Feeding your bunny



1. Hay
The most important part of your bunny's diet is fibre. Good fibre means good healthy digestion.
 
Supply lots of fresh hay (whether it's grass or oaten) on a daily basis. If you want to go straight to the best choice, buy oaten hay. It's really yummy and your bunnies will love you for it. Grass hay is the next choice but watch out for those nasty seeds which can get stuck in your bunny's fur & skin. '

The easiest way you can supply your bunny with hay is by using it in their litter tray (chew & poo station!). Our bunnies have their litter trays changed daily so they are always supplied with fresh and clean hay to eat.

2. Fresh Water
Surprisingly, rabbits drink lots of water!! Supply your bunny with a good, heavy ceramic bowl that will not be tipped over easily. Fill with fresh clean water daily and watch your bunny drink like a fish! (It is a myth that rabbits get enough moisture from their vegetables).

You can use those water bottles but cleaning them is awkward and most bunnies will not receive enough water from them.

3.  Fresh Vegies
Rabbits need fresh, good quality vegies that you would choose to eat yourself.  We choose to give our buns their vegie dinner in the late afternoon.  Each bun gets a mix of the vegies below and around 2 cups per bun.

The safe vegies we choose to feed our buns at BOING are:

* bok choy
* chicory
* celery tops & cut up celery stems
* carrot tops

Treats
For treats, we feed our buns a small piece of carrot or banana and only once a day if any.  Some buns don't get any treats as the sweet carrot or banana can upset their delicate tummies.

Pellets
Rabbits don't really need pellets to stay healthy (unless they need to gain weight).  Australian brands of pellets are terrible (high in fat/salt & low in fibre), so the best pellets (as a treat) are the imported Oxbow Bunny Basic pellets.  We do buy these pellets and give them to our bunnies as a treat just before bed as they are high in fibre and contain Vitamin D specifically for rabbits.  We only give each bun a pinch so when we go to bed, we know that all our buns are happy and healthy.  If they don't want their treat, we know they are not feeling well.

What NOT to feed your rabbit

Rabbits don't need pellets in their diet to be healthy.  Australian made pellets are very high in fat & salt and low in fibre. 

Rabbit mix is a food that should be avoided at all times!  Why?  Because it's full of all kinds of nasties that your bunny should not be eating:

* dried corn (can carry a deadly bacteria)
* seeds (full of fat, causes obesity and sometimes stomach impactions)
* low quality pellets (causes obesity and dental problems)
* lucerne chaff (causes over production of cecals in rabbits)
* mollasses (causes obesity and dental problems)

Vegies can also be a problem with your bunnies.  The vegies you should avoid are:

* iceberg lettuce
* cabbage leaves
* cauliflower or leaves
* brussell sprouts
* potatoes, peelings and leaves of plant
* beans
* mushrooms & fungi
* onions

oaten hay

The key to a long and happy life for your bunny is as simple as 3 easy steps

celery
chicory
carrot tops
bok choy
heavy ceramic bowl
aaaaaaaaaaaaiii