What Do Rabbits Eat In The Wild And As Pets?

So, what do rabbits eat? It’s one of the questions pet owners should ask themselves before picking up a pet rabbit. In the wild, rabbits can find their food. However, domesticated rabbits depend on their owners to provide the right food. So, what can rabbits eat?

Hay & Grass

Rabbits do not eat meat of any kind. In the wild, rabbits will eat all types of grass and hay as the bulk of their diets. Rabbits consume whatever type of grass they find. For example, wheat, Bermuda, orchard, alfalfa, and oat.

Wild rabbits eat a great deal of grass each day to meet their dietary requirements. It is not easy to find all these grasses at the pet store. Moreover, cultivating them can be time-consuming, cumbersome, and pricey. To make up, provide your pet rabbit with nutrient-filled pellets, fruits, and vegetables.

Vegetables & Fruits

In the wild, both the adults and the young rabbits will eat kale, amaranth, and other such vegetables. Little bunnies will also eat wild berries and other fruits they find when foraging. But they will rarely eat cabbages and carrots, as pet rabbits do. Unless, of course, they happen to live near a farm. Try to replicate their wild diets as close as possible. Feed them carrots and other foods not found in their natural habitat sparingly.

Rabbits need to eat extra dark leafy greens such as romaine lettuce, watercress, cilantro, and beet greens in addition to their usual pellets and hay. You can feed your bunny fresh fruits on occasion. For example. berries, bananas, apples, and melons.

What Can Baby Rabbits Eat?

Many various vegetables are better than a limited amount of one food item. From approximately 7 to 8 months of age, young rabbits should be fed alfalfa pellets and alfalfa hay-free-choice; they need the extra protein and calcium as they grow.

What Can Adult Rabbits Eat?

Rabbits will usually eat about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of pellets and/or hay in addition to leafy vegetables every day. It’s best to consult a veterinarian about developing a meal plan for your bunny. Domestic rabbits are not nearly as active as wild rabbits and thus require less food to thrive.

The Bottom Line

Provide pet rabbits with a balanced diet as close to rabbits in the wild. While providing your rabbit with unlimited veggies and fruits may be difficult, you can use hay and pellets as your main staple while incorporating a few fresh green vegetables daily and some fruit weekly.

Before you go, please read our article on How To Care For A Rabbit Outdoors for even more tips and advice. As always, thanks for reading on Rabbit Care Basics!