Credit: Mary Ann Meier
A rabbit's diet should be made up of fresh green, good quality pellets, fresh hay (timothy, broe, oat hay, or orchard grass), water, and fresh vegetables. Anything beyond that is "treat" and should be given in limited quantities. This includes carrots!
Below is information regarding different diets bunnies require at different stages of their life as well as some websites and other resources for ordering hay and pellets.
Babies (Birth-7 months)
Young Adults (7 months-1 year)
Mature Adults (1-5 years)
Seniors (Over 6 years)
Below is information regarding different diets bunnies require at different stages of their life as well as some websites and other resources for ordering hay and pellets.
Babies (Birth-7 months)
- Birth-3 weeks: Mother's milk
- 3-7 weeks: Mother's milk, alfalfa and pellets
- 7 weeks-7 months: Unlimited pellets, unlimited hay
- 12 weeks: Introduce vegetables (one at a time in quantities under 0.5 oz
Young Adults (7 months-1 year)
- Introduce timothy hay, grass hay, and oat hays; decrease alfalfa
- Decrease pellets to 1/2 cup per 6lbs body weight
- Increase daily vegetables gradually
- Fruit daily ration of no more than 1oz to 2oz (2tbl) per 6lbs of body weight
Mature Adults (1-5 years)
- Unlimited timothy, grass hay or oat hay
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup pellets per 6lbs body weight
- Minimum 2 cups chopped vegetables per 6lbs body weight
- Fruit daily ration no more than 2oz (2tbl) per 6lbs body weight
Seniors (Over 6 years)
- If sufficient weight is maintained, continue adult diet
- Frail, older rabbits may need unrestricted pellets to help them keep their weight up
- Alfalfa can be given to underweight senior rabbits, but only if calcium levels are normal
- Annual blood workups with a rabbit savvy vet are highly recommended for geriatric rabbits
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