{"id":458,"date":"2020-03-25T09:12:10","date_gmt":"2020-03-25T09:12:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bunnyparents.com\/?p=458"},"modified":"2024-01-07T15:34:55","modified_gmt":"2024-01-07T15:34:55","slug":"what-can-bunnies-eat-and-not-eat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bunnyparents.com\/what-can-bunnies-eat-and-not-eat\/","title":{"rendered":"What Can Bunnies Eat and Not Eat?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Since we have owned our cute bunny Grooty, we are constantly asking ourselves \u201ccan Groot eat this?\u201d “What can bunnies safely eat and what can\u2019t they eat?” <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What we learned from Bugs Bunny when we were kids isn\u2019t exactly the truth. It may come as a surprise that bunnies don\u2019t live off just carrots and lettuce and shouldn\u2019t to be the healthiest they can be. Carrots can make a great treat though!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most of a bunny\u2019s diet should consist of hay, followed by vegetables, then pellets, and finally treats such as fruit. However, not all vegetables and fruit are okay for a bunny to eat. Your bunny\u2019s dietary requirements will change as they age so what you feed them now may have to change as they grow older.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As your bunny grows and ages, the food requirements for your bunny change with it. What your bun eats during their first few months on Earth are much different from what they\u2019ll eat when they are a few years older. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is an important distinction to know as feeding your bunny the same things as they ate when they were young could lead to malnutrition and health problems. Here are some guidelines by age:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hay is the staple food for a bunny and makes up 80-90% of their diet which is why it is at the bottom of the bunny food pyramid. They should have unlimited access to hay all day and night to allow them to graze and play as they please. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hay serves a dual purpose for a bunny. One \u2013 it is high in fiber which helps push things through the gut such as ingested hair and other indigestible bits and keep the GI tract working properly. Two \u2013 it helps grind down the teeth to prevent overgrowth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you see above, hay is eaten throughout the majority of the bunny\u2019s life. What you may notice though is the type of hay changing as the bunny grows older. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Young buns are recommended to be fed Alfalfa hay. This is because Alfalfa hay is high in calcium and protein and calories which is perfect for a growing bunny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As bunnies get older, the high protein, calcium and calorie count may lead to unwanted weight gain and bladder problems. That\u2019s why it is better to feed hays that are still high in fiber but lower in calories such as Oxbow Timothy hay (link to Amazon)<\/a> which is the gold standard for high fiber hay brands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have a nice backyard, your bunny can roam and eat\ngrass as a substitute for hay. As long as it hasn\u2019t been treated with chemicals\nyour bun can have a field day! Just make sure grass is introduced gradually as\nyou would with all new food. <\/p>\n\n\n\n IMPORTANT: DO NOT<\/strong> feed your bunny lawnmower clippings as they can upset your bunny\u2019s stomach.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAt What Age Should My Bunny Eat Vegetables?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Birth to 3 Weeks<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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3-4 Weeks<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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4-7 Weeks<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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7 Weeks \u2013 7 Months<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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7 Months \u2013 1 Year<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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1 \u2013 5 Years<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Over 6 Years<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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What Hay Should My Bunny Eat?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n