Please Note
This is the typical diet of an OHRR bunny. It is intended to help you prepare for bringing a bunny into your home. Some bunnies have special needs and may have specific dietary requirements. Please work with your Adoption Coordinator to determine specific needs.
Food Amounts
- Unlimited Timothy Hay: Refresh their hay before they run out – there will always be some “wasted” hay that they don’t eat and this is ok. They should eat a volume about the size of their body every day.
- Greens/Veggies: Give them a variety of fresh greens everyday. About 1 cup per 3 lbs of body weight once a day or can split into two feedings. Start out with a mixture of mostly Green Leaf lettuce (because that’s what we use at the rescue) and introduce new greens in small amounts until they are used to them to prevent digestive upset. For a full list of safe veggies, visit https://rabbit.org/suggested-vegetables-and-fruits-for-a-rabbit-diet.
- Pellets: Amount at each meal (morning and evening): TBD with Adoption Cooridinator. This will likely range from 1 tbsp to 1/4th a cup based on the size of the bunny. It’s important to measure out the pellets exactly every time so you know if they aren’t eating (which could mean they’re sick). Do not use pellets containing corn, seeds, or colorful pieces. These are bad for the bunny’s digestive system. The pellets should only contain timothy hay based pellets, such as Oxbow or Small Pet Select.
- Water: Change water daily. Rinse and wipe out bowl before refilling to prevent algae formation in the bottom of the bowl.
48 Hour Example Care Schedule
Day 1:
- Morning:
- Small treat (to make sure they are eating and feeling well)
- Pellets
- Empty water bowl and refill with fresh water
- Refresh hay in their litter box
- Let them out of their pen to play, if your schedule allows
- Evening:
- Pellets
- Top off water bowl
- Refresh hay
- Greens (this can be done in the morning if that’s more convenient)
- Out-of-pen time for exercise and time with their family
- Quickly clean their pen – wipe up any pee outside the box, use a broom and dustpan to sweep hay and poops, replace any soiled rugs with clean ones
- Treat to go back in their pen at bedtime
Day 2:
- Morning:
- Small treat
- Pellets
- Empty water bowl and refill with fresh water
- Refresh hay in their litter box
- Let them out of their pen, if your schedule allows
- Evening:
- Pellets
- Top off water bowl
- Greens
- Out-of-pen time for exercise and time with their family
- Clean litter box
- Dump out everything, clean with vinegar and water mixture in a spray bottle (tough spots in the corners might need a little soaking), make new box with litter on one side and a generous amount of hay on the other; put the litter-side of the box in the corner of their pen. OHRR cleans litter boxes 3 times per week.
- Quickly clean their pen
- Treat to go back in their pen at bedtime