Nutritonal Needs and Diets

The five areas of a rabbit's diet are hay, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, pellets, and treats. Rabbits of different ages need different diets. I will try to explain to the best of my knowledge what each age group needs.

Food Groups.

Hay
Hay is essential to a rabbit's diet. Not only do they find it yummy, they need hay to combat intestinal blockage due to hairballs, etc. Chewing hay also wears down your rabbits teeth which are constantly growing. Younger rabbits (2 months to 6 months) should be fed alfalfa hay. Alfalfa hay is very rich in nutrients and calories and help baby bunnies gain weight. Once your bunny is 6 months and older you should stop feeding him alfalfa because it will make him fat and unhealthy. Instead, feed your older bunny timothy hay. Timothy hay is not as rich as alfalfa which makes it perfect for older bunnies.

Fresh Vegetables
Vegetables offer your rabbit a lot of nutrients without the calories. Since some vegetables can give your rabbit soft stool, introduce vegetables one at a time. Lettuce can be given to a bunny but only give lettuce that has dark leaves like romaine. Do NOT feed your bunny iceberg lettuce. You can also give your rabbit carrots, radishes, broccoli, celery, kale, and cilantro. DO NOT give your rabbit beets, cabbage, beans, corn, onion, nuts, spinach, potatoes, or peas.

Fresh Fruits
Fresh fruits can be introduced after your bunny is 6 months old. Fruits are nutritious but they also have a lot of calories. Feed fruits sparingly (no more than 2 oz/6 lbs). Some good fruits to feed your bunny are apples, bananas, cantaloupe, honey dew melon, grapes, peaches, pears, and watermelon! Think of fruits as treats. Do not feed your bunny fruit every day.

Pellets
When looking for a good pellet to feed your rabbit, keep it plain. Don't buy pellets with colored pieces, nuts, dried fruits, or seeds. Just buy the plain brown ones. You want a high fiber and low protein pellet with at least 22% fiber, no more than 14% protein, 1% calcium, and 1% fat.

Treats
Every bunny LOVES treats but make sure that you only feed him treats only on special occasions or when you are trying to train him. Also, treats that you think are yummy can be very dangerous for your bunny. DO NOT feed your bunny bread, crackers, cereal, or chocolate. Chocolate can make a bunny very sick just like it can make a dog sick.

Also make sure you give your bunny LOTS of water!

Diet.

For bunnies 6 months and younger
When bunnies are born, they are nursed by there mothers until they are 2 months old. During these two months, owners should start introducing alfalfa hay and pellets to the little ones. After two months, allow the bunny to eat unlimited alfalfa hay and pellets. When your rabbit is 3 months old, start introducing fresh vegetables one at a time.

For bunnies between the ages of 6 months and 1 year
These bunnies should start eating timothy hay and less alfalfa hay. Pellet should be decreased to 0.5 cup/6 lbs of body weight. You should be able to estimate the weight of your rabbit. Also increase the amount of fresh vegetables and the variety. Fruits may now be introduced but keep it to approximately 1 oz/6 lbs.

For rabbits between the ages of 1 year and 5 years
Grown up bunnies should have tons and tons of timothy hay. Make sure that their condo is always stocked up. Pellet can be decreased to 0.25 to 0.5 cup/6 lbs of body weight and vegetables should be increased to no less than 2 cups/6 lbs of body weight. Fruits can still be given but no more than 2 oz/6 lbs.

For rabbits older than 5 years
If your rabbit is still hearty and has maintained his weight well, you can continue with the 1 to 5 year old diet. If your rabbit is losing weight, offer your rabbit unlimited pellet and introduce some alfalfa hay along with the regular timothy hay. If your rabbit still cannot maintain his weight, see a veterinarian for a more appropriate diet.