Fresh grass is a major component of every bunny’s diet. It is high in fiber, which helps a lot in ensuring and maintaining good intestinal and dental health for your rabbit. Without fiber, your pet’s digestive tract can’t move the food through the intestines.
Also, your bunny’s teeth will never wear down. Since they grow continuously, these long teeth may end up growing painfully.
If your pet’s daily diet is not mainly comprised of grass, then it’s about time to change that. In this case, you must introduce grass slowly to your pet. That is highly recommendable if your pet will be eating grass for the first time.
Thus, you should limit the time for grazing or the quantity of grass you will be giving to your pet. You may build up the quantity of grass you give until the bunny gains the ability to eat more grass.
The grass is Good for a Bunny
A rabbit is an herbivore, so it feeds mainly on plants. It will naturally graze on the fresh grass. Since your pet has a sensitive digestive tract, it is important to feed it with hay and grass. Grass helps a lot in moving food along the rabbit’s gut.
Feeding your pet grass and gay is close to its natural diet. If the rabbit can’t stay outdoors, then just get some grass, put it in a bowl, and offer to your pet. Surely, it will have fun the next time you allow it to graze indoors.
If you haven’t tried feeding your pet with grass, then you must introduce it slowly to your pet each day. Forcing the rabbit to eat grass may lead to diarrhea. Whatever the situation is, dietary changes for your bunny must be done gradually. Sudden diet changes may begin stomach issues. In the long run, you may either increase the amount of grass you give or extend the feeding time.
Likewise, you should observe closely the poop droppings of your pet. Since grass is rich in fiber, the feces of a rabbit may become softer than they should be. Limit the grass intake of your pet if ever you find its poop droppings too soft.
Other Possible Benefits of Grass on Rabbits
When magnified, the grass blades can have small and sharp edges. While your pet eats grass, the edges will work like sandpapers for the teeth of your bunny. When you feed it with grass, your pet’s teeth will stop growing.
While you can provide your pet with things it can chew on, such as crunchy foods and wooden toys, the grass is still crucial for this animal. The grass is healthy for a rabbit. It contains selenium, calcium, and iron. The grass is cellulose, so it is no doubt a reliable source of fiber for the grazing animals like cows and goats and even for your rabbits.
Is Grass the Same with Hay?
Hay is a combination of legumes, grass, and some other plants. These cut and dry plants are great for grazing animals like horses, cows, sheep, and goats. Aside from that, hay is a vital part of a healthy diet for rabbits.
The grass is a good plant that has oval-shaped leaves. This is freshly grown and easily available for rabbits. The grass should be natural and untreated for the safety of your pet.
So, allow your rabbit to eat the growing grass at your backyard, provided that it was not treated with fertilizers or chemicals. If you do not have a yard, then you may grow some grass using pots indoors. Whatever the option is, always make sure the grass is organic and safe for your pet.
Types of Grass Available
Any kind of grass that goats, horses, or sheep can eat is also good for your bunny. As said before, make sure the grass you will be giving to your pet is not treated with fertilizers or chemicals. You may grow grass from seeds that you can buy from a plant store.
Some rabbit keepers fill a tray with dirt and sow the small grass seeds. The grass is a fast-growing plant, so you won’t find it hard to obtain. Cut and give the grass to your pet.
Keep on seeding the used tray for a consistent supply. Don’t allow your pet to enter the tray where the grass grows. This way, the rabbit will not develop the habit of getting into it to poop.
Feel free to do some experiments with other seeds. These are the best types of grass to grow for your bunny:
- Blackberry
- Brambles
- Flat grass
- Carpet grass
- Orchardgrass
- Clover
- Thistle
- Bermuda grass
- Dandelion grass
Things to Remember in Feeding a Rabbit with Grass
As a rabbit owner, you know how sensitive the tummy of your pet is. When it comes to feeding a rabbit, you need to be very careful with everything you’re trying to offer. You must be very attentive in feeding your pet as you have to know what it eats and what it doesn’t. When it comes to grass, take note of these do’s and don’ts to ensure your pet’s safety and overall wellbeing.
Do’s
- When allowing your pet to wander outdoors, be sure to keep an eye on the animal. Never allow your pet to be on its own. Be sure you’re watching what the rabbit eats and gain access to.
- When you have clean and pesticide-free grass, then it will be safe and healthy for the rabbit. Feel free to allow your pet to eat grass whenever if feels like munching and grazing on it.
- Like other foods that you can feed to your bunny, start introducing grass to your diet little by little. If you see your pet is not eating grass or it caused your pet to have an upset tummy, stop giving grass to the animal as soon as possible.
- If your pet seems to enjoy it whenever you feed it with grass, then why not try giving it as a treat? To do it, just clip the grass then keep it in the easily accessible area for you and the rabbit. You may give the grass to your bunny in small amounts several times during the day.
Don’ts
- Don’t allow your bunny to roam freely when you use pesticides or any kind of insect or plant killer. With a sensitive stomach, a rabbit can get sick too quickly and die from eating anything it should not consume.
- Besides, don’t allow your pet feed on the clippings collected by the lawnmower. The heat produced by the machine may encourage grass fermentation that may lead your pet to diseases.
- Don’t replace Timothy hay with grass. You must have your pet eat hay daily. Timothy hay is rich in fiber, so it promotes good digestive health. While the teeth of a rabbit are growing continuously, allowing your bunny to chew hay helps in keeping these long teeth in good shape. So, don’t remove Timothy grass in your pet’s daily diet. Just add clean, untreated grass to the meal plan.
Conclusion
As you can see, the grass is a great food to offer to your bunny. For as long as you ensure the grass is safe and organic, your pet can enjoy and eat as much as it can without getting into trouble.
