A Happy Hutch and a Healthy Tummy: Rabbit Diet and Environment Essentials
It is no wonder that Rabbits are the UK’s third most popular pet, with their soft fur, twitching noses and adorable long floppy ears! However, did you know that they are also the most misunderstood pet? Rabbit Awareness Week aims to improve rabbits’ welfare by raising awareness about their needs and promoting responsible ownership. In partnership with RAW 2025 we are also sharing tips on how to give your bun the best life!
Diet: What Should I Feed My Rabbit:
Wild bunnies feed on highly fibrous foods such as, grasses, wildflowers and vegetable plants which keeps their digestive system and teeth healthy. We should be trying to replicate this diet as much as possible.
What to Feed:
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HAY, HAY, HAY: Hay should be 80-90% of a rabbit’s diet, it is high in fibre which is essential for gut health and preventing gastro intestinal issues. It also Promotes dental health as it encourages rabbits to regularly chew. Hay also encourages natural foraging behaviours and keeps rabbits mentally active. We recommend Burgess Excel Feeding Hay.
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Nuggets/pellets: Pellets should be fed to your rabbits daily. Your rabbit should have around 25g of pellets per kg of body weight. Nuggets prevent selective feeding and maintain digestive health. We recommend Burgess Excel Tasty Nuggets as they are filled with prebiotics and have the perfect blend of fibre.
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Fresh Greens and Water: Rabbits need a daily handful of safe, leafy greens and ideally 5–6 varieties like kale, cabbage, or broccoli. Fresh, clean water must always be available. While they can drink from drip bottles, most rabbits prefer heavy ceramic bowls.
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Healthy Treats: Treats Provide additional nourishment and mental stimulation by encouraging foraging. Ways you can encourage foraging is by hiding treats in their hay.
Say No to Muesli: Research has linked muesli style foods to life-threatening dental and digestive problems in rabbits. Muesli based diets encourage selective based feeding in which rabbits will chose to eat the sweeter/starch-based pellets and leave the fibrous less sugary pellets. This means that they are not getting their full nutritional requirement
Gut Stasis in Rabbits:
Gastro-Intestinal stasis is a life threatening condition in rabbits where the digestive system slows down or food stops moving through their gut. Gut Stasis is caused by a diet low in fibre and stress, this is why a happy home and a healthy diet is essential for your bunnies health.
Signs of Gut Stasis:
- Decreased/no appetite
- No faecal pellets
- Lethargy
- Abdominal Discomfort
Gut Stasis can be dangerous for your rabbit and it is important that if you recognise any of these signs, you seek veterinary help.
Housing: How to Create a Happy Hutch:
Wild rabbits have the freedom to roam and live with other rabbits as a colony, grazing continuously yet 46% of pet rabbits spend 11-23 hours a day in their hutch –PDSA 2022. Your rabbits housing is one of the most important factors in ensuring they’re happy and healthy.
What to Do:
- Space: In the wild, rabbits roam freely, so it’s vital they have plenty of space at home too. Their housing should be permanently attached to a larger area where they can exercise day and night.
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Shelter: Rabbits need a spacious hutch, whether indoors or connected to an outdoor run. For outdoor rabbits, the hutch must be predator-proof, weather-resistant, and well-ventilated. It should include soft, safe bedding and secure hideaways where they can feel safe and sheltered.
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Enrichment: Bunnies get bored really easily and so enrichment is really important, things like tunnels, hiding places, hay balls and foraging boxes all work well as they mentally stimulate your rabbit and encourage natural foraging behaviours.
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Companions: In the wild rabbits live in colonies, they are not a lone species. Your rabbit should live in a group or at least a pair. They are very sociable animals and it is important they have a companion.
- A Litter Tray: Rabbits require a separate area from where they sleep to go to the toilet. This should be a bunny safe litter such as newspaper and/or non-expanding rabbit litter.
How Often Should I Clean Out My Rabbits Hutch:
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Daily: You should give your rabbits hutch a quick clean everyday, this should include throwing out any uneaten food and water and re-filling with fresh food and water. If they have a litter tray this should be cleaned as well.
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Weekly: Once a week you should give the housing a thorough clean, removing all bedding and replacing it.
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Monthly: Once a month you should be giving the housing a Deep Clean, this is where you take everything out, scrub everything with a Pet-Safe disinfectant, then replace the bedding and fresh hay.
Our Smith’s Recommended Rabbit Essentials:
This Rabbit Awareness Week, let’s give our bunnies the care they truly deserve. From healthy diets to spacious, stimulating environments, small changes can make a big difference in their health and happiness. Whether you’re a new rabbit owner or simply looking to improve your setup, now’s the perfect time to learn, grow, and hop forward. For expert tips and rabbit care essentials, visit Smith’s Pets, because every bunny deserves a better life.
