The 9 Greatest Rabbit Meals of 2024

Excessive fiber grasses are the cornerstone of your rabbit’s weight-reduction plan, but it surely’s frequent to complement timothy or oat hay with rabbit meals pellets, which offer essential dietary steadiness.

“Some rabbits do higher on sure diets than others, however as a common rule, timothy-based pellet diets are perfect for most grownup rabbits,” explains Dr. Anthony Pilny, DVM, DABVP, the Assistant Medical Director/Schooling Program Supervisor of the Arizona Unique Animal Hospital. “Pellets must be the smallest a part of a rabbit’s balanced weight-reduction plan, with quite a lot of hays being the staple.​​​”

Hay, sometimes Timothy hay is a superb staple meals as a result of it gives the fiber rabbits want to keep up wholesome digestion. It additionally performs a job, together with sure toys, in serving to rabbits keep good dental hygiene which is essential to their long run well being. Pellets make for a terrific complement as they add nutritional vitamins and minerals which can be useful to your rabbit’s well being. In constructing this listing we thought of these components in addition to the dietary tips offered by the Home Rabbit Society

The 9 Greatest Rabbit Meals of 2024
PHOTO: Oxbow Animal Well being

Oxbow’s Backyard Choose Grownup Rabbit Meals is a glorious choice for rabbits. It’s not genetically modified and options all pure substances. Oxbow has a terrific fame for small animal feeds and this combine isn’t any exception. 

The first ingredient in these pellets is Timothy Grass, is excessive in fiber to assist your rabbit’s digestion. This meals additionally has a great quantity of fat at 2.5 p.c. Rabbits can not deal with excessive portions of fats, however some fats content material is vital for power and immunity. Oxbow Backyard Choose additionally has nice protein content material at 12 p.c. Protein is vital for power and muscle well being, however an excessive amount of can result in digestive points and infections. One other nice high quality about these pellets are their excessive vitamin content material. 

It is available in three sizes: 4, 8, and 25 pound luggage. The pellets are uniform, which helps guarantee choosy eaters get all of the included substances, nevertheless it doubtless gained’t fulfill rabbits’ foraging instincts. All pellet choices must be supplemented with Timothy Grass.

Main Elements: Timothy grass, oat grass, orchard grass, oat hulls, canola meal | Amount: 4, 8 or 25 kilos

Small Pet Select 2nd Cutting Timothy Hay
PHOTO: Small Pet Choose

Timothy Hay makes a terrific staple meals for a rabbit because it gives applicable ranges of fiber to assist your pet keep wholesome digestion. Timothy Hay is usually reduce a number of occasions per season. Small Pet Choose Timothy Hay is accessible in both 1st, 2nd, or third reducing. Second reducing hay presents excessive fiber and vitamins in addition to being a pleasant mixture of stem and leaf. It’s sometimes the only option for many small pets, together with rabbits. 

In case your rabbit is extraordinarily choosy nevertheless or has mouth points, you might discover they like third reducing, which is nearly totally leaf and is way softer than second reducing, nevertheless its additionally decrease in fiber. Small Pet Choose Timothy Hay is available in quite a lot of sizes, starting from: a 12 ounce bag all the way in which as much as a 40 pound bag.

Main Elements: Timothy Hay | Amount: 12 ounces; 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, or 40 kilos

Oxbow Essentials Bunny Basics Young Rabbit Food
PHOTO: Supply: Oxbow Necessities
What We Like

  • Nutritionally full

  • No synthetic colours, preservatives, or flavors

  • Additionally obtainable in Easy Harvest and Backyard Choose varieties

Meals designed particularly for youthful rabbits use the phrases child, younger, or juvenile on the label. At all times verify the label for the suitable age vary earlier than shopping for.

This meals is designed particularly for rabbits beneath a yr outdated and isn’t applicable for adults. Younger rabbits which can be nonetheless rising want a unique steadiness of fiber, protein, and fats than adults. Most meals for younger rabbits will likely be alfalfa-based. Alfalfa hay gives a balanced increased protein supply with important amino acids and extra calcium than timothy hay for rising bones.

