Rabbits are fun animals to keep. When raising him, it's important that you feed him a healthy and balanced diet to keep him happy and growing healthy. Keep in mind that rabbits have a very sensitive digestive system. This means that nutritional imbalances can cause serious intestinal problems that can be fatal. Therefore, by knowing how to properly feed your rabbit, you can maintain optimal health throughout its life.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Learning What to Give to Rabbits
Step 1. Provide dry grass for your rabbit
Dried grass is the most important type of food for rabbits. There are many benefits contained in dry grass. For example, dry grass contains fiber that helps push food waste or waste through the intestines, as well as preventing intestinal stasis. Dry grass also allows your rabbit to bite and chew so that his teeth can be naturally eroded.
- In addition, dry grass can also provide a special pleasure for the rabbit because he can sift it and move it around the cage.
- Dried grasses such as timothy grass or oats have a higher fiber content than alfalfa or dried clover, making them ideal types of dry grass for your rabbit. Alfalfa and dried clover are high in protein and calcium, which can cause kidney and bladder problems in older rabbits.
- Good quality dry grass is green and has a fresh aroma, and is free from mold and dust.
- Try buying hay from the seller directly (or a specialty store that sells fresh pet food). Compared to hay products sold at pet supply stores, hay sold at specialty stores or breeders is likely to be fresher and contain more of the nutrients your rabbit needs.
Step 2. Give your rabbit a limited amount of pellets as food
Pellets should only be given in small quantities. Due to their high calories and low fiber content, overfeeding of pellets can lead to obesity and overgrowth of teeth. Only feed pellets with similarly shaped grains and not pellets or mixed types of food such as muesli (the different shape of each grain encourages rabbits to eat only those grains that taste better, even if those grains are low in calcium). Every day, give pellets in portions that can be spent in less than 20 minutes. If your rabbit continues to eat pellets but does not eat the provided dry grass, gradually change his diet by reducing the amount of pellets he is given and making sure he gets a supply of sweet hay.
- The pellets given should contain about 18-20% fiber content, 14-16% protein, as well as fat and calcium (1% each).
- Try to give pellets made from timothy grass rather than alfalfa-based pellets.
- Avoid buying pellets that are not wrapped in containers or plastic (usually sold by farmers or markets). Because it is not packaged in a closed container, the pellets are exposed to direct air so that the quality of the vitamins contained in them decreases. In addition, the nutrients contained also become less. Ideally, when buying food for rabbits, buy food or pellets in the smallest packs rather than the big packs. In large packages, once the packaging is opened the quality of the pellets will immediately decrease.
Step 3. Feed your rabbit fresh vegetables
Fresh vegetables can keep the rabbit's intestines hydrated so that their digestion remains smooth. There are many types of vegetables that can be given to rabbits, such as celery, collard greens, green peppers, and horseradish leaves. In addition, vegetables, especially those rich in vitamin A such as broccoli, carrots, and mustard leaves, can also be the main type of food for rabbits.
- It is often argued that giving vegetables to rabbits can cause diarrhea. Actually, diarrhea generally occurs if you give various types of vegetables at the same time (not one at a time).
- Starchy vegetables, such as carrots, need to be given in limited portions or amounts.
- Fresh fruit can also be a delicious supplement for rabbits. However, only give fruit as a snack because fruit has a high sugar content.
Step 4. Provide clean and fresh water for your rabbit
A constant supply of clean, fresh water is important in keeping your rabbit's intestines hydrated. Without enough water, what is in the intestines will dry up and be retained. This causes intestinal stasis which can be life threatening if not treated immediately.
It's important to note that even if your rabbit looks fresh and well-hydrated, sometimes his intestines aren't hydrated enough. If your rabbit hasn't had a bowel movement in 12 to 24 hours, it's likely that he has gut dehydration. If this happens, contact your veterinarian immediately
Step 5. Learn what not to give rabbits
There are certain foods you shouldn't give your rabbit, such as chocolate, pasta, and yogurt. In addition, foods such as grains, cookies, crackers, and high-fiber cereals should also not be given to rabbits.
- These foods can cause a buildup of bad bacteria in the intestines that are harmful to your rabbit. This can trigger a serious health condition known as enterotoxemia. In addition, these foods can trigger the occurrence of fatty liver and obesity.
- Avoid giving corn to rabbits. Since rabbits cannot digest kelobot (corn husk), giving corn to rabbits can cause blockage in the intestines which, of course, is dangerous for their safety.
Part 2 of 2: Learning How to Feed a Rabbit
Step 1. Give your rabbit a generous amount of dry grass
Since hay is such an important type of food for rabbits, it's natural that he needs to be given plenty of hay every day. Rabbits of all ages, from baby rabbits to adult rabbits, need to be provided with an unlimited supply of dry grass every day.
- Rabbits that have been weaned from their mothers and are able to feed themselves will immediately eat the dry grass provided.
