Rabbit Diet Sheet

80% diet is dry grass hay.
Choose sweet smelling grass hay or oat hay without dust or mould.
Hay supplies vary according to the season, so get the best you can.
Lucerne is not suitable.
Rabbits in the wild basically survive on dry grass and roots and tree bark.
They even eat some dirt when they dig up roots to eat

• Always supply fresh hay for constant grazing

Daily greens. Introduce each green gradually, to test for tolerance.
A regular variety of fresh greens, are important for your rabbits’ health.
Give greens washed and wet.
Stalks as well as the leaves are enjoyed.

Suitable greens are:
Blackberry leaves
Spinach leaves
Parsley
Celery tops. Chop the stalks.
ONLY give the darkest outer leaves of lettuce and cabbage.
Lemon balm
Dandelion
Basil.
Bamboo leaves
Brussels sprouts
Broccoli
Zucchini
Snow peas
Bock Choy
Carrot and Radish tops
Kale
Chicory
Mint
Cauliflower leaves.
Grapevine leaves.
Raspberry leaves

Clean water at all times. Use drink bottle or a heavy-duty bowl.

Branches to nibble on to wear down their teeth, such as:-pear, citrus, apple, hibiscus, and rose branches

Fresh green grass is initially too strong for young bunnies, so increase grazing time by 5 minutes daily until you are sure of their grass tolerance.
When grass tolerance is established, a rabbit will enjoy grazing all day long.

Poisonous plants:
NO Rhubarb
NO Foxglove
NO Raw Potatoes and peels
NO Buttercup-Belladonna
NO Chrysanthemum
NO Poppies
NO Lupines-Impatience-Lobelia
NO Cherry tree bark or leaves.
NO Egg plant leaves. The fruit is fine.
NO Peach/Apricot branches or leaves.
NO Sprayed plants.
NO Plants with a bulb.
NO Holly berries.
NO Asparagus.
NO Wisteria.
No Gloxalis.
NO Avocado leaves.
NO Hydrangeas.
NO Oleander
NO Parsnip.
NO Privet.
NO Rhododendrons
NO Bracken.
NO Lilly of the valley.
NO Caster oil plant.
NO Clematis
NO Oak leaves.
NO Chinese lantern.
NO Morning glory
NO Daphne

Commercial rabbit food.

Give pellets in very small quantities, as they can cause obesity and sometimes teeth problems.

Rabbit mixes are convenient, but avoid sudden changes in the diet.
Choose a mix with limited amount of grains, no dried fruit, and no molasses.
• Remove any corn. It should look dry and uninteresting.

**In fact rabbits can live a healthy life just on hay, vegetables, and greens, without the need for pellets or mix.**

Forbidden foods.
Wheat, commercial rabbit treats, bread, grains, chocolate, cakes, cereal, dried fruit and biscuits.
These foods are not poisonous, but do not promote health.
They contain insufficient fibrous material to keep the bowel moving, causing fermentation leading to sticky bottom syndrome and sometimes blockage of the bowel.

Apple seeds and corn are particularly dangerous as they cannot be digested, and can cause bowel blockage which is life threatening for a rabbit.

Treat foods.
Give in moderation only.
* Kiwi fruit, Ripe- raspberries, Pear, Pineapple, Strawberries, Carrots, Apple, Ripe blackberries, Capsicum, Grapes, Oranges and Banana.
Flower e.g. Roses, Nasturtiums, Pansies, and Hibiscus.