When supplemented with free-choice grass hay, these pellets may additionally be fed to pregnant or nursing rabbits and people with issues sustaining weight as a result of age or sickness. Oxbow additionally makes all kinds of top-quality rabbit meals for all life phases.

Key substances: Alfafa meal, soybean hulls, wheat middlings, soybean oil | Amount: 5, 10, or 25 pound bag

Small Pet Select Flower Power Herbal Blends
PHOTO: Small Pet Choose

Whereas recent fruit which can be secure for rabbits make for a superb deal with, you might be in search of an alternate as recent fruit doesn’t maintain and could be troublesome to entry in some settings. Small Pet Choose Flower Energy Natural Mix is a superb selection for various rabbit deal with. This combine is all pure consisting totally of dried flowers and herbs, together with: Calendula, Pink Clover, Lavender, Rose Petals, Elder Flowers, Hibiscus, Hawthorne Berries, and Rose Hips. The variability within the combine will set off your rabbit’s foraging intuition. 

It must be famous, this must be handled as a deal with, not a staple meals, and must be given to your rabbit sparsely. A couple of tablespoon a day is really helpful for an grownup rabbit. You could possibly put it on prime or combine it in along with your rabbit’s hay. It also needs to be famous as these are simply dried flowers it is best to maintain them sealed and saved correctly to maintain bugs from moving into them.

Main Elements: Calendula, purple clover, lavender, rose petals, elder flowers | Amount: 2.5 or 4.4 ounces

Kaytee Timothy Complete Rabbit Food
PHOTO: Supply: Kaytee
What We Like

  • Nutritionally full, with excessive fiber for good digestion

  • Consists of prebiotics and probiotics to assist digestive well being

  • Doesn’t embody fruits or sugars

  • No synthetic colours or flavors

If you happen to’re in search of one other prime quality pellet possibility that’s just a little simpler on the pockets, Kaytee Timothy Full Rabbit Meals presents most of the advantages of our prime decide at a less expensive value. It’s obtainable in 4.5 or 9.5 pound luggage, which is one fewer possibility than our prime decide, however admittedly the 25 pound possibility in our prime decide is simply too giant for many house owners. Kaytee’s Timothy Full Rabbit Meals, like our prime decide has good fiber and protein ranges, that are vital components in selecting a meals. 

The place it lags behind are prime decide is in vitamin content material, containing far much less nutritional vitamins than our greatest general selection. Hold this in thoughts when selecting this product as you might need to complement for vitamin content material. 

Main Elements: Solar-cured timothy grass hay, soybean hulls, dehulled soybean meal, wheat middlings, dried cane molasses | Amount: 4.5 or 9.5 kilos

Small Pet Select Fortified Rabbit Food
PHOTO: Small Pet Choose

One thing we like about Small Pet Timothy Choose Rabbit Meals is that its manufactured in small batches utilizing solely hay from the newest harvest. House owners report the recent odor of the pellets and the overwhelming majority opinions are glowing with regard to their rabbit’s enjoyment of the meals. The mix is over 50 p.c Timothy Hay offering good fiber content material. It’s additionally fortified with nutritional vitamins to assist your pet’s common well being.

At $20 for a 5 pound bag it’s costlier than another choices on are listing however many homeowners really feel it’s value it for the standard and freshness of the meals. It’s additionally obtainable in 10, 20, and 40 pound luggage providing you with many selections by way of what most closely fits your variety of pets and arrange. 

Main Elements: Timothy hay, soybean hulls, soybean meal, sodium bentonite, wheat middlings | Amount: 5 kilos, 10 kilos, 20 kilos, and 40 kilos

Alfalfa Cubes
PHOTO: Small Pet Choose

These cubes from Small Pet Choose are created from a mixture of Timothy Hay and Alfalfa Hay, although its additionally obtainable in variants of pure alfalfa or pure Timothy. Alfalfa is simply appropriate as a staple meals for younger or pregnant rabbits, although you should use it as a deal with for grownup rabbits. This is because of alfalfa being just a little excessive in calcium, If you happen to’re involved we really helpful getting the cubes with solely Timothy Hay.

