Food and Water

Feed your rabbits premium food

Hay and grass should form the basis (80%) of your rabbits’ diet. The remainder should be fresh greens and some vegetables (15%) and a small number of pellets (around 5%).

Hay 

• Hay is a vital part of a rabbit’s diet. Do not confuse hay with straw, as this is to be used for bedding only.

• Provide unlimited fresh hay every day.

• Hay provides fiber, which helps to wear down a rabbit’s teeth, and is vital for digestion.

• Purchase fresh hay from feed stores or some pet stores.

• Make sure that the hay is not damp, dusty, or moldy as this can cause respiratory illness and other health problems.

Grass and garden greens

• Rabbits love grass, dandelion leaves, thistle/puha, plantain leaves, and dock leaves.

• Ensure any leaves or plants given to the rabbits have not been sprayed with poison or pesticides.

• Rabbits love fresh herbs which provide health benefits. But make sure you check the herbs you have are suitable first.

• Fresh vegetables

• Feeding a variety of fresh vegetables provides essential nutrients.

Pellets

• Avoid pellets that contain dried fruits, nuts, grains, and colored pieces made from fat, and sugar, (sometimes called ‘muesli mix’).

• Choose pellets with a high fiber content (>15%) and less protein than fiber.

• Three foods that SPCA and vets recommend are Oxbow, Harringtons, or Burgess.

• Refer to the feeding instructions on the bag.

• Overfeeding of pellets is a common cause of obesity in rabbits.

Treats and fruit

Fruit and special rabbit treats are high in sugar and/or salt so should be avoided or only given occasionally.

Foods to avoid

While many fresh vegetables, herbs, and fruit are suitable for your rabbits, there are some foods that should be fed in only very small amounts and some that must be avoided altogether.

These include the following: 

• Use kale, spinach, and silver beet sparingly.

• Some fruit tree branches and leaves are suitable for rabbits to eat, but not all. Stick to apple, ash tree, birch, hawthorn, hazel, hazelnut, juniper, maple, pear, pine, poplar, rose, spruce, and willow branches.

• Give carrots only as treats because they are high in starch.

• Celery must be cut into 1cm pieces before being given because larger pieces can get caught in rabbits’ intestines.

• Never feed your rabbits processed foods intended for humans, such as chocolate, cookies, crackers, cereal, yogurt, milk, pasta, or bread.

Water and bowls

1. Fresh water must always be available and replaced daily.

2. Use heavy containers for food and water to avoid spillage.

3. Alternatively use a pet sipper bottle or containers that clip to the cage.

Changing foods

When introducing any new food, always do so slowly over a few weeks to avoid digestive upsets. If the new food causes diarrhea, stop feeding it immediately. 

Visit the SPCA website for rabbit-safe vegetables: www.spca.nz/foodforrabbits

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