What is the recipe for rabbit feed?

Answer 1

A rabbit's diet includes commercial pellets, fresh leafy greens, hay, and water.

Commercial rabbit pellets are generally made up of compressed grasses such as hay, timothy, and alfalfa; they also have some milled dried vegetables, vitamins, and other ingredients.

Some pellet mixes you may find in the pet sections of stores also include seeds, dried fruits and vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and such.

One person's opinion about this type of pellets: In small amounts these should be fine for an active rabbit.

Another person's opinion: The "extras" found in these pellet mixes are not healthy for rabbits. In some cases, these extras are okay as a treat, as a bite or two every few days; however, rabbits should not be eating these foods everyday. Rabbits also have a tendency to be picky with pellet mixes: they'll eat the pieces they like and leave behind the ones they don't like -- this leads to an unbalanced diet, which can lead to illness. It's a much better idea to find a plain pellet with no "extras." Find a pellet low in fat (1-2%), moderate in protein (12-14%), and high in fibre (18% minimum). Many pellets on the market are too high in fat and protein, and some are also too low in fibre -- these should be avoided. Pregnant, nursing, juvenile, underweight, outdoor, and sick rabbits may benefit from a pellet slightly higher in fat and protein -- speak with a rabbit-savvy vet about the special dietary needs of your rabbit.

Avoid yoghurt drops or raisins, as these are high in sugars and can lead to illness (obesity, gas, GI stasis), and they provide little in the way of nutrition.

Rabbits shouldn't eat any dairy products (including yoghurt), meats, animal biproducts, animal fats, or any animal products: rabbits are "vegan" (herbivores) and they can't digest these foods.

Answer 2

You should buy rabbit feed from a pet store. A lot of science goes into making rabbit feed so that it has just the right balance of vitamins and nutrients. If you make your own rabbit feed, you probably will make your rabbit sick. Also, some rabbit feeds are better than others (some are too high in fats or proteins, or too low in fibre), so buy a high-quality brand that's good for your bunny. In addition to feed, rabbits should eat hay and some fresh leafy greens. Hay is actually really important and the best way to prevent all sorts of health problems in bunnies. See the related question below for details about a healthy rabbit diet, including helpful links!