These cubes solely have three substances, Timothy Hay, Alfalfa Hay, and bentonite as a binding agent. Many house owners report their rabbits love chewing on these as a deal with so as to add selection to their consuming expertise. 

Main Elements: Timothy hay, alfalfa hay, bentonite | Amount: 1 pound bag

Oxbow Essentials Adult Rabbit Food
PHOTO: Oxbow
What We Like

  • Made with none synthetic substances

  • Very excessive in fiber per serving

  • Extra inexpensive than different gadgets on our listing

Fiber is a vital think about your rabbit’s weight-reduction plan. Oxbow Necessities Grownup Rabbit Meals is a superb excessive fiber possibility that’s created from all pure substances. In keeping with the dietary evaluation given by Oxbow, it ought to have about 29 p.c fiber. The primary ingredient is Timothy Grass Meal which gives the majority of the fiber content material. 

This rabbit meals additionally incorporates no added preservatives, dyes, or flavors and many homeowners report how recent it’s in comparison with different choices. It is available in 5, 10, and 25 pound luggage.

Main Elements: Timothy grass meal, soybean hulls, wheat middlings, soybean meal, cane molasses | Amount: 5, 10, or 25 kilos

Oxbow Enriched Life Apple Stick Bundle
PHOTO: Courtesy of Amazon

Rabbits, as rodents, have enamel that proceed to develop into maturity. They’ve a pure intuition to chew and It’s vital to supply your rabbit with secure gadgets and toys for them to chew to put on down their enamel and to keep up good dental well being. Chew sticks make for a terrific deal with that will even give them one thing to chew on. 

Oxbow’s Apple Stick Bundle Chew Sticks are created from untreated apple sticks, that are good and mushy in your rabbit’s enjoyment. They arrive bundled, which might present additional enrichment in your rabbit to determine the right way to chew into the bundle, nevertheless you can too open the bundle and provides them particular person sticks.

Main Elements: Sisal, wooden, pure material | Amount: 1 bundle

Ultimate Verdict

Our best choice for greatest rabbit meals is Oxbow Animal Well being Backyard Choose Grownup Rabbit Meals. This meals has Timothy Hay as a prime ingredient and nice vitamin ranges throughout a number of classes. It’s all pure and is available in uniform pellets. If you happen to’re in search of extra of a deal with, we suggest the Small Pet Choose Timothy and Alfalfa Cubes. These cubes are all pure mixes of Timothy and Alfalfa Hay, and make a terrific deal with to deliver selection into your rabbit’s consuming expertise.

What to Search for in Rabbit Meals

Hays

About 80 to 90 p.c of a rabbit’s weight-reduction plan must be hay—identical to their wild ancestors. Agricultural science shines whenever you talk about hay for rabbits. You may go down the figurative rabbit gap researching the various frequent varieties—timothy, alfalfa, oat, meadow, and orchard hays—which could be derived from grass or legumes (beanstalks). Every differs nutritionally, and that steadiness additionally modifications relying on whether or not it’s the primary, second, or third reducing.

Rabbits have very delicate digestive tracts, so the transition to hay or pellets, or the introduction of recent greens and fruits, must be finished steadily to permit their system to regulate.

Pellet Elements & Diet

Search for a meals that has the optimum dietary steadiness in your rabbits primarily based on age and life stage. “Similar to the number of canine and cat meals obtainable, every model of rabbit pellet has completely different substances and dietary evaluation however must be primarily based on identified minimal necessities for feeding,” explains Dr. Anthony Pilny, DVM, DABVP, the Assistant Medical Director/Schooling Program Supervisor of the Arizona Unique Animal Hospital.

