New rabbit owner: What food, hay, cage, and nail/teeth care?

Rabbits should eat mainly timothy hay or similar grasses. This should make up the largest portion of the diet. A small amount of a commercial pelleted diet can be offered as can fresh greens and vegetables. If Cuddles is over 7 months of age, do not feed alfalfa. Provide a variety of chew toys to keep teeth trimmed. You should have Cuddles examined yearly, by a veterinarian experienced in treating rabbits, to confirm good health and to trim teeth when necessary. Do not attempt to trim teeth by yourself at home. Below, I have included some articles from the PetCoach Library regarding rabbit care. https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-you-need-to-know-before-you-bring-your-new-rabbit-home/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/choosing-a-rabbit-as-a-pet/ https://www.petcoach.co/question/?id=411310

Congratulations on your rabbit! Rabbits should consume the majority of their diet (70-80%) from Timothy hay. Hat shotkdnalways be available in his house. A small amount of rabbit pellets (1/4 cup) daily and occasionally fruits and veggies as a treat. Any diet change in a rabbit should transition very slowly as their GI tract does not tolerate change well. Toe nail trim frequency is based on the individual and how quickly they grow but probably every 2 months or so. Best of luck and have fun with your new rabbit! Thank you for using Pet Coach.

It's correct that fiber is very important for rabbits. This is because they have a digestive system that is made for a high-fiber diet and can get a great deal of nutrients from fiber. For this reason, it's actually best to feed a pelleted diet that is high in fiber like Oxbow. Fruits and vegetables should be considered treats and limited and no more than 10% of their diet. High quality hay (timothy or brome are good choices) should be offered all the time. Grass and dark leafy greens should also be offered regularly. There is a lot of information about how to feed a rabbit out there and it can be difficult to know what's correct and what's not. Below is a link to a some good information that should answer all of your questions. I hope that helps and all is well with your bunnies.

Thanks for your question about your new pets! I would recommend finding out what they are being fed now so you don’t switch their food over too quickly. I recommend feeding young rabbits free choice alfalfa hay until 6-9 months old and then transitioning them to a grass based hay, such as Timothy. I also recommend 1-2 tablespoons of pellets per bunny per day until they are full grown. Again, alfalfa based until 6-9 months old and then transition to Timothy pellets. Once full grown, you can give 1 tablespoon per 5 lbs of rabbit. You can also offer greens on a daily basis, but start slowly so they don’t get diarrhea. Leaf lettuce, cilantro, radicchio, and parsley are good options. They don’t require any supplements but the non-fruit based Oxbow treats are a great choice. I don’t recommend feeding fruit to rabbits as it can upset their tummies. For decreasing stress, make sure they have a place to hide and that their environment is quiet for them while they are adjusting. I hope this helps, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Congrats on your new addition! It looks like you have everything you need. A water bottle wasn't listed, so if you don't have one be sure to pick one up at the local Petco. Rabbit safe chew toys can also be found at the store. Melo can eat as much timothy hay, oat hay or similar grasses as he wants. Do not feed him any alfalfa and limit pellets to about 1/8 cup daily. he can get a cup or two of fresh greens daily as well. If you have any additional questions, you can post them here.

Pellets can predispose a rabbit to obesity. They may not provide the amount of fiber needed to maintain a healthy gut. You don't need to feed just produce. Ellie should be fed as much timothy hay, oat hay or similar grasses as she wants to eat. These grasses are relatively inexpensive. You can feed alfalfa until she is about 7 months old then discontinue feeding it. Supplement the diet with a cup or two of fresh, dark, leafy greens and vegetables daily. Up to 1/4 cup of commercial pellets can be offered daily.

For an adult rabbit the percentages should be 85-90% hay ( timothy, grass hay, oat hay and so on) up to 10% veggies and up to 5% fruits (no more than 1 oz. per 3 lbs. body weight). The rest can be given in pellets.