feed your rabbits pellets is to scatter feed. This does not only help with more natural behaviours such as foraging, but also helps prevent the risk of choking due to rabbits eating too fast from a bowl.
The general rule for pellet rations is around 20g per kg of your rabbit being fed daily, however we find that a small handful (approximately 40g) is all most healthy pairs of rabbits require. This is enough to provide the nutrients that they may not get from the hay and forage in their diet. Excessive amounts of pellets can lead to weight gain and picky eating, which in turn can lead to dental issues. Pellets should always have the highest fibre content possible of at least 20%. Extruded pellets should be chosen over compressed as the fibre length is greater which is better for teeth and is a better preventative for dental disease.
The best way to feed your rabbits pellets is to scatter feed. This does not only help with more natural behaviours such as foraging, but also helps prevent the risk of choking due to rabbits eating too fast from a bowl.
SAY NO TO MUESLI
It is always important to avoid a muesli diet. This is high in sugars, fats and starch (such as corn, nut, seed and fruit) which a rabbits digestive tract cannot tolerate. It is usually desired because it is aesthetically pleasing but it is not good for nutritional needs. Feeding muesli leads to selective feeding due to rabbits eating the tasty, unnutritional bits and leaving the fibrous pellets.
It is always important to avoid a muesli diet. This is high in sugars, fats and starch (such as corn, nut, seed and fruit) which a rabbits digestive tract cannot tolerate. It is usually desired because it is aesthetically pleasing but it is not good for nutritional needs. Feeding muesli leads to selective feeding due to rabbits eating the tasty, unnutritional bits and leaving the fibrous pellets.
GREENS AND FORAGE
The general rule for greens/vegetable and forage feeding is a ball the size of the rabbits head fed daily. It is always important to check what vegetables and forage are suitable to feed to your rabbits (check out the bunny safe list on the RWAF websitehttps://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-diet/recommended-vegetables-herbs ). Feeding the wrong or too much of a certain vegetable can lead to digestive problems, such as sloppy uneaten cecetrophes, or obesity due to too many sugary vegetables.
It is always important that you do not suddenly change your rabbits diet, and this is done slowly, due to the impact on the gut. Always make sure that your rabbit has access to fresh hay at all times, and you are giving the correct portions of vegetables, forage and treats to help maintain the correct nutrition needs of your rabbit. If your rabbit is picky when it comes to hay, try introducing dried wild plants and the sweeter smelling hays into the diet. They are all as fibrous so you will be decreasing the risk of dental issues in the future. Always make sure you research rabbit safe vegetables and plants if you are unsure as inappropriate feeding can lead to more severe health conditions. And the most important thing is if you do see issues that may be related to a rabbits diet or what has been fed, that you seek veterinary advice.
The general rule for greens/vegetable and forage feeding is a ball the size of the rabbits head fed daily. It is always important to check what vegetables and forage are suitable to feed to your rabbits (check out the bunny safe list on the RWAF websitehttps://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-diet/recommended-vegetables-herbs ). Feeding the wrong or too much of a certain vegetable can lead to digestive problems, such as sloppy uneaten cecetrophes, or obesity due to too many sugary vegetables.
It is always important that you do not suddenly change your rabbits diet, and this is done slowly, due to the impact on the gut. Always make sure that your rabbit has access to fresh hay at all times, and you are giving the correct portions of vegetables, forage and treats to help maintain the correct nutrition needs of your rabbit. If your rabbit is picky when it comes to hay, try introducing dried wild plants and the sweeter smelling hays into the diet. They are all as fibrous so you will be decreasing the risk of dental issues in the future. Always make sure you research rabbit safe vegetables and plants if you are unsure as inappropriate feeding can lead to more severe health conditions. And the most important thing is if you do see issues that may be related to a rabbits diet or what has been fed, that you seek veterinary advice.
WATER
Your rabbit should also have 24/7 access to a large clean bowl of fresh water. We find given the choice the vast majority of rabbits prefer drinking from a bowl rather than a bottle.
Your rabbit should also have 24/7 access to a large clean bowl of fresh water. We find given the choice the vast majority of rabbits prefer drinking from a bowl rather than a bottle.
WHAT WE RECOMMEND
For our recommended retailers look here http://www.rabbitresidence.org.uk/food--toy-suppliers.html
At the rescue our main source of hay which we use for feeding as well as bedding is a high quality meadow hay from The Country Store (https://thecountrystore.co.uk/) who deliver locally, it is always worth contacting your local feed merchant or equine store to see if they offer good quality meadow hay for sale by the bale. This is the most economical way to purchase good quality hay.
We also feed various brands of timothy hay, oat hay, readigrass from Friendship estates (http://www.friendshipestates.co.uk/friendly ) and orchard grass.
Oxbow (https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=oxbow&hvadid=80195630085542&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&hvqmt=p&tag=mh0a9-21&ref=pd_sl_2bt5np82nm_p ) and the Timothy hay from Alfafa King (https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=alfafa+king&ref=nb_sb_noss_2 ) is the best you can buy but is expensive.
However, these brands are available from many online stores that sell a range of rabbit hays and toys including Time for Paws (https://www.timeforpaws.co.uk/c/small-pets/hay-forage ) Pet Life International (https://www.petlifeonline.co.uk/shop/small_animals/ ) and the Hay Experts (https://www.thehayexperts.co.uk/ ). There are also online retailers you simply sell good quality hays: Hay & Straw (https://www.hay-and-straw.co.uk/ ), Hay Box (https://haybox.club/ ), Dust Free Hay (https://www.dustfreehay.co.uk/ ), Timothy Hay (https://www.timothyhay.co.uk/ ), Small Pet Select (https://smallpetselect.co.uk/ ).
