<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?><!-- generator=Zoho Sites --><rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><channel><atom:link href="https://www.rabbitsanctuary.com.au/blogs/tag/diet/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><title>The Rabbit Sanctuary - The Rabbit Sanctuary Blog #diet</title><description>The Rabbit Sanctuary - The Rabbit Sanctuary Blog #diet</description><link>https://www.rabbitsanctuary.com.au/blogs/tag/diet</link><lastBuildDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 20:31:09 +1000</lastBuildDate><generator>http://zoho.com/sites/</generator><item><title><![CDATA[Hay Variety]]></title><link>https://www.rabbitsanctuary.com.au/blogs/post/hay-variety</link><description><![CDATA[It is very important that bunnies have more than one hay type.&nbsp; Feeding a variety of hays is crucial for a rabbit's gut and dental health, primari ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zpcontent-container blogpost-container "><div data-element-id="elm_tWDudJ-wR7OBxv2Xhu1_xQ" data-element-type="section" class="zpsection "><style type="text/css"></style><div class="zpcontainer-fluid zpcontainer"><div data-element-id="elm_tJuJpRGxQZqYR4vTZiqptw" data-element-type="row" class="zprow zprow-container zpalign-items- zpjustify-content- " data-equal-column=""><style type="text/css"></style><div data-element-id="elm_niQQib7DSd-nMmRvwMH-VA" data-element-type="column" class="zpelem-col zpcol-12 zpcol-md-12 zpcol-sm-12 zpalign-self- "><style type="text/css"></style><div data-element-id="elm_vrHrbj7zR_qRDlVZDMB5Pw" data-element-type="heading" class="zpelement zpelem-heading "><style> [data-element-id="elm_vrHrbj7zR_qRDlVZDMB5Pw"].zpelem-heading { border-radius:1px; } </style><h2
 class="zpheading zpheading-align-center " data-editor="true">The Benefits of a Variety of Hays for Bunnies</h2></div>
<div data-element-id="elm_stYWkHTvQfGi83vaus7aTw" data-element-type="text" class="zpelement zpelem-text "><style> [data-element-id="elm_stYWkHTvQfGi83vaus7aTw"].zpelem-text { border-radius:1px; } </style><div class="zptext zptext-align-center " data-editor="true"><p>It is very important that bunnies have more than one hay type.&nbsp;</p><div><p style="text-align:left;font-size:16px;">Feeding a variety of hays is crucial for a rabbit's gut and dental health, primarily due to the different nutritional and physical properties of each type of hay. Grassy hays, such as Timothy, Rye Grass, and Teff Hay, are high in fiber, which is essential for maintaining a rabbit's digestive health. The high fiber content helps in the proper functioning of the gut, reducing the risk of gastrointestinal stasis, a common and serious condition in rabbits. These grassy hays are typically lower in protein and calcium, which is beneficial in preventing urinary tract issues.</p><p style="text-align:left;font-size:16px;"><br></p><p style="text-align:left;font-size:16px;">On the other hand, cereal hays like Oaten Hay or Barley Hay have a different texture and nutritional profile. They are often softer and more palatable, encouraging rabbits to eat more hay overall, which is vital for their health. The variety in texture also plays a crucial role in dental health.&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:left;font-size:16px;"><br></p><p style="text-align:left;font-size:16px;">Rabbits' teeth grow continuously, and the chewing action required for harder hays helps to wear down their teeth naturally, preventing overgrowth and dental issues.</p><p style="text-align:left;font-size:16px;"><br></p><p style="text-align:left;font-size:16px;">By offering a mix of both grassy and cereal hays, you ensure that your rabbit gets a balance of textures for teeth and gut plus essential nutrients and fiber, while also providing a variety of textures to keep their teeth in good shape.&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:left;font-size:16px;"><br></p><p style="text-align:left;font-size:16px;">This variety not only caters to their nutritional needs but also stimulates their interest in food, which is important for their overall well-being.</p></div></div>
