Can rabbits just eat grass instead of hay?

Rabbits Eat A Lot of Grass!
Grass is more nutritious than hay as hay is dried, causing some of the beneficial vitamins & minerals to fade over time. Just as their wild counterpart, a domestic rabbit
domestic rabbit
A domestic or domesticated rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus)—more commonly known as a pet rabbit, bunny, bun, or bunny rabbit—is a subspecies of European rabbit, a member of the lagomorph family. A male rabbit is known as a buck, a female is a doe, and a young rabbit is a kit, or kitten.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Domestic_rabbit
will always opt to eat fresh grass over hay
, and eat it with fervour too!


Can I feed my rabbits fresh grass instead of hay?

Fresh grass is preferable, but hay is a very good substitute and it's available all year round. You can also buy kiln-dried grass.

Do rabbits need hay if they eat grass?

Good quality hay and/or grass, always available, should constitute the majority of rabbits' diets. - Rabbits graze, naturally eating grass/other plants for long periods, mainly at dawn and dusk. - Rabbits' digestive systems need grass and/or hay to function properly.


What can my rabbit eat instead of hay?

Rabbits love anything leafy green. Lettuce, leaf lettuce, kale, spinach and dandelion greens, most flowers but especially petunias, carrots are a favorite too.

Can rabbits eat greens instead of hay?

A multitude of plants are safe for rabbits to eat, it's up to you whether you get them from the hedgerow or the supermarket. Broccoli, spring greens and parsley are as tasty to a rabbit as dandelions from the garden. If you have an apple or hazel tree they'll love the leaves and the same goes for a raspberry bush.


What grass can be given to rabbits



Do rabbits really need hay?

Hay is the most important part of a rabbit's daily intake. Unlimited, high-quality grass hay, such as Timothy, orchard or brome, should make up the bulk of a rabbit's diet. Grass hay is high in fiber, which is critical to maintaining a rabbit's healthy digestive tract.

Do rabbits need hay daily?

A rabbit's daily diet should consist mainly of large quantities of hay or dried or fresh grass that will provide the necessary fibre for the rabbit. Rabbits should have hay or dried or fresh grass during the day and night.

Can rabbits survive off of hay?

Rabbits eat grass (or hay)!

Rabbits should be fed in a way that is as close as possible to their natural diet: mostly grass or hay. In fact, rabbits could live on hay and water alone, but we recommend providing some fresh leafy vegetables and a small amount of commercial feed.


Do bunnies need hay to sleep?

Bedding is not necessarily essential. Many bunnies will be just as content sleeping on a pile of hay in their hutch.

Do bunnies need hay as bedding?

You can use hay as bedding for your rabbit but this can be costly and less efficient for absorbency. But if you are out of your normal bedding and only have hay, then this isn't the worse thing to use.

Can I feed my rabbit only vegetables?

While it is largely assumed that rabbits need only carrots and lettuce to survive, this simply isn't true. As with any other animal, rabbits need a whole rounded diet that includes various nutrients, such as lettuce and carrots.


How long can rabbits go without hay?

Technically, they can live without hay for years, but it's not good for them to go without for too long. The chewing hay helps wear down the teeth, it's high fiber, helps keep their gut moving, etc.

Can rabbits survive on just pellets?

While pellets can be part of a balanced diet, you should not give your rabbit a completely pellet-based diet. Instead, it's important to feed your rabbit mainly grass-based hay. A healthy rabbit diet should consist of about 80% of your rabbit's daily food being grass-based hay (such as timothy hay).

What can I feed my rabbit without pellets?

One basic alternative feed is based on feeding alfalfa hay and rolled oats. My rabbits loved alfalfa hay even more than their grass hay, but it's pretty high in protein and in calcium. If you feed alfalfa, you'll need to pair it with rolled oats to get that increased phosphorus to balance out the calcium.


Can rabbits survive on lettuce?

Myth #3 - Rabbits eat lettuce

Reality: a rabbit's diet shouldn't be based on lettuce. Rabbits shouldn't eat some lettuces (such as iceberg), as they contain lactucarium, which can be harmful in large quantities.

What can you feed rabbits if you run out of pellets?

Rabbits enjoy fresh fruits and veggies, such as blueberries, arugula, basil, cilantro, endives, carrots and carrot tops, apples and most dark leafy vegetables. Fresh foods that are safe for rabbits are rich in fiber, minerals, and vitamins while being relatively low in sugar and acid.

Do rabbits need hay or straw?

Hay is dried grass and the most vital part of a rabbit's diet. Straw is dried stalks from grain crops and is much more suitable for bedding as it is warmer and less likely to be eaten. It's not a problem if rabbits eat straw but there are few nutrients and they must be given good quality hay to eat.


What should a rabbit eat daily?

Rabbits must have an adult-sized handful of safe, washed leafy green vegetables, herbs and weeds daily.
  • Feed a variety of greens daily - ideally 5-6 different types, such as cabbage, kale, broccoli, parsley and mint.
  • Introduce new types of greens gradually, in small amounts, to avoid potential stomach upsets.


What veg can rabbits eat daily?

Vegetables that can be fed to a rabbit daily:
  • Bell peppers.
  • Bok choy.
  • Brussels sprouts.
  • Carrot tops.
  • Cucumber.
  • Endive.
  • Escarole.
  • Fennel.


How do you feed a rabbit naturally?

Typically, feeding 1 to 3 cups of leafy greens a day, along with an unlimited amount of hay, will be sufficient. Other fresh items such as other types of vegetables, herbs and flowers will need to be offered minimally. Remember, fruit is a sweet treat to rabbits and should be offered sparingly.


Do rabbits like blankets over their cage?

To make them feel safer

In short, covering their cage at night makes you feel better, but the rabbit is unlikely to care. Instead, ensure they have somewhere to hide all the time, that's pretty dark. I tend to go for the cheap and cheerful (and chewable) cardboard box.

What do rabbits like in their cage?

What Does a Rabbit Need in Their Cage? Provide 1-2 inches of high-quality paper-based bedding in their main enclosure. Other items needed are a litter box in the corner with paper-based products, a cardboard hide box, a hay rack, a water bottle, a small pellet dish, and toys.

How can you tell if your pet rabbit is happy in the cage?

You will know if your rabbit is happy because they will:
  1. Lie down with a relaxed body.
  2. Lie down with a stretched body, still relaxed.
  3. Lie down with a fully extended body, still relaxed.
  4. Jumping into the air all 4 paws off the ground.
  5. Have a healthy appetite.
  6. Calm and quiet.
  7. Inquisitive.


Where do rabbits prefer to sleep?

Sleeping area

Rabbits spend a lot of time sleeping, mostly during the day. The perfect sleeping area for rabbits is a place which approximates a burrow i.e. a roof over their heads and an entrance and exit route. Therefore, house rabbits tend to like sleeping behind sofas or under tables or beds.