Encouraging your Rabbit to eat more Hay

Rabbits make wonderful pets and can be our companions for many years. With the right care and handling you can encourage your rabbit to be friendly, enjoying time on your lap to be stroked or groomed. Most rabbits simply adore hay and will eat it constantly all day long, however some bunnies just don't seem to want to eat it. Your rabbit's diet should consist of about 80% hay, so if he isn't eating it, it can cause problems such as overgrown teeth and a slow digestive transit. It's important to encourage him to start eating his hay as it will help to keep him fit and well.

The first thing to establish is whether he is just being fussy about his hay, or if there is some medical condition that is preventing him from eating it. If his teeth are already overgrown then it may be painful for him to eat it and this may be why he is not showing any interest in it. Visit your vet first and make sure your rabbit is not ill. If he's not eating any food, not just the hay, then there could well be something wrong with your rabbit's health.

Your rabbit may be ignoring his hay because he is filling up on his dry food. His dry food will be tasty, but it doesn't have the high fibre content of hay. If your rabbit is happily eating a lot of dry food and ignoring his hay, then try cutting down on the dry food. Around 50g of dry food per day should be about the right amount for an adult rabbit.

Pick a good quality hay. Not all hays are the same. Timothy hay is the tastiest and best hay for your rabbit and so it's the one that is most likely to tempt him into eating it. It's not too dusty either. Avoid cheap hay, it will be dustier, have less fibre and be less tasty for your rabbit. Some hays are best suited for sheep and cattle and don't have the right balance of nutrients for rabbits. Choose Timothy hay and you know you're giving your rabbit the best hay possible. Also think about where you are putting the hay. If you're putting it in a rack on the wall of his hutch, try putting it on the floor of the hutch instead. Rabbits like to sit on their hay and chew on it while they rest. They also like to eat it while they are in their toilet area. It may seem odd to you to put food in your rabbits toilet area but do give it a go if you want to encourage your rabbit to eat more hay.

Rabbits love to play so incorporating some hay into your games will grab his attention and he will hopefully want to eat it while he plays.

Timothy hay is very tempting for rabbits, but if he still doesn't seem interested you could try adding a little something extra to it such as some fresh vegetables. Mix them in well and he'll eat the hay while he's eating his treats.