Suppplements: While rabbit pellets and hay should be the main constituents of your rabbit's diet, your rabbit will be healthier and happier if these are occasionally supplemented with other foods. Supplementary foods should be a regular part of the rabbit's diet. Hay should be regularly supplemented with fresh greens. Here is a brief list of suitable greens that are suitable for feeding as supplements:
- Grass - This is the best fresh green food to feed your rabbit. You can either pick the grass from your yard or let the rabbit eat directly from the ground from an exercise pen.
- Blackberry leaves/stems - don't worry about the thorns. They won't worry your rabbit.
- Rosebush leaves - You can also feed the stems, as the thorns are not a problem.
- Leaves from fruit trees - Apple, pear, and apricot are excellent, but leaves from citrus trees should not be fed. Other edible tree leaves include Poplar, Lucerne Tree and most deciduous non-fruit trees.
- Common Garden Weeds - some of the best greens you can feed your rabbit are just common weeds. The best weeds to feed are: Shepherd's Purse, Mallow, Wild Turnip, Dandelion, Nettle, Thistle, and my favourite, Prickly Lettuce.
You can also feed certain fruits and vegetables to your rabbit. Here are some of the fruits and vegetables that are healthy to feed to rabbits:
- Silverbeet - rich in iron and calcium, so best fed in moderate amounts
- Radishes - the tops are best.
- Carrots - the tops are much better than the roots, which are high in sugar and should only be fed in small amounts as a treat.
- Potato/Carrot/Pumpkin Peels - Potatoes are very high in protein and should only be fed in small amounts, since it causes rapid weight gain. Do not feed any green/ish potato peels.
- Lettuce - Rich in vitamins, and also has a high water content, so feed only in small amounts or it will cause diarrhea. Stay away from iceberg lettuce as it has an exceptionally high water content.
- Cabbage - Very rich in calcium, so useful to feed pregnant/nursing mothers and growing youngsters. As with lettuce, feed only in small amounts.
- Banana Peels - High in potassium, so great for feeding pregnant and nursing mothers (and other rabbits) to prevent Flop Bunny Syndrome.
- Apple - Don't feed too much as the sugar content of apple is quite high.
- Mango Peels - Mango is quite acidic, so is excellent for preventing and treating furballs.
- Strawberry Tops - Also good for preventing furballs.
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