We do not recommend that you buy your hay from high street stores not only is this the most expensive way to purchase hay, many of the own brand hay is short stranded, poor quality yellow hay and very dusty.
Where possible we prefer to feed rabbit safe herbs over vegetables as our experience has shown that these are less likely to cause digestive issues and rabbits usually prefer these to green vegetables. If you have several rabbits you may wish to purchase your herbs from herbs unlimited. (https://herbsunlimited.co.uk/traditional-fresh-herbs/)
The two best brands of pellets on the market are Supreme Science Selective (https://supremepetfoods.com/supreme-products/supreme-science-selective-food-for-small-animals/ ) and Burgess Excel (https://www.burgesspetcare.com/products/rabbit/ ). Fibre first sticks are also suitable. At the rescue we choose to feed Science Selective as those bunnies with sensitive tummy’s seem to tolerate this better.
Dried wild plants or fresh wild plants can be fed as additional treats or instead of vegetables or herbs. Products from the Hay Experts, the Twig and Nibble shop (https://www.twigandnibbleshop.co.uk/#/ ) and Galens Garden (https://galensgarden.co.uk/ ) come highly recommended but there are also other products produced by Rosewood, Excel, Burns and Nature First that may be more readily available. Plantain, apple sticks and leaves and dandelion are always firm favourites.
You can also ‘forage’ for rabbit safe wild plants yourself https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/articles/free-food-for-rabbits/foraging/wild-plants-to-pick-for-rabbits . (We are working on a separate article regarding this but the information in the link is useful).
A Note About Treats
Rabbit appropriate treats can be a small piece of carrot, banana, apple or strawberry or a fenugreek crunchie or a treat from the supreme or Excel range. It’s important to note that many treats available to purchase on the high street that are marketed for rabbits are not actually suitable to be fed as they contain eggs, dairy or other unsuitable ingredients.
For our recommended retailers look here http://www.rabbitresidence.org.uk/food--toy-suppliers.html
At the rescue our main source of hay which we use for feeding as well as bedding is a high quality meadow hay from The Country Store (https://thecountrystore.co.uk/) who deliver locally, it is always worth contacting your local feed merchant or equine store to see if they offer good quality meadow hay for sale by the bale. This is the most economical way to purchase good quality hay.
We also feed various brands of timothy hay, oat hay, readigrass from Friendship estates (http://www.friendshipestates.co.uk/friendly ) and orchard grass.
Oxbow (https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=oxbow&hvadid=80195630085542&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&hvqmt=p&tag=mh0a9-21&ref=pd_sl_2bt5np82nm_p ) and the Timothy hay from Alfafa King (https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=alfafa+king&ref=nb_sb_noss_2 ) is the best you can buy but is expensive.
However, these brands are available from many online stores that sell a range of rabbit hays and toys including Time for Paws (https://www.timeforpaws.co.uk/c/small-pets/hay-forage ) Pet Life International (https://www.petlifeonline.co.uk/shop/small_animals/ ) and the Hay Experts (https://www.thehayexperts.co.uk/ ). There are also online retailers you simply sell good quality hays: Hay & Straw (https://www.hay-and-straw.co.uk/ ), Hay Box (https://haybox.club/ ), Dust Free Hay (https://www.dustfreehay.co.uk/ ), Timothy Hay (https://www.timothyhay.co.uk/ ), Small Pet Select (https://smallpetselect.co.uk/ ).
We do not recommend that you buy your hay from high street stores not only is this the most expensive way to purchase hay, many of the own brand hay is short stranded, poor quality yellow hay and very dusty.
Where possible we prefer to feed rabbit safe herbs over vegetables as our experience has shown that these are less likely to cause digestive issues and rabbits usually prefer these to green vegetables. If you have several rabbits you may wish to purchase your herbs from herbs unlimited. (https://herbsunlimited.co.uk/traditional-fresh-herbs/)
The two best brands of pellets on the market are Supreme Science Selective (https://supremepetfoods.com/supreme-products/supreme-science-selective-food-for-small-animals/ ) and Burgess Excel (https://www.burgesspetcare.com/products/rabbit/ ). Fibre first sticks are also suitable. At the rescue we choose to feed Science Selective as those bunnies with sensitive tummy’s seem to tolerate this better.
Dried wild plants or fresh wild plants can be fed as additional treats or instead of vegetables or herbs. Products from the Hay Experts, the Twig and Nibble shop (https://www.twigandnibbleshop.co.uk/#/ ) and Galens Garden (https://galensgarden.co.uk/ ) come highly recommended but there are also other products produced by Rosewood, Excel, Burns and Nature First that may be more readily available. Plantain, apple sticks and leaves and dandelion are always firm favourites.
You can also ‘forage’ for rabbit safe wild plants yourself https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/articles/free-food-for-rabbits/foraging/wild-plants-to-pick-for-rabbits . (We are working on a separate article regarding this but the information in the link is useful).
A Note About Treats
Rabbit appropriate treats can be a small piece of carrot, banana, apple or strawberry or a fenugreek crunchie or a treat from the supreme or Excel range. It’s important to note that many treats available to purchase on the high street that are marketed for rabbits are not actually suitable to be fed as they contain eggs, dairy or other unsuitable ingredients.