“Excessive fiber content material from 18 to twenty p.c minimal with 12.5 p.c as indigestible fiber is right for many grownup pet rabbits. Protein ranges vary from 12-14 p.c, with fats content material from 2 to five p.c. Calcium usually ranges from 0.5 to 1 p.c. Remember that younger, rising rabbits, geriatric bunnies, or lactating females have completely different dietary necessities.”

“It is suggested to purchase a pelleted weight-reduction plan that incorporates solely plain inexperienced pellets, no seeds or puffs,” explains Dr. Sari Kanfer of Unique Animal Veterinary Middle in Pasadena, California.

“Keep away from any of the mixes (typically known as muesli) that comprise seeds, corn, or dried fruits,” provides Dr. Pilny.

“The idea of most business pellet manufacturers will likely be both timothy, alfalfa, or each relying on the corporate and their dietary beliefs about rabbit vitamin,” says Dr. Pilny. “Alfalfa has extra energy and fewer fiber than timothy hay generally and is okay to feed sparsely.”

“Selecting a premium high quality model that’s solely pellets might price just a little extra, however sometimes means higher high quality substances and fewer fillers,” says Dr. Pilny.

Widespread Elements

Timothy Hay: That is the staple of grownup rabbit diets and may make up the overwhelming majority of their meals. Timothy hay is excessive in fiber which is essential in aiding your pet’s digestive system. 

Alfalfa Hay: Larger in energy and decrease in fiber than Timothy Hay, it’s major use is for younger rabbits, geriatric rabbits, and pregnant or nursing rabbits. It’s okay to provide grownup rabbits sparsely however not as their major hay.

Soybean Meal: Constituted of soybeans and us primarily included as a supply of protein.

Wheat Middlings: A byproduct of the milling means of wheat, and typically known as wheat bran, what middlings are sometimes utilized in animal feeds. They’re included as an added supply of fiber in addition to offering carbohydrates.

Nutritional vitamins and Mineral Dietary supplements: Many pellet formulation have added nutritional vitamins and minerals to assist be sure that your rabbit is getting all of the important vitamins for his or her well being. Widespread nutritional vitamins embody vitamin A and vitamin D. Widespread minerals embody calcium and phosphorus. 

Grains: Oat, barley, and wheat present carbohydrates and power in your rabbit, nevertheless these ought to solely make up a small portion of their general weight-reduction plan as rabbits can’t digest lots of carbohydrates. 

Greens: Contemporary greens are a terrific supply of nutritional vitamins in your rabbit. Carrots, lettuce, and broccoli are examples of secure greens in your pet. 

Fruit: As an occasional deal with, recent fruit could be offered to your rabbit . The excessive sugar content material means they need to solely be loved sparsely. Rabbits are likely to take pleasure in strawberries, blueberries and apples.

FAQ

  • “Rabbits are strict herbivores, so I at all times say since they’re vegetarian to ‘Suppose Inexperienced!’ Rabbits could be fed quite a lot of inexperienced greens (along with limitless hay and a small quantity of pellets each day),” explains Dr. Anthony Pilny, DVM, DABVP, the Assistant Medical Director/Schooling Program Supervisor of the Arizona Unique Animal Hospital.

    Pilny and Dr. Sari Kanfer of Unique Animal Veterinary Middle in Pasadena, California, agree that dandelion greens, inexperienced leaf lettuce, romaine, recent herbs reminiscent of cilantro, parsley, and dill, and recent grass are good choices. “Kale and parsley must be fed solely in small quantities, as they’re increased in calcium,” provides Kanfer.

    “Though fruit is secure, it must be totally prevented or solely fed in very small quantities as an occasional deal with,” says Dr. Pilny.

    “Carrots are comparable,” provides Dr. Kanfer, “and may solely be an rare deal with.”

    “Opposite to well-liked tradition, carrots also needs to be prevented or fed as a uncommon deal with,” explains Dr. Pilny. “Nonetheless, carrot tops (inexperienced half) are best. Some rabbits are delicate to sure greens and quantities fed, so work with the person to see what works greatest.”

