Burns Real Food for Rabbits

Unlike dogs which have adapted markedly from their counterparts in the wild, pet rabbits have the same physiology as wild rabbits. Rabbits are designed to eat grass as their main source of food.

Grass has a low nutritional value and is high in fibre which means that rabbits must spend a long time each day grazing in order to meet their needs.

In the wild, the rabbit will spend several hours grazing, especially at dawn and dusk. Herbs, fruits and berries will form only a small part of the rabbit’s food intake.

Ideally, the diet of the pet rabbit should mimic that of the wild rabbit i.e. based on grass or hay which should always be available. This should be supplemented by vegetables, wild plants and herbs.

Any changes to the diet should be done gradually to avoid the danger of digestive upset. If your rabbit stops eating, veterinary attention should be sought.

What we'd like to share with you is amore natural way of feeding, using high quality hay together with a wonderful mix of dried flowers and herbs.

Changing diets

Because of the ‘friendly bacteria’ in the gut, any dietary change should be done gradually. This will avoid sudden changes in the types of bacteria present in the intestines (which will hopefully prevent loose faeces).

Some experts recommend keeping to the same vegetables every day to avoid any digestive upset, however as long as each new vegetable is introduced in small amounts gradually your rabbit should adapt successfully.

A sudden change in diet can be fatal, especially in young rabbits.

Summary

• Feed unlimited amounts of high fibre, good quality grass hay
• Make sure fresh water is always available
• Feed a variety of vegetables
• Use fruit and herbs as treats only
• Never change diets quickly
• If you do use commercial cereal based food, feed very small amounts of a high fibre, low fat diet

n.b For more information on natural feeding of rabbits click here

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