CARING FOR YOUR BUNNIES
WHAT TO FEED BUNNIES AND WHEN:
FROM BIRTH TO 3 WEEKS- THEY WILL DRINK THEIR MOTHERS MILK
3 - 4 WEEKS- DRINK MOTHERS MILK AND NIBBLE AT HAY AND PELLETS
4 TO 7 WEEKS- MOTHERS MILK AND ACCESS TO HAY AND PELLETS
7 WEEKS TO 7 MONTHS- WEANED NOW AND GIVEN ACCESS TO UNLIMITED PELLETS AND HAY
12 WEEKS- CAN NOW HAVE SMALL AMOUNTS OF VEGETABLES ( INTRODUCE ONE AT A TIME)
7 MONTHS TO 1 YEAR- UNLIMITED HAY, 2/3 CUP PELLETS DAILY, INCREASE DAILY VEGGIES, GRADUALLY ADD SMALL AMOUNTS OF FRUIT
1 YEAR TO 5 YEARS- UNLIMITED HAY, 2/3 CUP PELLETS DAILY, VEGGIES AND SMALL AMOUNTS OF FRUIT
OVER 6 YEARS- CONTINUE 1-5 YEAR DIET UNLESS UNDERWEIGHT OR FRAIL. IN THIS CASE INCREAS THEIR DIET TO HELP MAINTAIN WEIGHT AND HEALTH
EXTRA'S
MAKE SURE YOUR BUNNY HAS FRESH CLEAN WATER AT ALL TIMES....
DON'T CHANGE PELLET BRANDS OFTEN
RABBITS LOVE FRESH GRASS TOO, JUST MAKE SURE IT HASN'T BEEN NEAR ANY PESTSIDES OR CHEMICALS
INTRODUCE NEW TREATS SLOWLY TO PROTECT THEIR DIGESTIVE SYSTEMS FROM IMBALANCE AND TO MUCH SWEETS CAN CAUSE OVERWEIGHT BUNNIES!
KEEP LOTS OF HAY ON HAND.....THEY LOVE IT AND NEED IT
MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO SEEDS OR PITS IN THEIR FRUITS AND VEGGIES
CUT CELERY STALKS INTO PIECES BECAUSE THEY HAVE STRINGS
ICEBERG LETTUCE CAN CAUSE DIARRHEA, STAY AWAY FROM IT. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER KINDS TO CHOOSE FROM
GOOD VEGETABLES AND FRUITS
VEGETABLES: ALFALFA, RADISH AND CLOVER SPROUTS
ASPARAGUS
BEET GREENS
BOK CHOY
BROCCOLI
BRUSSELS SPROUTS
CARROTS AND TOPS
CELERY- CUT UP
CHARD
CHICORY GREENS
CILANTRO
CLOVER
COLLARD GREENS
CUCUMBER
DANDELIONS
EGGPLANT
ENDIVE
ESCAROLE
GRASS
KALE
LETTUCE-ROMAINE, BUTTER, GREEN LEAF, BOSTON,
BIBB, ARUGULA....NO ICEBERG!!!
MINT
MUSTARD GREENS
OKRA LEAVES
PARSLEY
PEA PODS
PEPPERMINT LEAVES
PEPPERS- NO SEEDS
PUMPKIN LEAVES
RADICCHIO LEAVES
RADISH TOPS
RASPBERRY LEAVES
SPINACH
SQUASH- ZUCCHINI, YELLOW, BUTTERNUT, PUMPKIN
FRUITS: APPLES
BANANAS
BLACKBERRIES
BLUEBERRIES
PINEAPPLES
MELONS- CANTALOUPE AND HONEYDEW
PAPAYA
PEACH
PLUMS
PEARS
RAISINS
RASPBERRIES
FOODS THAT ARE BAD
FOODS THAT CAUSE GAS OR ARE VERY SUGARY~~~YOU MUST BE VERY CAREFUL OF FOODS THAT CAUSE GAS BECAUSE RABBITS HAVE VERY SENSITIVE DIGESTIVE SYSTEMS AND CAN GET SICK......
CABBAGE
GREEN BEANS
WHITE AND RED POTATOES
BEETS
FRESH CORN
FRESH PEAS
FOODS THAT ARE DANGEROUS AND CONTAIN COMPOUNDS THAT DESTROY NUTRIENTS......
SWEET POTATOE
CASSAVA
BAMBOO SHOOTS
MAIZE
LIMA BEANS
MILLET
BRACKEN FERN
TEA LEAVES
COFFEE PLANTS
FOODS THAT CONTAIN DANGEROUS TOXINS......
RHUBARB LEAVES
RAW LIMA, KIDNEY, OR SOY BEANS
ONIONS- RAW OR COOKED
CITRUS PEELS
FOODS THAT CAN CAUSE IMPACTATION.......THIS IS VERY SERIOUS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS A BUNNY WILL BECOME VERY SICK AND IT OFTEN LEADS TO DEATH.........
WHOLE SEEDS
NUTS
GRAINS
DRIED CORN
DRIED PEAS
LITTLE TIDBITS......
CHEERIOS ARE GREAT TREATS FOR BUNNIES OF ANY AGES
ADD DRY OATS TO BABIES AND MOMS FOOD. HELPS WITH DIGESTION AND GETTING BABIES WEANED FROM MOMS MILK
SOMETIMES YOUR BUNNY WILL GO THROUGH A MOLTING STAGE. TO PREVENT HAIRBALLS IN THEIR BELLIES, ADD PINEAPPLES OR PAPAYA TO THEIR DIETS. YOU CAN ALSO GIVE THEM PAPAYA TABLETS....THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR ANGORA AND FURRY BUNNIES. SINCE BUNNIES CANNOT VOMIT, HAIR CAN CAUSE BLOCKAGES IN THEIR STOMACH. ALSO BRUSH REGULARLY TO HELP REMOVE LOOSE HAIR.
YOU SHOULD TRIM YOUR BUNNIES NAILS EVERY FEW MONTHS
NEVER PICK A BUNNY UP BY IT'S EARS! THIS IS PAINFUL TO THEM
SOME TIPS ON ODOR CONTROL.....
IN ORDER TO KEEP YOUR BUNNY AREA SMELLING CLEAN, ESPECIALLY WITH MULTIPLE BUNNIES, ALWAYS KEEP THE CAGES CLEAN AND DRY.
YOU CAN PUT LIME ON THE GROUND IN OUTDOOR AREAS OR IN THE CAGE TRAYS...THE PELLETED KIND IS GOOD ALSO.
USE SPRAY DEODERIZERS THAT ELIMINATE ODORS, NOT COVER THEM
BUY FEED WITH YUCCA IN IT...(YUCCA IS A PLANT.) SOMEHOW IT HELPS ELIMINATE ODOR IN THEIR WASTE!
YOU CAN ADD ZEOLITE TO BEDDING AND TRAYS...IT IS A POWDER YOU CAN BUY FOR THIS. COMES IN CARPET FRESHENER TOO.
THESE ARE JUST SOME TIPS IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS. BUNNIES ARE WONDERFUL PETS TO HAVE AND IF CARED FOR PROPERLY SHOULD BE NO CAUSE FOR COMPLAINT! THEY ARE CLEAN ANIMALS, ALWAYS GROOMING THEMSELVES AND USUALLY CHOOSE ONE CORNER OF THEIR CAGE AS THEIR BATHROOM...AND THEY CAN BE LITTER TRAINED JUST LIKE YOUR CAT!!