- Although alfalfa can cause bladder and kidney problems in adult rabbits, it can be given to rabbits under one year of age. However, keep in mind that when you give alfalfa as food to your rabbit, it is likely that it will have a hard time when you replace alfalfa with dry grass as it grows older.
- Try placing some dry grass in one corner of the rabbit's litter box. He will likely be happy to be able to sit comfortably in his litter box while enjoying his meal. In addition, placing dry grass in the litter box can help keep the cage clean.
Step 2. Limit the number of pellets given
When eating pellets, your rabbit may be getting too much of a good nutrient. Limit the daily intake of pellets for your rabbit to 30 to 60 milligrams (per 2 kilograms of rabbit weight). Once you know the amount of daily pellets that can be given, divide the amount of intake by two to be given in two meals (morning and evening).
- Giving too many pellets can lead to obesity in your rabbit.
- Because pellets don't contain much fiber, feeding your rabbit too much can cause its stool to become very soft and stick to the hairs around the anus (in English, this is known as poopy butt syndrome).
- Your rabbit will probably prefer pellets to dry grass for food. This can lead to nutritional imbalances and digestive problems.
- You can give pellets to baby rabbits in large quantities because the high protein and calcium content can help their development and growth. However, if you're raising a baby rabbit, make sure you start reducing his pellet intake gradually as he's 8 to 12 months old, until you're finally providing a daily pellet intake equivalent to the adult rabbit's daily pellet intake.
Step 3. Give fresh vegetables in sufficient quantities
For every 2 kilograms of body weight, rabbits need to eat 500 grams to 1 kilogram of fresh vegetables. The vegetables given must be fresh because stale vegetables (even those that are not very fresh) can upset your rabbit's digestive system.
- Provide the vegetables in a wet state (freshly washed). The moisture in the vegetables can keep your rabbit's intestines hydrated.
- Divide the daily intake of vegetables in half. After that, give your rabbit half in the morning, and the other half in the afternoon.
- Give three types of vegetables every day. Make sure one type of vegetable has a high vitamin A content. As a guide, the website rabbit.org/what-to-feed-your-rabbit/ lists vegetables rich in vitamin A.
- Give a new type of vegetable, one type for every meal so that digestive disorders can be prevented. Do not give vegetables that cause diarrhea.
- If you have a baby rabbit, give them very small amounts of vegetables. Consult a veterinarian if you are unsure about the amount of vegetables to feed the baby rabbit.
- Wash the carrot and radish leaves thoroughly before giving them to the rabbit.
Step 4. Give the rabbit fresh fruit as a snack
Rabbits like sweet foods and will likely enjoy eating lots of fruit. However, due to their high sugar content, fruit should only be served as a snack. Each day, your rabbit should not eat more than 1 to 2 tablespoons of fruit for every 2 kilograms of body weight.
- Some types of fruits that you can give, among them, are mangoes, bananas, papayas, and cherries.
- Wash the fruit thoroughly before you give it to the rabbit.
Step 5. Provide drinking water in a strong bowl
A heavy ceramic bowl makes an ideal water container for your rabbit. In addition to ceramic bowls, you can also use porcelain bowls, as long as the bowl used does not contain lead.
- Change the drinking water at least once a day. You should also clean the bowl with soap and hot water every day.
- Rabbits can also drink from a water bottle with a straw. However, rabbits usually prefer to drink from a water bowl rather than a bottle. If your rabbit likes to drink from a bottle, check the bottle regularly to make sure there are no leaks or blockages in the straw.
Tips
- Different types of rabbits, different food needs. Therefore, consult with your veterinarian regarding specific dietary requirements for the breed of rabbit you are keeping.
- Rabbits that are pregnant, nursing, or sick also have special dietary needs.
- Always make changes to the rabbit's diet gradually.
- Rabbit droppings can be an important clue to their overall health. Normally, rabbit droppings are round. Stools that are too soft (mushy), not round in shape, or stick together (such as pearl necklaces) can indicate indigestion. Call your vet right away if your rabbit's poop looks abnormal.
- If your rabbit is constipated, give him a small amount of palm leaf or rosemary leaf.
- Only provide vegetables when your rabbit is 6-7 months old. If your baby or bunny is nibbling on vegetables while the mother is eating, try giving the baby or rabbit a small amount of vegetables. If he doesn't bite, you don't need to give him the vegetables.
Warning
- Feeding the wrong type of food can cause many serious digestive disorders in rabbits, including cecal dysbiosis (a condition that causes discolored, pungent stools), intestinal stasis, fatty liver disease, and enterotoxemia. If not treated immediately, this condition can be fatal.
- Rabbits with teeth that are not eroded can experience indigestion. Take your rabbit to the vet if you notice him having trouble biting or chewing, or if his chin seems to be constantly wet. Rabbits with teeth that are too long tend to salivate a lot (and this is a sign that their teeth are too long and need scraping).
- Your rabbit may have a serious illness if he doesn't have a bowel movement within 12 to 24 hours. Take your rabbit to the vet for immediate treatment.
