| Feeding your Bunny Rabbits need fresh, clean water all the time. Without it, your bunny won't eat. You will also need a good quality rabbit pellet food. It's very important you don't change the feed your bunny is used to (in other words, stick with the same brand of pellets.). I personally recommend that you use Oxbow Bunny Basics T rabbit pellets (sold at Posh Pets). They are also vet recommended. Hay is an essential part of a rabbits diet. Hay provides fiber which keeps your bunny's digestive system working properly. Timothy Hay is the healthiest but many other types are available. Types of Hay 
Alfalfa Hay Distinguished by stalks, usually brittle and flat green to brown leaves. Very high in calcium, can cause "sludge" in bunny's urine. High calories. Watch for gummy droppings, weight gain, & sludge. These are usually problems of the older (2+ yr. bunny). Hay can vary from dark lime green to yellow/green/brown depending on the season. There is almost always some alfalfa in HRS boxed hay. Alfalfa is easy to come by in San Diego County. Most horse people feed alfalfa, but a strict alfalfa diet for bunnies can lead to some of the problems listed above. HRS recommends a mixture of hay varieties and "not" a diet high in alfalfa hay. 
Bermuda Grass Bermuda is a thin blade to flexible stalk, light green to gray/green in color. It is another of the higher fiber hays and may be seen in HRS boxed hay as one of the "alternative hays." Bermuda is less well known and not as easy to come by. Many bunnies prefer Bermuda and it is a good all around food source with a moderate amount of calories. Bermuda is typically fine enough that it doesn't get spread all over the cage which often happens with Oat hay. Typically no flowers or cattails are seen on Bermuda grass. 
Oat Hay Large hollow cylindrical stalks and flat blades that are golden yellow to light green with oats on the end. The coloration and the presence of oats distinguishes this hay from others. Oat hay can vary widely in appearance and oat count, depending on the harvest season. New harvests are generally oat laden, whereas later harvest such as Dec-Feb can be very light, with minimal oats. Many people confuse Oat hay with Straw. The similarity is in the coloration. Straw is not a food source, but is typically used for bedding, mostly in the horse and farming communities. Oat hay is an excellent source of fiber. Bunnies tend to enjoy mostly the oats, but will sporadically munch on the hay stalks. If bun's diet is high in oat hay, the pellets she produces will be larger, lighter in color, and will look like sawdust if crushed. Many bunnies would benefit from eating more oat hay, an excellent preventative for GI Stasis. 
Orchard Grass Another less known feed, orchard grass, is very similar in appearance to Timothy but the "cattails" have small segments missing from them every 1/32 of an inch. Also the cattails tend to be pale brown, whereas Timothy cattails are green to light yellow. Orchard is even less prevalent in San Diego County than perhaps all other hay/grass varieties. We try to include it whenever possible as it is a good alternative and provides change. 
Timothy Hay Timothy is probably the second most popular hay with bunnies and their caretakers. It looks like a dried blade of grass, fairly wide and its color is a soft green to grey/brown green. Timothy hay also has "solid cattails" which distinguishes it from Orchard grass which has "broken cattails." Much of the Timothy is imported from Northern counties; it is not as widely available as Alfalfa, but is an excellent hay for bunnies. It contains a good level of calcium and calories. | | Treats All rabbits love treats, but keep in mind that too much is bad for them just like too much junk food is bad for us. Also, very young bunnies (3 months and under) cannot digest treats like older rabbits can, so feed treats in moderation until you know that they can eat and digest them properly. Good & Bad Treat List Good Treats - Basil, beet greens, carrots, apple, cilantro, clover, kale, mustard greens, dried papaya, & pineapple: Bunny's love all these treats and they help break down any hair in the stomach & helps prevent any blockage. Strawberry leaves: Rich in iron Rosemary: Helps if your rabbit has fleas. Parsley: Rich in iron and copper. Enriches blood and helps the digestive system. Blackberry: Good for bunnies on hot summer days. Leaves are also good for upset stomachs and diarrhea. Helps stimulate appetite. Dried cranberries: Helps for treating urinary tract infections Chamomile: Blood cleanser and helps calm nervous animals and upset tummies. Dandelion: Blood purifier Garlic: Helps the immune system repel infections and disease. Mint: Good for the digestive system Oats: Great for young bunnies. High in potassium, phosphorous, & calcium. Rich in vitamin E, important for strong teeth, nails, and fur. Weeping Willow Bark: Prevents diarrhea from stress. Apple tree branches: Great for bunnies to chew on
Bad Treats & Poisonous Plants - Rabbits don't know what plants and treats aren't good for them, so watch out for these poisonous plants and treats. Main Bad Treats: Lettuce, cabbage, celery, broccoli, corn, and nuts. ABC's of Bad Treats - A: Aloe B: Begonia Philodendron, Black walnut C: Calla lily, Cherry tree back (bark, leaves, pits), Coffee beans, Corn plant, Chrysanthemum, Cyclamen Rhododendron, D: Daffodil (bulbs), Daisy, Day lily, E: Easter lily, Eggplant, Eucalyptus, F: Foxglove (leaves, seeds), G: Geranium, Gladiola, H: Holly (berries) I: Ivy, Iris (bulbs) J: Juniper, Jasmine, L: Lima bean, Lobelia, M: Macadamia nut, Marijuana, Milkweed, Mistletoe (berries), Morning glory, Mushrooms, Mustard root N: Narcissus (bulbs), O: Oak, Oleander, P: Pease lily, Peach (leaves, bark), Pear, Poppy, Potato, Prim rose, S: String of pearls, Sweet pea, Sweet potato, T: Toadstools, Tomato, Tulip (bulb), V: Violet W: Walnuts, Wild carrots, Wisteria
Please keep in mind that these are only some of the most common poisonous plants and that just because they are not on this list does not mean it isn't dangerous 
Rabbit's Daily Menu These are examples of a good daily feeding routine for your bunny. Getting your bunny on a routine will teach your bunny good house manners and keep your pet healthy. These are just examples so feel free to change a routine to work for you and your family. Example A: Rose & Jamba (Bonded 5 lbs. lops) 7am - 2 cups of fresh veggies
3pm - 1/3 cup Oxbow Bunny Basics T
10pm - 2/3 cup pellets
Fresh water and field hay at all times Example B: Pebbles (4 lbs. Bunny) 5:00 am - 1/4 cup Oxbow Basic T pellets, 1 or 2 papaya tablets
8:00 am - cup of vegetables
12:00 noon - dried papaya treats
5:00 pm - fresh papaya or banana, or vegetables. and some crunchy treats.
10:00 pm - 1/4 cup pellets, TBSpoonoats, few sunflower seeds, papaya tablets, pumpkinor pineapple, sprinkle of Alfalfa Hay.
Unlimited Timothy Hay and water 24/7. | |