Caring for your Rabbits
We're celebrating Rabbit Awareness Week here at zooplus! A well cared for rabbit can live many years - sometimes even as long as 12.
To ensure your bun has the 'hoppiest' life possible, from a young kit to a OAB (old aged bun!) we've teamed up with rabbit nutrition experts Burgess to take a closer look at your rabbit's ideal diet. You'll also find some ideas for keeping your rabbit exercised and entertained.
Don't forget to visit the official Rabbit Awareness Week website too, for even more tips and advice on appropriate care for your bun at every life-stage.
The ideal diet for your rabbit
1) Hay all day! High-quality hay should be freely available.
2) Supplement hay with rabbit nuggets to provide important vitamins and minerals.
3) Natural snacks can be fed by hand or hidden to encourage foraging.
4) A small amount of fresh greens every day, such as dandelion leaves or mint, add some tasty variety.
5) Fresh water. Don't forget to wash and refill water bottles daily.
85-90% of your rabbit's diet should be hay
In the wild, rabbits spend the vast majority of their day nibbling fibre-rich grasses, and their digestive system is almost constantly in motion. To replicate this for your pet, it's important to provide high-quality hay at all times.
Not providing enough fibrous food for your rabbits can lead to a serious condition called gut stasis, and may also result in dental problems.
Burgess Excel Feeding Hay is 60% fibre and has dust extracted to provide a clean and healthy, primary diet for your rabbits.
Supplementary rabbit nuggets help provide balanced nutrition
Although the bulk of your bunnies' diet should come from hay, offering a nugget feed as well can help ensure your rabbit gets all the important vitamins and minerals they need. Make sure you follow feeding guidelines as overfeeding can lead to obesity.
Mueslis are not recommended, as some rabbits have been known to pick and choose their favourite ingredients and ignore others, leading to nutritional imbalances and illness.
Age-appropriate nutrition
Your bun's nutritional needs will change depending on their current life-stage.
For young rabbits, hay should of course form the main part of the diet, but special 'junior' nuggets are available as a supplementary feed. Diets like Burgess Excel Junior and Dwarf Rabbit Nuggets contain higher protein levels to help support muscle growth.
For your adult rabbits, stick to an adult, complementary feed that will supplement your pet's hay. Burgess Excel Adult Rabbit Nuggets are rich in important fibre and key nutrients.
Exercise and enrichment
Alongside a healthy diet, plenty of physical and mental exercise will help your bun stay in tip-top shape!
A large run will give your rabbit a safe place to roam and nibble grass in your garden. Make sure you provide sun protection on hot days, and a little den or house for them to hide in if they are startled.
Toys like tunnels and snack balls are fantastic for adding some fun to your bun's life.
Buns love to knaw on sticks, and this is great for keeping their teeth in good condition. Try providing your rabbit with a tasty willow ball.
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