Bunny Foods

[AngieS]

I am asking for my mother.She and my step-father got my half-brother (5yrs.old) a bunny. I don't know much about bunnies. (I only know about my cat and dog.) The last time i was at her house i asked what all she fed the bunny (shadow). She is only giving him pellets. I thought shadow should have more than just pellets for a healthy diet. So my question is, what should consist of a bunny's diet? how much? and how often?
Also someone had told her that grass is not good for bunnies. Is this true? I find it hard to believe since cats and dogs eat it for a upset tummy.

[NoahsMommy]

Hi there,

We have a 2 year old bun and are getting another one shortly...yippee! :)

We feed her the following, every day:
*Fresh water
*Rabbit pellets (we only buy "Nutrophase" because it is one of the healthiest brands)
*Timothy Hay (unlimited supply all day and night)
*1 cup of fresh veggies daily...there are some that rabbits CANNOT eat, like celery.
*1 tablespoon of dried papaya, for good digestion
*1 or 2 treat foods a day (Yogurt Drops or "Happy Dinos"
*1 tablespoon of fruit and veggie mix (dried seeds and veggies/fruit)

I found all this out by reading rabbit books/websites and even a rabbit magazine! :)

You mom, or you, can find aout the dietary restrictionst that way too. Hope this helped...

[zippy-kat]

I'll post my opinion and then let Karen correct me if I'm wrong! lol

Buns should have free access to hay--but not alfalfa hay. (It has too much calcium(?) for them and can cause problems.) I feed my bun Timothy hay and once in awhile--for a treat--coastal. (It's used as a treat just because it's harder for me to find.)

re: pellets: The vet said that Sophie (she's about 5lbs) should receive no more than one cup per day.

Sophie also recieves parsley and cilantro in the mornings. Fruits and other sugary food are kept to a bare minimum.

Pineapple juice (or papaya juice/tablets) are good for their digestive system. They contain some kind of enzyme that helps to break down hairballs. I usually give (unsweetened) pineapple juice to Sophie once a week. (I'm not sure of the recommended amount for juice--I fill the bottom of her bowl up and let her drink for about 5 minutes. If you use the papaya tablets, I believe the recommended dosage is 1-2 pills--depending on weight--per week.)

I've never heard of grass not being good for bunnies. (They sell bunny grass in the stores.) I would becareful though--there's always the chance that pesticides, etc. could hurt the bun.

The House Rabbit site has some really good info on it...can't remember the link right off hand, but I will look for it.

Hope this helps! I know Karen will have lots of info for ya!!

[AngieS]

Noah's Mommy and Zippy-Kat Thanks for posting. You both have been helpful. Do you recommend any web sites that i could look through for a healthy diet? I know there will be a lot of reseach as i have recently researched my cat's(kitti) and dog's(olli) foods. But i want to help them find a good and nutritious(sp?) diet for Shadow. ;)Thanks again and please keep the information coming!

[ October 11, 2001: Message edited by: AngieS ]

[zippy-kat]

Here's some links I found!
Rabbit Diet FAQ (http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/diet.html)
Rabbit Treats FAQ (http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/treat.html)
Litter Training (http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/litter.html)

Hope these help

[AngieS]

Thanks Zippy-Kat!!
I will look through them and see what i can find.
If anyone else has any more advice or web sites to offer i would greatly appreciate it. You can never have too much info. ;)

[ October 11, 2001: Message edited by: AngieS ]

[AngieS]

Zippy-Kat the web sites you posted have been very helpful.Thanks again.
I am still interested in what others have to say about what they feed their bunny and any other websites.I want to get as much information to base a healthy diet on.

[zippy-kat]

Your very welcome Angie! The House Rabbit Society is probably your best bet as far as info on buns goes. But if I run across any more sites, I'll be sure to let ya know! ;)

Congrats to the fam. on the new bun!

[NoahsMommy]

Hi Angie,

There are books at pet stores that can help you out as well. Sometimes, they have conflicting information, but I would definitly go with any info from the House Rabbit Society....

Let us a know if you find what you need.

