I just got a rabbit

[Dutchgirl]

I just got a rex/satin bunny. It's a doe, but still a baby. Any advice? I'm new to rabbits. She is so cute!

 

[EllyMae]

In addition to pellets and fresh water, make sure you always give good quality hay to your bun. Stay away from feeding lettuce.
That's just a start...

 

[meggers32]

Congrats on your little bun! Do you have a pic? I generally feed mine hay and pellets. I give them occasional treats of parsley, cilantro or other good greens. They have a list of what to feed bunnies on this site, I downloaded it but I can't remember where. I will think and let you know. Anyone know in the meantime? I just try to be careful how much greens I feed, they do not do well with too much because it gives them diarrhea which can be deadly for them. There could be a whole other set of rules for baby buns regarding greens, so you might want to look into that. Anyway, enjoy your bun!

 

[WisconsinChick]

whats wrong with lettuce?

 

[EllyMae]

Iceberg lettuce can cause diarrhea. And you DON'T want to upset a rabbits digestive system if you can help it. And they need continual food/fiber passing through their gut or they can develop intestinal stasis. Good quality hay can prevent this AND hairballs. Buns can't vomit like a cat so the hair has to pass through.
Oh and don't forget the fresh veggies and limited amounts of fruit. Buns tend to have a sweet tooth, lol.

 

[goldensunriseranch]

I don't feed any greens besides quality hay until my buns are past six months old. Any bout of loose stools in a young bunny can be deadly and greens are the most common culprit. Oats can be a nice treat instead mixed into their pellets. And once they are old enough for greens I would introduce them one at a time and very gradually. Best of luck with her!

 

[EngieKisses]

When I raised rabbits mine loved carrots

 

[hooligan]

www.rabbit.org

 

[WisconsinChick]

naturally they would have unlimited greens...so whats the difference?

 

[Maidservant]

A wild rabbits diet consists of mostly roots, barks, and dried grasses, not greens. They do nibble on them, but don't eat that many. When you see a wild rabbit out in someones yard, more than likely they are eating the roots of the grass, not the grass itself. Wild rabbits are also a different species than our domesticated rabbits. Domestic rabbits are dubbed "European" rabbits because they originated in Europe. They cannot produce offspring with a wild rabbit. They can breed, but nothing will come of it.

I second the oats. Plain oatmeal is great, but in small quantities. When introducing a new food, go slowly, and only introduce one new food per week (that's what I recommend anyway). That way, if there are problems, you can easily identify which plant or feed item is causing it.

Hope this helps some!
Emily