Rabbit Food Guide

Essential food

Water

Rabbits must always have access to fresh water, make sure to change it regularly and clean the container.  

Hay

Seriously - so much hay! We're talking the volumetric equivalent of themselves every day.   Rabbits should always have as much timothy hay available to them as they could possibly want.  There are other kinds of hay you can get a supplemental treat, but they need to have timothy hay. 

Note: Straw is NOT hay.

Healthy food

How much food your bunny needs depends on the ideal size of your rabbit.  Ask the shelter staff or your vet if your bunny is over/under weight before you take them home.  Some vets and researchers disagree whether some foods are safe for bunnies or not.  I always err on the side of caution, debated items are not on my safe list.  If you are ever unsure if something is safe for your bunny - just don't feed it to them!

Pellets

Some people chose to provide their rabbits a pellet-free diet.  You can totally do this, wild bunnies did not evolve eating pellets afterall.  However - that takes a lot more work and planning. The McFluffertons are a big fan of their pellets.  We use the Oxbow brand, they're basically fortified hay.

  

Baby bunnies (less than a year old) should have unlimited access to baby bunny pellets. 

For adult rabbits, read the label.  Good brands have a weight guide (if it doesn't don't get that kind).  Keep in mind this isn't a super exact science.  There's a large percentage difference in a three pound rabbit and a four pound rabbit.  If your rabbit is on the top end of their weight category you can give them a little more.  If they're on the low end of their category give them a little less.  

Good Plants

Think salad!  Give your rabbits a mix of different vegetables. Again, depending on the size of your bunny they need more or less.  

• Arugula
• Basil
• Bell peppers
• Chard
• Cilantro
• Cucumber
• Dandelion (leaves and flowers)
• Dill
• Mint
• Zucchini
• Tomato (ONLY THE FRUIT! The leaves, vine, and flowers are NOT safe for rabbits.)

Salt

It's a good idea for your bunny to have access to a good quality salt lick (that's just made of salt without fake colours).  Keep an eye on it though, if your rabbit starts devouring salt at a crazy rate it can be a sign there's something wrong.

Okay Plants

These should only be given to rabbits in small quantities as their nutritive content can give rabbits digestive problems if they eat too much.

• Broccoli
• Kale
• Spinach

Treats 

Rule of thumb is that a four pound bunny can have up to a tablespoon of treats a day.  That's total all day.  Don't let the bunny tell you otherwise.

• Carrots (Leaves and roots)
• Raisins
• Grapes (Seedless kind)
• Papaya
• Pear
• Banana
• Banana peel
• Apple (Remove stem and seeds - these are bad for bunnies but they'll try to eat them anyway.)

Not for bunnies!

There are lots of things that humans eat even though it's not very healthy for them (I'm looking at you Camion, with your butterscotch & sea salt milk chocolate bars).  Likewise, there are foods that are bad for bunnies to eat, but don't immediately hurt them.  If a sneaky bun steals a bite of your toast you probably don't need to take them to the vet - but it's a bad idea to let them have these things. Remember - there are lots of safe bunny treats, stick to those - don't risk your bunny's health.

Just because something is safe for a cat, dog or human - do not assume it is safe for a bunny.

Animal products

Rabbits are herbivorous, don't feed them anything made from or by animals.

Bad Plants

Sounds crazy right?  But there are some plants that aren't safe for rabbits.  

• Iceberg lettuce
• Any kind of spicy or hot pepper
• Anything in the onion or garlic family
• Beans
• Cabbage
• Corn
• Rice
• Potatoes (including the plant part)
• Avocados
• Rhubarb
• Tomato (leaves, vine, flowers)
• Nuts/seeds/pits (Pretty much every kind, just be safe and avoid these.)
• Poppies
• Parship
• Tulips
• Cherry tree
• Mushrooms
• Eggplant
• Lily of the valley
• Mistletoe
• Rhododendron

Cables

I know - you're not feeding these to your rabbits on purpose.  But it's worth an extra mention since it's a common issue.  Rabbits like to burrow and that power cord looks a look like a tree root stretching across their warren. 

Dairy

Except for baby bunnies still feeding from their mom, rabbits should not have dairy products.  At all. Ever! Some stores will sell things like yogurt drops and other treats - don't buy them!  

Sugar

Yes, fruit (and carrots) have lots of sugar.  That' why they're in the treat section.  Anything else with sugar is an automatic no.

Weird non-pellet rabbit food alternative!

It shouldn't even be legal to sell this stuff.  Don't feed your rabbits any of the cereal/kibble/mueslix things.  

DANGER ZONE!

Some things are straight up poison for rabbits.  Do not let your rabbit near these things - and take them to a vet right away if you think they might have ingested any!

• Anything with alcohol
• Anything with caffeine
• Any kind of chocolate 
• Foxglove (Also poison for humans, it's pretty and all - but just don't have it in your house if you have bunnies or children.)
• Ivy (the popular house plant)