What do you feed to rabbits?
Proper nutrition is the cornerstone of raising healthy and productive meat rabbits. Their digestive systems are sensitive, requiring a diet high in fiber and balanced in protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals. Understanding the key components of a meat rabbit diet and what foods to avoid is crucial for success and preventing health problems like G.I. stasis or enteritis.
- High-Quality Commercial Pellets5
Feed a balanced commercial rabbit pellet as the dietary staple. Select pellets with 16-18% protein for growers and lactating does, and 14-16% protein for maintenance or non-breeding adults. Follow manufacturer feeding guidelines, typically free-choice for growers and measured portions for adult…
📌 commercial📌 best practice4/16/2025, 10:19:48 PM
🛠️ Rabbit pellets, feeders
- Constant Fresh, Clean Water5
Ensure every rabbit has continuous access to fresh, clean water. Check and refill water containers at least twice daily, and more frequently during hot weather when consumption can double.
📌 best practice📌 diy4/16/2025, 10:19:48 PM
🛠️ Water bottles or heavy crocks, water source
- Unlimited Grass Hay5
Provide unlimited access to quality grass hay every day. Timothy, orchard grass, and brome hay are all suitable options. Hay should constitute the largest portion of a rabbit's diet by volume, available around the clock.
📌 commercial📌 best practice4/16/2025, 10:19:48 PM
🛠️ Grass hay, hay rack or feeding area
- Avoid Harmful Foods5
Eliminate all known toxic and harmful foods from the rabbit's environment. Keep a reference list of unsafe foods posted near the feeding area so all caretakers follow the same rules consistently.
📌 best practice4/16/2025, 10:19:48 PM
🛠️ Knowledge of safe and unsafe foods
- Maintain Dietary Consistency5
Transition between feed brands or types gradually over 7-10 days by mixing increasing proportions of the new feed with decreasing proportions of the old. Never switch feeds abruptly.
📌 best practice4/16/2025, 10:19:48 PM
🛠️ Feed storage containers for gradual mixing
- Limited Leafy Greens and Vegetables4
Offer small amounts of rabbit-safe leafy greens daily as supplementary food, keeping them under 10% of total daily intake. Introduce one new green at a time and wait 48 hours to monitor for digestive upset before adding another.
📌 diy📌 low cost📌 organic4/16/2025, 10:19:48 PM
🛠️ Rabbit-safe greens and vegetables
- Consider Supplements (Use Sparingly)3
Add dietary supplements only when a specific nutritional gap exists, such as increased energy demands during lactation or conditioning for show. Black oil sunflower seeds (BOSS) and whole oats are the most commonly used supplements among breeders.
📌 commercial📌 low cost4/16/2025, 10:19:48 PM
🛠️ Supplements such as BOSS or oats (optional)