Content

• Steps

Rabbits are pets that should be provided with a healthy and varied diet with a mixture of hay, pellets and fresh vegetables. Knowing how to feed your rabbits not only provides them with adequate nutrients each day, but also helps them live a healthy lifetime. Rabbit's digestive system is very sensitive. A high-fiber diet that includes pellets, hay, and vegetables will help your rabbit's digestive system to function properly. Give your rabbit a healthy and happy life by giving them the right vegetables every day.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Choosing the right vegetables

1. 

   Each time you feed your rabbit, choose at least 3 vegetables and one of them should be rich in vitamin A. The nutrition in each vegetable is different, so be sure to feed your rabbit a variety of vegetables as well as allow him to perform different chewing movements. Rabbit teeth are constantly developing, so the teeth will be sharpened with continuous action. Vegetables good for rabbits are:
   • Cabbage (rich in vitamin A)
   • Amaranth (the tops are rich in vitamin A)
   • Lettuce like Romaine, red or green lettuce (do not use Iceberg or light colored)
   • Spinach
   • Parsley
   • Basil
   • Mint
   • Bok choy
   • Dandelion leaves
   • Broccoli
   • Pea pods (skin only)
   • Brussels sprouts
   • Rainbow kale (Swiss chard)
   • Broccoli (leaves and stalks)
   • Coriander
   • Dill
   • Carrot leaves
   • Celery leaves
   • Watercress

2. 

   
   
   Certain vegetables should not be overfed. Certain vegetables can be harmful if your rabbit eats too much in a short period of time or if certain nutrients accumulate in the rabbit's body. Don't give your rabbit lots of kale, parsley, mustard greens, and spinach, as these vegetables are high in oxalates and goitrogens.
   • Vegetables such as eggplants, potatoes and tomato leaves are very toxic to rabbits, so should not be fed with them under any circumstances.

3. 

   
   
   Give your rabbit a treat with carrots and fruit. The image of a rabbit sitting and gnawing a bunch of carrots is actually unhealthy because carrots contain a lot of sugar and oxalate, thereby increasing the risk of bladder stones. Carrots should only be used as a reward for rabbits.
   • Have your rabbit chew on a 1.3 cm carrot no more than every two days to prevent sugar build up in the diet. Note that rabbits love sweets and are more likely to eat sugary foods than healthy foods.
   • Fruits are also rich in natural sugars. Make sure to only offer sweet fruits such as bananas and grapes occasionally. Limit your rabbit's fruit intake to 1-2 tablespoons per 2.5 kg of rabbit's weight. Choose high-fiber fruits such as apples, blueberries, oranges (without the skin), and papaya and pineapple (pineapple).
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Part 2 of 2: Feeding the rabbit

1. 

   
   
   Wash all vegetables before feeding them. This helps remove dirt, pesticides or harmful chemicals from the surface of the vegetables.
   • If possible, choose organic foods to avoid eating harmful pesticides.

2. 

   Give your rabbit a daily serving of vegetables based on his or her body weight. The standard recipe is at least one bowl of vegetables per day for every 2 kg of body weight. (The average rabbit's weight is about 2.5-4 kg.) Determine the rabbit's weight first, and then use the above formula to determine how much vegetables to feed the rabbit.

3. 

   Let the rabbit try the vegetables first. This will help check the rabbit's sensitive response and avoid shock. Start by feeding your rabbit a small amount of vegetables, then watch for any intestinal problems, like diarrhea or soft stools.
   • Each rabbit has a different taste, so if your rabbit doesn't like a certain vegetable, take note of it and replace it with the preferred one.

4. 

   Combine balanced vegetables for your rabbit. Start by creating a well-balanced vegetable mix at each feed. The main vegetable dish should have green lettuce, Romaine lettuce or fat lettuce and combine with 2 herbs or 2 other green vegetables that contain vitamin A.
   • For example, you could try mixing romaine lettuce, spinach, and mint. Then, see the rabbit's reaction to this salad. If your rabbit responds well, you can continue to offer your rabbit different variations of this salad by changing the spinach to spinach or collard greens. After feeding your rabbit a few times, replace the main vegetable with a lettuce and another vitamin A-rich vegetable.

5. 

   Maintain a diet of hay and pellets. Hay is still the most important element in the rabbit's diet because it is rich in fiber and good for the digestive system. Your rabbit's diet should contain fresh hay, green vegetables, fresh pellets, and cool water. Feed an adult rabbit (timothy), fresh, or oat grass (oat hay). Young rabbits can eat alfalfa (alfafa hay). Avoid feeding adult rabbits alfalfa as it contains too much protein, calcium and sugar.
   • If your rabbit is not used to eating vegetables, you can try chopping them up and mixing them with hay or pellets. Rabbits may not be able to recognize vegetables mixed in the grass, so they should be able to comfortably enjoy the entire meal.
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