An adult rabbit should have unlimited access to fresh hay around the clock.

A rabbit’s entire digestive system is designed to handle a fiber rich diet made up of grasses, herbs and other plants. In the wild, rabbits spend a large portion of their day grazin’. Hay is about as close as we can get to their natural diet.

Without enough fiber, the body simply can’t function the way it’s supposed to.

A rabbit’s digestive system depends on a constant supply of fiber.

When a rabbit eats hay, those fibers help keep food moving through the stomach and intestines. Too little hay can increase the risk of problems such as:

Constipation
Gas buildup
Reduced appetite
GI stasis

GI stasis is a serious condition where the digestive system slows down dramatically or stops moving altogether.

Inside a rabbit’s cecum live billions of beneficial bacteria that help break down food and make digestion possible. These bacteria depend on the right kind of fiber rich diet to thrive.

When a rabbit eats plenty of hay, they’re also helping maintain a healthy balance within their digestive system.

Many people are surprised to learn that a rabbit’s teeth never stop growing.

When rabbits chew hay, the long side to side chewing motion helps wear their teeth down naturally. Too little hay can increase the risk of dental problems, which may eventually lead to pain and difficulty eating.

If you notice your rabbit drooling, losing weight, avoiding hay or struggling to chew – it’s a good idea to contact a veterinarian. Rabbit teeth grow continuously throughout life and may sometimes need professional attention.

No.

Some love attention.

Pellets can be a useful supplement to the diet, but they can never replace hay.

A rabbit that eats lots of pellets but very little hay often receives too little fiber and too little natural chewing activity. Think of pellets as a supplement while hay is the foundation of the diet.

As a general rule, hay should make up the majority of a rabbit’s diet.

Many recommendations suggest around 80 to 90 percent of the total food intake. Most importantly, hay should always be available so your rabbit can eat whenever they choose.

If I could give just one piece of advice to a new rabbit owner, it might be this – look at the hay first.

When a rabbit eats plenty of hay, a lot of other things tend to fall into place as well. The digestive system works properly, the teeth wear down naturally and the rabbit gets to express behaviors it was designed for. It may not be the most exciting part of rabbit keeping. Hay racks rarely get as much attention as adorable baby rabbits or the latest toy.

But from your rabbit’s point of view, a well stocked rack of fresh sweet smellin’ hay is often far more important.

If your rabbit had to choose between a brand new toy and a big pile of fresh fragrant hay, what do you think they’d pick?

Fredrik 🐇