  • “The overall home rabbit weight-reduction plan is similar or comparable regardless of the breed,” explains Dr. Pilny. “The variations will normally be primarily based on weight (e.g., giant breeds just like the Flemish Large will want extra energy and devour extra meals general), in addition to dimension, progress, and upkeep.”

    “A number of the tiny dwarf rabbits might have a bigger quantity of pellets, and the very giant rabbits like Flemish Giants might not want as many pellets for his or her dimension,” says Dr. Kanfer.

    “Younger, aged, or lactating mom rabbits have completely different necessities,” provides Dr. Pilny. “Many pet rabbits are ‘combined breeds’ and have comparable dietary necessities.” 

  • Dr. Pilny and Dr. Kanfer agree that though it will be secure to take action, they don’t suggest hamster pellets for a rabbit. “The dietary necessities are very completely different, and this might lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies or extra and a number of well being issues,” explains Dr. Pilny.

    “They aren’t as excessive in fiber,” provides Dr. Kanfer.

    “The rabbit’s abdomen and gastrointestinal system may be very delicate and requires a species-appropriate weight-reduction plan for general well being and to keep away from pointless visits to the veterinarian,” continues Dr. Pilny. “We’re lucky to have species-specific diets that meet particular person pet wants when fed correctly, and thus they need to be used as a part of a balanced weight-reduction plan plan to make sure optimum well being, longevity, enrichment, and well-being.”

  • Dwarf rabbits are the identical species as different rabbits, however they’ve a gene for dwarfism. To allow them to usually eat the identical meals as different breeds of rabbits. Nonetheless, their digestive techniques could be extra delicate than different breeds so introduce new meals slowly and one after the other so that you could be certain it gained’t upset their tummy. This breed additionally does greatest when it isn’t allowed to overeat.

    Take note of pellet dimension when choosing your meals. Dwarf rabbits might favor smaller pellets which can be simpler for them to carry and chunk.

Why Belief The Spruce Pets?

This text was up to date by Ellie Welles, who has raised canines, cats, rabbits, and even a green-cheeked conure. She’s keen about discovering the perfect merchandise in your littlest relations. For this text, she consulted numerous product opinions, and rabbit proprietor suggestions to seek out the perfect merchandise for rabbit house owners in every single place

A specialist in small pets, Ellie beforehand spoke with quite a lot of sources and utilized specialists in small animal care to assemble the perfect guinea pig provides, ferret toys, and chinchilla cages. Her two cats had been just a little extra useful when it got here to discovering nice window perches.

Dr. Sari Kanfer, initially from New York Metropolis, was capable of escape the massive metropolis and attend veterinary faculty at Colorado State College. Shortly earlier than vet faculty, she grew to become hooked on rabbits and later adopted her dependancy to the West Coast. After 10 years of constructing a terrific clientele within the small mammal group, she opened the Unique Animal Veterinary Middle as a full-service hospital devoted to high-quality, compassionate veterinary look after avian and unique pets. Along with overseeing a crew of 5 veterinarians, Dr. Kanfer sees primarily rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchillas. Her particular pursuits are dental illness in rabbits and rodents and geriatric rabbit care. She is really helpful by the Los Angeles Rabbit Basis.

Dr. Anthony Pilny is a local New Yorker however joined Arizona Unique Animal Hospital by means of Los Angeles, California. He’s a graduate of the College of Florida’s Faculty of Veterinary Drugs. Dr. Pilny accomplished inner drugs and surgical procedure internship at Florida Veterinary Specialists in Tampa, Florida, and a residency in Avian and Unique Pet Drugs and Surgical procedure at The Animal Medical Middle in New York Metropolis. He’s additionally an advisor for the Home Rabbit Society.

A earlier model of this story was written by Lorraine Wilde, who has been a devoted pet lover and dad or mum for the previous 35 years.

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