P.S. Hi Tonya and Sophie!! Faith sends her love! :)

[AngieS]

Thanks everyone!
Yes the house rabbit society has a lot of helpful information. I just thought maybe there was more web sites that may also have good information. And personal experience is always a good source of information. ;)

[Karen]

My bunny doesn't eat any pellets at all - she dumped them out of her dish and refused them when first offered - she's been a healthy, happy bunny just on greens, carrots, ocassional seed treats, sticks that grandpa brings, and carefully metered out raisins! She LOVES flat parsley, dandelion greens and baby bok choy the best, but will refuse to even nibble normal bok choy! She doesn't drink that much water, either, must get most of what she needs from the greens.

We got all our bunny info from the House Rabbit Society on diet, though they don't list the maple leaves, bridal wreath bush branches, or any of the other stuff she nibbles when out for a scamper in the yard. Oh, yeah - and hay! Hay is always available!

[AngieS]

Thanks Karen!
I didn't even think of maple leaves or bridal bush branches or any leaf or branch for that matter.LOL

[Karen]

Originally posted by AngieS:
<STRONG>Thanks Karen!
I didn't even think of maple leaves or bridal bush branches or any leaf or branch for that matter.LOL</STRONG>

You should, if you're giving her branches, cut them and let them "age" for a day or three before giving them to her. Dad always knows how to find the yummiest branches - poplar is a favorite, :) but pussy-willow branches were NOT good! :P We're still working on the nice box of sticks and twigs Grandpa gave her for last Christmas, all trimmed, boxed and wrapped nicely! (Yes, silliness runs through the generations in our family!)

[NoahsMommy]

That is so cute Karen!!!

Bunnies can eat branches? I totally forgot about that! Faith is nibbling on a wooden parrot toy...I bet branches would taste better. What kind can they eat?

[Daisylover]

I have volunteered at a rabbit sanctuary for 4 years and have 5 house buns of my own. Our rabbit specialist vet says NO MORE than 2 tablespoons of pellets/day per 5 bls rabbit. This is because pellets are compressed vegetation and they can weigh down the gut. The gut in a bunny needs to move constantly in order to digest it's food. If the gut goes into statis it will stop moving and the bun can die in a matter of days. Please feed your bun all the timothy hay he can eat, then a lot of fresh veggies, and no alfalfa hay. Pellets should be limited and preferably elimiated altogether. Pet food manufacturers don't advertise this as they are thinking of their profits. With improved rabbit diet, studies have shown bunnys can live longer and healthier lives. Thanks for caring about your bun.

[Paul]

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Miss Hoppy likes to eat every part of plants except the woody roots. As Karen said we give Hoppy plenty of fresh greens to eat. However, in addition to greens she also likes to eat the bark and the wood from branches everyday. She eats more bark than wood but it is clear that she enjoys wood in her diet.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; http://PetoftheDay.com/online/smallhoppy.jpg

[zippy-kat]

Originally posted by Paul:
<STRONG>it is clear that she enjoys wood in her diet.</STRONG>

Maybe this explains Sophie's obsession of (trying to) devour every piece of paper that falls to the floor! lol :rolleyes: :D

[uhamp]

As others here have said, bunnies need hay and veggies to keep everything moving through their system correctly.

My bunny gets unlimited timothy grass and water, as well as 1/4 cup pellets in the morning, one small carrot (with the top on) daily, and fresh veggies twice a day. Her all-time favorite is dandelion greens. If DH gives her something other than dandelion greens at bedtime, she gives me this look like, "What are you people trying to do-- kill me?" :rolleyes:

Good bunny veggies are parsley, cilantro, lettuce, spinach (in small amounts), and of course those dandelion greens. For a treat, we give "Just Carrots," which are dried carrots you can get in most grocery stores around here. I swear my bunny inhales them! They're a great enticement to get her in her cage when she doesn't want to go.

Once a week I might also give her a spoonful of yogurt, or a bit of apple or banana. Bunnies love sweets, but they can't digest them very well.

For good bunny treats, check out www.busybunny.com. (http://www.busybunny.com.) My bunny's Christmas present usually comes from them!