I know we've domesticated rabbits but why cant rabbits eat grass? When i was a child we had rabbits running free on our lawn eating as much grass as they wanted they were healthy happy rabbits they had a large shed to get away from unreasonable weather. Now as im thinking of getting a couple of rabbits for my daughter it says they should live there life in a hutch or penned in and all it says is to feed hay. I just don't get what the difference is now to 20years ago? Surely its better that they have lots of room and eat the most natural thing to them?

Mine did! Just steer clear of anywhere the dog may have had a wee,or anywhere weed killer could have been

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Where are you getting this info from?

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Where ever you got that info its rubbish. Rabbits can eat as much grass as they want, hay and grass is the best thing for them. Only time grass shouldn't be given is if its cut grass from the lawnmower (it starts to ferment almost instantly and can cause a bad belly) but grass pulled from the ground or the rabbit eating straight from the lawn is fine.

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Id burn whatever book that is. What awful info.

Grass is perfectly acceptable, you just have to slowly build the amount they can eat.

The ideal diet for a rabbit is about 70-80% good quality, long strand hay, a small handful of a good quality pellet mix and a selection of fresh foods, with something given every day.

For a pair of rabbits a 6ft x 2ft x 2ft hutch is the minimum requirements, with daily access to a decent sized run (6ft by 6ft min imo) for at least 4 hours.

Personally, i feed mine a high fresh food/grass diet and ive never had a problem. I just start them off on a small amount and gradually increase it. Never had a rabbit with the runs, never had dental problems.

Grass clippings should be avoided, as should grass from next to roads etc.

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this didnt ring true to me either, mine would all be very ill as they go out almost every day for about 8/9hours, on the grass. :-)

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Laura x



Not forgetting.... New Additions



R.I.P - Dave 22.2.11 - i gave you the best year of your short lived life, I'll never forget you you naughty bun! Binky Free x x x

Oh good, its all over breeders websites/internet & my sister brought a rabbit from not cuts who advised her not to feed it grass! I want to be able to have the rabbit free in my garden during the day and he/she can go in his hutch at night. I have a huge garden brick wall all around and a solid wooden gate, so there's small chance of escape. Obviously for the first few days I will keep it refined to cage till they settle & get used to me then is gradually like to give them the whole garden.
Thanx for your help guys.

Ugh, i worked for Notcutts for years. The advice they give is appalling, and completely false.
We were told during a training session, that rabbits can live on a pellet only diet! No hay, no fresh food.

Sounds like you can provide a wonderful home. Rabbits are best off in mixed neutered pairs though, as they are highly social animals.

And dont forget vaccinations.

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I am just a worthless liar.
I am just an imbecile.
I will only complicate you.
Trust in me and fall as well.
I will find a center in you.
I will chew it up and leave,
I will work to elevate you
just enough to bring you down

Some people think that you can only feed rabbits pellets/ dogs dog food no meat etc. Generally people who run the animal food companies strange that. Rabbits do perfectly well on grass. It or hay should be the majority of their diet. Rabbits need a lot of out of cage/hutch exercise at least three hours a day. Free ranging them in your garden with shelter and making sure it's secure should be a great home for them.

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Owned by Buster cairn terrier mix and Leo netherland dwarf mix bunny

. We got our first rabbit yesterday a French lop x dwarf. The plan is to introduce another 1 at the weekend, for the time being she will stay in the hutch till she gets used to us and I'm going to give her grass everyday, then I shall attach a run to the hutch & make it bigger & bigger until there free.
Yes I am getting them vaccinated & etc got to get xeno anyway as I think she's got fleas. Probably panacur her too.
The hutch has also got insect netting over the mesh to keep the nasty flies out.