Technically, they can live without hay for years, but it's not good for them to go without for too long. The chewing hay helps wear down the teeth, it's high fiber, helps keep their gut moving, etc.
A rabbit's daily diet should consist mainly of large quantities of hay or dried or fresh grass that will provide the necessary fibre for the rabbit. Rabbits should have hay or dried or fresh grass during the day and night.
Hay keeps the gut moving
Blockages can often be fatal. If a rabbit doesn't eat enough hay then this can slow down the rabbit's intestinal functions and cause serious problems eg. GI Stasis (see below).
Rabbits need at least one bundle of good quality hay everyday, and it should be as big as they are!
A diet based on pellets does not provide enough wear for a rabbit's molars resulting in chewing problems. Pellets are also high in calories and can cause obesity. Your rabbit should have a variety of leafy vegetables from this list, and include at least one vegetable a day that contains Vitamin A (indicated by a *).
Technically, they can live without hay for years, but it's not good for them to go without for too long. The chewing hay helps wear down the teeth, it's high fiber, helps keep their gut moving, etc.
Rabbit bodies and digestions are capable of living on a fresh grass diet, but it's usually not an easy arrangement for rabbit caretakers. Grass doesn't grow year round for rabbits to eat and a sudden transition from dried hay to fresh grass is likely to unbalance a rabbit's digestion and cause health problems.
In fact, rabbits could live on hay and water alone, but we recommend fresh leafy vegetables and a little commercial feed. The long fibre of grass or hay is vital to their digestive, behavioural and dental health.
This does not mean that rabbits are only active during dawn and dusk, though. They often have occasional short bursts of energy during the day between some of their longer sleep sessions. So rabbits do sleep at night and during the day, but generally not straight through.
Rabbits can handle the cold very well as they usually have thick fur and pads on their feet, but strong winds and damp environments can make them very uncomfortable. Their hutch should be dry and warm, and there are many things you can do to ensure this.
Rabbits are most likely to eat their pellets during the evening and overnight hours. Providing food during this time decreases the number of unwanted behaviors (chewing, playing with water bottle) that may occur in the overnight hours.
The main component of every rabbit's diet should be fresh grass or hay (dried grass). Its high fibre content is the single most important thing in maintaining good dental and intestinal health.
There's no such thing as a rabbit eating too much hay. Rabbits' teeth grow constantly. Grazing on hay helps to keep their teeth short. If your rabbit isn't eating enough hay, it'll have to have its teeth filed down by a veterinarian.
The RSPCA Victoria states that rabbits should not be fed any pet cereals, breakfast cereals, grains, seeds, nuts, corn, bread, biscuits or beans. When given uncontrollably, such foods can be toxic to rabbits.
Grass. Rabbits love to graze and they love to eat grass so access to a garden is a must, in a secure run if possible. Otherwise, offer fresh grass a couple of times a day but never be tempted to give lawn clippings. These can ferment in the gut and cause serious, sometimes fatal complications.
The total amount of fresh food that you may give to your rabbit daily (once your bunny has been gradually introduced to it), is a minimum of 1 heaping cup (loosely packed), per 5 pound of body weight, given two times a day.
Myth #3 - Rabbits eat lettuce
Reality: a rabbit's diet shouldn't be based on lettuce. Rabbits shouldn't eat some lettuces (such as iceberg), as they contain lactucarium, which can be harmful in large quantities.
It's extremely important to contact your vet straight away if you notice your rabbit is eating less than normal. There are many different problems that could have caused your rabbit to stop eating, but some of the most common include dental disease, stress, and gut problems.
Rabbits do not have off days; their appetite, behaviours, routines, droppings etc. should all be pretty much similar from day to day, so if one day your bunny does not come rushing for it's food then it is time to get concerned!
Our 10kg Micro-bales usually last 2 bunnies around 5-6 weeks although this is difficult to say as each rabbit is different and they often waste their hay by using it as litter too.
Hay is a natural product that doesn't expire in the traditional sense of the term. When stored in the proper conditions, hay will retain its nutritional value for many months. Hay is required to feature a “freshest by” date that you will typically find on the back side of your hay packaging.
If rained-on hay is not again dried fully, mold and mycotoxin growth can occur which can put livestock health at risk. Furthermore, baled wet hay can combust due to the temperature increase caused by microbial growth - putting a producer at risk of barn fire.
Rabbits eating lots of fresh grass and greens will drink less, whilst those eating mostly hay will drink more.
Sleeping through the night
Most rabbits will go to sleep between 10-12 pm. They'll sleep until it's time to wake up in the morning and start a new day. Like afternoon nap time, many rabbits will periodically get up to stretch and eat in the middle of the night.