Advice for Australian Rabbit owners is to feed your rabbit a mixture of 1/2 rabbit and guinea pig pellets and 1/2 rabbit mix, mixed together and stored in an airtight container - keep in a cool place (the pet store or feed and grain should have both). If the rabbit mix has a reasonable amount of pellets in it already, you can lessen the amount of pellets added. You should also feed oaten hay (cheapest bought by the bale) and carrot, peeled and cored apple, broccoli and leaves and celery tops. (DO NOT FEED YOUR RABBIT ICEBERG LETTUCE [the normal lettuce purchased at the green grocers] OR CABBAGE). Fresh veges should be given in regular small amounts. Here is some interesting food information from the USA.


This is taken from the Spring Edition of _The Carrot Gazette_ published by Harrisburg's chapter of the HRS. (Some editing has occured) "A rabbits dietary needs can also be provided through alternative [to pellets] foods. Most important is access to unlimited fresh timothy hay, grass hay, or alfalfa. Timothy hay is the best, alfalfa is more fattening. But some bunnies have a preference for one over the other. In addition to the hay, bunny must have a variety of fresh vegetables (approximately one heaping cup for every five pounds of body weight). You can feed more if weight is not a concern. Dr. Brown advises that you feed a minimum of 3 different vegetables daily.

Add one veggie at a time. If soft stools or diarrhea occurs, eliminate that vegetable from the diet.

Choose one each day that contains Vitamin A (with an asterisk next to it)
Basil
Beet greens*
Bok Choy
Brocolli (including leaves)*
Carrot & carrot tops*
Celery
Cilantro
Clover
Collard Greens*
Dandelion greens and flowers (no pesticides)
Escarole
Green peppers
Mint
Parsley*
Pea pods (flat edible kind)*
Peppermint leaves
Raddichio
Radish tops
Rasberry leaves
Romaine lettuce (not iceberg or light colored leaf)*
Watercress*
Spinach and kale may be given occasionally in small quantities but
can be toxic if given over a period of time.

Fruits: one daily
(Only one tablespoon per five pounds of body weight)
Apple
Peach
Banana
Pear
Blueberries
Pineapple
Melon
Strawberries
Papaya

May give one teaspoon of dried fruit in lieu of fresh fruit.

If your bunny has had digestive problems and you try this diet, please let us know how it works for you so we can share the results with our readers.
Source: Washington House Rabbit Society"
Sorry about the length. Hopefully this will help.

Laura Tessmer
69763@strauss.udel.edu

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