Feeding your rabbit a healthy diet is key to their long-term health and both your and their enjoyment of your time together. So, learning about rabbits and their dietary needs is essential. If there is one food that your rabbit needs more than any other, it is hay. Grass hay is probably the most important aspect of your rabbit’s diet. The reason for this is that their digestive system needs these long fiber strands for healthy digestion. A small amount of rabbit pellets can help ensure that the rest of the trace nutrients needed are provided for in their diet. Beyond that, it is all about the fresh food.
Rabbits are lagomorphs; their digestive systems have the most in common with horses. This means that they are completely ill-prepared to handle nuts and seeds, and they cannot eat any type of meat or dairy. They do, however, love and require fresh greens and vegetables. In the wild, rabbits nibble at growing plants, so the fresher the food, the better. Kale, lettuce, basil, white clover, cilantro, chard, broccoli, spinach, marigold, carrots and beets (tops and roots) and more are all nutritious and delicious to your rabbit. Introduce new foods one at a time, and make sure the food works for your rabbit before adding the next food.
You can feed rabbits fruit, but only in very small quantities. No more than two tablespoons of fruit per day is a good rule of thumb. Strawberries, pieces of apple (no seeds), bananas, pears and peaches are all safe choices.