</div><div data-element-id="elm_xZCRquBvTXeL4x6XPpQDmA" data-element-type="button" class="zpelement zpelem-button "><style> [data-element-id="elm_xZCRquBvTXeL4x6XPpQDmA"].zpelem-button{ border-radius:1px; } </style><div class="zpbutton-container zpbutton-align-center "><style type="text/css"></style><a class="zpbutton-wrapper zpbutton zpbutton-type-primary zpbutton-size-md zpbutton-style-none " href="http://www.rabbitsanctuary.com.au/shop" target="_blank" title="Top grade mixed hays"><span class="zpbutton-content">Six Hay Mix</span></a></div>
</div></div></div></div></div></div> ]]></content:encoded><pubDate>Tue, 02 Jan 2024 00:19:36 +1100</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Seeds on Hay]]></title><link>https://www.rabbitsanctuary.com.au/blogs/post/seeds-on-your-rabbit-s-hay</link><description><![CDATA[Have you ever seen or thought about the seeds on your rabbit’s hay? We all know by now that we should feed our rabbits hay but should we feed the seeds on the hay?]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zpcontent-container blogpost-container "><div data-element-id="elm_HmrVXgS6T9qaiWKJ4aMwIA" data-element-type="section" class="zpsection "><style type="text/css"></style><div class="zpcontainer-fluid zpcontainer"><div data-element-id="elm_cCM9qslkQZyk8SZzIDaEvA" data-element-type="row" class="zprow zprow-container zpalign-items- zpjustify-content- " data-equal-column=""><style type="text/css"></style><div data-element-id="elm_gSxPyr8cT0u6wR3VDDie7Q" data-element-type="column" class="zpelem-col zpcol-12 zpcol-md-12 zpcol-sm-12 zpalign-self- "><style type="text/css"> [data-element-id="elm_gSxPyr8cT0u6wR3VDDie7Q"].zpelem-col{ border-radius:1px; } </style><div data-element-id="elm_YQEB9-eNQqq4rJ2oBYkL-g" data-element-type="heading" class="zpelement zpelem-heading "><style> [data-element-id="elm_YQEB9-eNQqq4rJ2oBYkL-g"].zpelem-heading { border-radius:1px; } </style><h2
 class="zpheading zpheading-align-center " data-editor="true">Seeds on your rabbit hay</h2></div>
<div data-element-id="elm_xxW8FbpbTu6caBFHh9-93w" data-element-type="text" class="zpelement zpelem-text "><style> [data-element-id="elm_xxW8FbpbTu6caBFHh9-93w"].zpelem-text { border-radius:1px; } </style><div class="zptext zptext-align-center " data-editor="true"><p style="text-align:center;">Have you ever seen or thought about the seeds on your rabbit’s hay?&nbsp;</p></div>
</div><div data-element-id="elm_KOdYKrK8RFGZfHsU4Tdm6Q" data-element-type="button" class="zpelement zpelem-button "><style></style><div class="zpbutton-container zpbutton-align-center "><style type="text/css"></style><a class="zpbutton-wrapper zpbutton zpbutton-type-primary zpbutton-size-md " href="javascript:;" target="_blank"><span class="zpbutton-content">Get Started Now</span></a></div>
</div></div></div></div></div></div> ]]></content:encoded><pubDate>Tue, 12 Jul 2022 18:05:58 +1000</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Grass or Greens]]></title><link>https://www.rabbitsanctuary.com.au/blogs/post/grass-or-greens</link><description><![CDATA[<img align="left" hspace="5" src="https://www.rabbitsanctuary.com.au/Rabbits-Grass-Hay-Diet.jpg"/>Grass is the new greens! Read a quick note on the benefits of feeding your pet rabbit grass and a natural diet.]