Diet
Rabbits have very sensitive digestive systems and its important for them to have a complete and balanced diet.
A New Zealand White Rabbits daily diet should consist of four main parts
- An unlimited supply of grass-based hay
- 1-2 cups of fresh leafy greens
- 1/4-1/2 cup of fortified pellets
- A very small amount of safe treats
Grass-Based HayThe largest and most important part of a rabbit's diet should be an unlimited amount of grass-based hay. This hay can be provided either as litter or in hay trough, and it should never be allowed to run out. While a grass-based hay like Timothy Hay is best for adult rabbits, some non grassed-based hays such as Alfalfa can be great for young rabbits, as they are packed with protein and calcium to promote healthy growth but are too rich for adults. Hay is also a great help in keeping your rabbits' teeth trimmed.
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Some great grass based hays for rabbits include
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Some greens that can be included in your rabbits daily salad are
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Fresh Leafy GreensEach day, your rabbit should be provided with a mixture of fresh greens for them to enjoy. The amount of greens your rabbit receives will depend on its size, with small rabbits receiving around a cup a day and large rabbits receiving 2 cups per day. It is best to look for organic greens to avoid pesticides and GMO's, but always make sure to thoroughly wash your rabbits greens before feeding.
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Pellets
On top of being a good way for rabbits to trim down their teeth, pellets can act as a great supplement in any rabbits diet. Despite all this, pellets are not always necessary for rabbits if your able to provide a complete diet without them. If a daily diet of hay and greens isn't something that you are able to provide your rabbit, there is a cheaper option. If you choose the right brand, one that is packed with fiber and made with a grassed based hay and various greens, then your rabbit can live on a complete pellet diet, though it is highly un-recommended and you should only choose this path for your rabbit if you must.
Water
Rabbits become dehydrated very quickly, and need a constant supply of water. If a rabbit doesn't have water accessible then it will not eat, which can lead to other health issues. Your rabbits water can be provided from a bowl or a waterer. Some people advise against waterers because they may restrict how quickly the rabbits can drink. Bowls on the other hand, present their own challenges. While they do allow the rabbits to drink more freely, the rabbits seem to enjoy sitting in their water bowls and are prone to spilling them. The rabbits getting wet isn't a bad thing, in fact it usually triggers them to groom themselves, but if the rabbits spill all their water and no one is around to change it, then they could quickly become dehydrated. The common solution to both of these problems is to give your rabbits a heavy water dish so they can not spill it, and place the bowl underneath a waterer to catch any spill. This allows the rabbit to choose how they drink
Safe Treats
Along with pre-made treats, the following are some safe foods that can be fed to rabbits as snacks, but only in very small amounts.
No more than two tablespoons of any of these per day
No more than two tablespoons of any of these per day
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Unsafe foods
There are some foods that your rabbit should never eat. Even small portions of the wrong thing could bring about a swift death to your rabbit.
These foods include
These foods include
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