Wondering just what food items are rabbits’ favorite is a good sign: it means you care a lot about your pet or homestead bunnies.
Which is why we wanted to provide you with the best answers to this question about rabbit’s favorite foods, so that you can provide your bunny with a varied amount of yummy and nutritious foodstuff; read on!
Best Rabbit Diet: Bunny Favorites
When it comes to food, there are some items that rabbits love out of necessity and others that they love for pleasure.
For example, hay is any and all rabbit’s number one food out of biological necessity. High quality hay, whether it be orchard, meadow, or timothy, is an essential part of your rabbit’s diets and you’ve probably seen your bunnies munching happily on mouthful after mouthful of hay.
Biology and instincts ensure that rabbits enjoy this foodstuff so much that your bunnies will always want more.
Hay is so important for rabbits because they are obligate herbivores that require uniquely high amounts of coarse, fibrous plant material in order to satisfy their digestive and metabolic health needs.
This is why we offer our bunnies unlimited hay, knowing that with high quantities of hay in their diets (75-80% of total diet) results in healthy:
- Digestive tract
- Teeth
- Energy levels
- Nails
- Growth and development
- Fur
- Immune system
Learn more about the benefits and nutritional information of different types of hay for rabbits in our posts on Orchard vs Timothy Hay For Rabbits and Oat Hay For Rabbits.
Bunny’s Favorite Foods: Treats and Snacks
While hay is an essential and natural favorite for rabbits, they also deeply enjoy tasty treats and snack foods.
Our rabbits become almost frantic when they know we are preparing a yummy treat for them!
Now finding your rabbit’s favorite snack can be a bit tricky, as rabbits are naturally quite sensitive critters and are known for suffering from gastrointestinal stasis (GI stasis) and blockage due to their inability to digest lots of different foods.
GI issues due to ingestion of indigestible or toxic foods is, in fact, one of the most common killers of pet rabbits!
So when it comes to favorite foods of rabbits, it is best to start with some of the most tried and true treats, and conduct research and/or call your local vet before offering something new to your bunny!
Just What Do Rabbits Like As Snacks
Some of the snacks that our rabbits have loved over the years include:
- Cucumbers cubes
- Mint leaves
- Green bean pods
- Fresh Arugula
- Strawberries slices
We have a post on each one of these common rabbit snacks, look them up in our page search bar to learn more!
What Is A Bunny’s Favorite Treat
Offering our rabbits treats is one of my kids most favorite tasks because she loves to see how excited they get!
Plus, she has used rabbit-safe treats to encourage our bunnies to respond to their name and learn basic tricks, check out more of this in our post on How To Train A Rabbit To Come To You.
It is worth mentioning that we’ve never bought manufactured rabbit treats for our bunnies. We’ve found that many of them contain very questionable and unnecessary ingredients that your rabbit is much better off without, such as added oils, proteins, and preservatives.
Instead, we always opt for natural, raw fruit and veggie treats for our bunnies! They love them and we feel good knowing they are eating clean.
The most common treats we offer our bunnies include:
- Apple slices
- Kiwi fruit
- Chamomile flowers
- In season peaches
- Fresh basil
- Dark berries
The truth of the matter is this: each rabbit is an individual and their particular favorite snack or treat is going to vary from any other rabbit you have.
And we’ve been surprised by our rabbits many times. We had one doe with us who would go crazy for sage herb, which is a pretty strong aromatic herb that not many rabbits like!
Bunny’s Favorite Fruit
If you aren’t sure where to start with fruit for your rabbit, try out small amounts of these common favorite fruits:
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Bell Peppers
- Yellow Squash
Your Rabbit’s Favorite Vegetable
Again, your rabbits are bound to surprise you with what they decide their favorite veggie is. And if you need some inspiration, these are some common and seasonal vegetables that our rabbits love:
- Wheat grass
- Celery
- Sweet potato
- Spinach (in small amounts)
How To Tell When A Rabbit Likes A Certain Food
You’ll know that your bunny is enjoying the presented snack or treat because they may lick you while eating it (which is a big sign of love!) or they will spend some time sniffing and searching for more after eating it, potentially even nudging your hand, arm, or leg to ask for more.
And with time, if you build a good relationship with your bunny, once they smell their favorite treat food in the air, they will come bolting towards you to enjoy it!
This rabbit sure knows the sound of their snack!
Frequently Asked Questions Related To What Are Rabbits Favorite Foods
What Is A Rabbit’s Most Favorite Food?
A rabbit’s most favorite food truly depends on the rabbit. And that is the best part, because you get to offer your bunny different, yummy natural treats and snacks until they find their favorite!
What Are Three Things Rabbits Eat?
Three things rabbits eat without doubt are:
- High quality hay
- Fresh green herbs and veggies
- Rabbit-safe fruits
Final Thoughts On What Are Rabbits Favorite Foods
Finding your rabbit’s favorite food can be a fun bonding experience and is sure to result in joy on both ends.
And the most important thing to remember is this: treats and snacks must never become a primary part of your bunny’s diet. Although rabbits enjoy these foods, and while we encourage offering your bunnies weekly goodies, such foods cannot provide them with the necessary nutrients to remain strong, healthy and happy in the long term.
Never forget that high quality hay is truly the #1 foodstuff for all of your bunnies!