House rabbit: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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==Feeding==

House rabbits are provided an unlimited amount of grass hay, grass hay, with a high concentration of [[timothy hay]]—[[roughage]] thatbeing recommended by many rabbit experts, which reduces the chance of digestive tract blockages and tooth [[malocclusion]] while providing indigestible fiber necessary to keep the gut moving. While timothy hay is the most preferred hay,<ref name=tll/> [[Bromus|brome]], [[orchard grass]] and prairie hay have also been recommended.<ref name=hills>{{Citeweb|title=Holland Lop Care|url=http://www.hillsborohollands.com/Holland_Lop_Care.html|publisher=Hillsboro Hollands|accessdate=2009-03-05}}</ref> Conversely, [[alfalfa]] hay should be avoided for all but very young rabits as it contains excessive amounts of calcium and protein,<ref name=hills/> in addition to a low fibrefiber content.<ref name=tll/>

House rabbits are also typically given about two cups chopped dark, green, leafy [[vegetable]]s per 6 pounds of body weight and up to two tablespoons of [[fruit]] or [[carrot]]s per six pounds body weight daily. House rabbit owners commonly provide treats, although in very limited quantities, which can include a few pellets, a slice of strawberry, or other healthy foods. Advertised treats in the pet stores are occasionally used, although even more sparingly, since they typically have very high sugar and starch content.

[[Image:RabbitEating.JPG|300 px|thumb|left|A house rabbit enjoying parsley]]

Some of the vegetables that rabbits enjoy are [[romaine lettuce]], [[escarole]], [[turnip]]s, [[collard]], [[kale]], [[parsley]], [[thyme]], [[cilantro]], [[dandelion]], and [[basil]]. The green, leafy tops of [[radishes]] and [[carrots]] also are excellent sources of nutrients—more than the vegetable itself. New vegetables are introduced slowly since rabbits have delicate digestive systems. [[Cauliflower]], [[broccoli]] and [[cabbage]] are best avoided because they cause gas and can lead to gastrointestinal stasis, which can be fatal. Starchy vegetables such as [[potato]]es and [[maize|corn]] are also avoided. Iceburg lettuce is to be especially avoided because it contains no nutritional value and has a high moisture content, which can upset their delicate digestiondigestive system

Pellets made from timothy grass supplement a house rabbit's diet. This differs from commercial rabbits, where pellets account for a much larger portion. Pellet amounts are determined by the weight of the rabbit and are listed on the back of the manufacturer’s packaging. A general rule of thumb for pellet feeding is to give an ounce per pound of rabbit per day. Young rabbits, however, should be given an unlimited feed of pellets. Good quality pellets are indicated by a 16 to 18 percent protein and at least 16 percent fibre content.<ref name=tll>{{Citeweb|title=Feeding Your Rabbit|url=http://www.threelittleladissrabbitry.com/feeding.php|publisher=Three Little Ladies Rabbitry|accessdate=2009-06-05}}</ref> Unlike pellets for [[rodent]]s, rabbit pellets do not contain nuts, which contain more fat than rabbits can easily metabolize and can cause health problems such as fatty liver. If fresh [[grass]] or [[hay]] is not available, a high quality pellet is sometimes used as a fallback instead of hay as the staple food.