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zpcontent-container blogpost-container "><div data-element-id="elm_L3tABaCjTBKW663NXISGgg" data-element-type="section" class="zpsection "><style type="text/css"></style><div class="zpcontainer-fluid zpcontainer"><div data-element-id="elm_2uWTYkHaRv23X3DNHUaa3g" data-element-type="row" class="zprow zprow-container zpalign-items- zpjustify-content- " data-equal-column=""><style type="text/css"></style><div data-element-id="elm_0y4QyirbRIi2qK0WhHguMw" data-element-type="column" class="zpelem-col zpcol-12 zpcol-md-12 zpcol-sm-12 zpalign-self- "><style type="text/css"> [data-element-id="elm_0y4QyirbRIi2qK0WhHguMw"].zpelem-col{ border-radius:1px; } </style><div data-element-id="elm_Nj207F0rH4Jm6SnShQCbiA" data-element-type="image" class="zpelement zpelem-image "><style> @media (min-width: 992px) { [data-element-id="elm_Nj207F0rH4Jm6SnShQCbiA"] .zpimage-container figure img { width: 1110px ; height: 738.65px ; } } @media (max-width: 991px) and (min-width: 768px) { [data-element-id="elm_Nj207F0rH4Jm6SnShQCbiA"] .zpimage-container figure img { width:723px ; height:481.12px ; } } @media (max-width: 767px) { [data-element-id="elm_Nj207F0rH4Jm6SnShQCbiA"] .zpimage-container figure img { width:415px ; height:276.16px ; } } [data-element-id="elm_Nj207F0rH4Jm6SnShQCbiA"].zpelem-image { border-radius:1px; } </style><div data-caption-color="" data-size-tablet="" data-size-mobile="" data-align="center" data-tablet-image-separate="" data-mobile-image-separate="" class="zpimage-container zpimage-align-center zpimage-size-fit zpimage-tablet-fallback-fit zpimage-mobile-fallback-fit hb-lightbox " data-lightbox-options="
                type:fullscreen,
                theme:dark"><figure role="none" class="zpimage-data-ref"><span class="zpimage-anchor" role="link" tabindex="0" aria-label="Open Lightbox" style="cursor:pointer;"><picture><img class="zpimage zpimage-style-none zpimage-space-none " src="/Rabbits-Grass-Hay-Diet.jpg" width="415" height="276.16" loading="lazy" size="fit" data-lightbox="true" style="width:100% !important;"/></picture></span></figure></div>
</div><div data-element-id="elm_04uPXSBwhPZIv_MC5RGxjw" data-element-type="heading" class="zpelement zpelem-heading "><style> [data-element-id="elm_04uPXSBwhPZIv_MC5RGxjw"].zpelem-heading { border-radius:1px; } </style><h2
 class="zpheading zpheading-style-none zpheading-align-left " data-editor="true">Should I feed my rabbit greens, vegetables, herbs or grass?</h2></div>
<div data-element-id="elm_OhOoX6mQRnOcun2ZBTRScQ" data-element-type="text" class="zpelement zpelem-text "><style> [data-element-id="elm_OhOoX6mQRnOcun2ZBTRScQ"].zpelem-text { border-radius:1px; } </style><div class="zptext zptext-align-left " data-editor="true"><p style="text-align:left;"><span>So many people are feeding their rabbits lots of green vegetables. Many more are converting to a daily diet of hand picked, or scissor cut lawn grass. Why is this so?&nbsp;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span><br></span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span>Just have a think about the rabbit in his or her natural habitat in the wild. Ask yourself to visualise this natural environment and what plants you see growing. Let's close our eyes and think... We see grasses and seeding grasses of one or perhaps two kinds, bark, leaves that have fallen from trees, some fresh and some dried by the sun and wind. We see twigs and fallen branches. We may see some natural growing shrubs or weeds such as dandelions or seasonally perhaps wild berries. The natural, fresh seeds on the grasses are not the same as the dried, treated seeds used in rabbit mixes but rather they are a living food, part of the grass itself.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><br></p><p style="text-align:left;"><img src="/IMG_1616.JPG" alt="House rabbits need grass. Hand pick lawn grasses." style="text-align:center;width:346px;height:246px;"><br></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span><br></span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span>In this natural rabbit environment what don't we see? Again, close your eyes and what do you not see? We don't see green vegetables, nor carrots or any other vegetable do we? No.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span><br></span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span>We could come to the conclusion that perhaps rabbits are meant to eat the grasses, bushes and weeds, leaves and native plants that they find as they explore outside their burrows and perhaps not the 'greens' that most vets and internet advisors are recommending.</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span>Eating grass and a soft and a hard fresh top grade hay will not only help your bunny to have a natural diet but will give his teeth a lot of exercise and grinding down which will lessen the risk of 'spurs' forming on his or her teeth.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span><br></span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span>We can also save money by feeding our bunnies grasses. Simply leave a section of your lawn &nbsp;for the bunnies and water daily. Cut enough each day with a pair of scissors. If you provide an unlimited supply of fresh, top grade hays such as oaten hay and Timothy hay then your bunny will be eating&nbsp;<em style="font-weight:inherit;">ala naturale</em>&nbsp;and your wallet will be fatter.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span><br></span></p><p><span style="color:inherit;"></span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span>One thing is sure, if we stop feeding Coles bought green vegetables and feed the bunnies their natural plant and grass based diet we would be feeding them as nature intended.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><span><br></span></p></div>
</div><div data-element-id="elm_HFb6mwEqC8gLAKXSGYqMbQ" data-element-type="imageheadingtext" class="zpelement zpelem-imageheadingtext "><style> @media (min-width: 992px) { [data-element-id="elm_HFb6mwEqC8gLAKXSGYqMbQ"] .zpimageheadingtext-container figure img { width: 500px ; height: 333.89px ; } } @media (max-width: 991px) and (min-width: 768px) { [data-element-id="elm_HFb6mwEqC8gLAKXSGYqMbQ"] .zpimageheadingtext-container figure img { width:500px ; height:333.89px ; } } @media (max-width: 767px) { [data-element-id="elm_HFb6mwEqC8gLAKXSGYqMbQ"] .zpimageheadingtext-container figure img { width:500px ; height:333.89px ; } } [data-element-id="elm_HFb6mwEqC8gLAKXSGYqMbQ"].zpelem-imageheadingtext{ border-radius:1px; } </style><div data-size-tablet="" data-size-mobile="" data-align="left" data-tablet-image-separate="" data-mobile-image-separate="" class="zpimageheadingtext-container zpimage-with-text-container zpimage-align-left zpimage-size-medium zpimage-tablet-fallback-medium zpimage-mobile-fallback-medium hb-lightbox " data-lightbox-options="
            type:fullscreen,
            theme:dark"><figure role="none" class="zpimage-data-ref"><span class="zpimage-anchor" role="link" tabindex="0" aria-label="Open Lightbox" style="cursor:pointer;"><picture><img class="zpimage zpimage-style-none zpimage-space-none " src="/IMG_6615.JPG" data-src="/IMG_6615.JPG" width="500" height="333.89" loading="lazy" size="medium" data-lightbox="true"/></picture></span></figure><div class="zpimage-headingtext-container"><h3 class="zpimage-heading zpimage-text-align-left " data-editor="true">A Blade of Grass - Why is it special for your rabbit?</h3><div class="zpimage-text zpimage-text-align-left " data-editor="true"><p><span style="font-size:18px;color:rgb(1, 58, 81);">This is a blade of GRASS, enlarged many times. The jagged edges are specialised structures called PHYTOLITHS. Grasses make this from the SILICA they absorb from soil. Not all species produce these daggers, some distribute phytoliths throughout their leaves, basically housing tiny granules of GLASS. Funny as it may sound, but grasses produce this as protection against being eaten! Not only is grass high in fibre, but these phytoliths are like SANDPAPER for your bunnies teeth.&nbsp;</span><br></p></div>
</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div> ]]></content:encoded><pubDate>Wed, 02 Sep 2020 17:59:56 +1000</pubDate></item></channel></rss>