What’s the best food for Mini Lop rabbits? What vegetables and herbs can my rabbits eat? Can my rabbits eat fruit? How much should I feed my Mini Lop rabbits? What should I not feed my Mini Lops? We all want the best for our beloved bunny buddies, which is why asking lots of questions about what nutrition your Mini
7th July 2023
What’s the best food for Mini Lop rabbits? What vegetables and herbs can my rabbits eat? Can my rabbits eat fruit? How much should I feed my Mini Lop rabbits? What should I not feed my Mini Lops?
We all want the best for our beloved bunny buddies, which is why asking lots of questions about what nutrition your Mini Lops need to be happy and healthy is a great way to start caring for these wonderful animals, who have surprisingly delicate digestions.
In the wild, bunnies foraging in meadows like to munch on weeds, grasses, wildflowers, and flower and vegetable plants. These foods are naturally high in fibre, which keeps their digestive system functioning properly, and also helps to wear down their continuously growing teeth. Our pet bunnies, who enjoy roaming our homes and gardens, benefit from eating a diet which is similar to that of their wild cousins.
With this in mind, when it comes to choosing the best food for Mini Lop rabbits, the ideal bunny diet should consist of rabbit-safe foods that are high in fibre for a healthy digestion, contain a carefully formulated balance of nutrients, and have no artificial colours or flavours.
Can I feed muesli to my Mini Lops?
Avoid the temptation of adding colourful muesli-style mixes to your Mini Lop rabbit food – these are designed to appeal to humans rather than rabbits. While pet owners may think they’re buying a nutritious blend of tasty nibbles, feeding a muesli mix to rabbits can result in all sorts of health problems including dental disease, obesity and, potentially, gut statis, a deadly condition in which the digestive system slows down or stops completely.
Burgess in-house vet, Dr Suzanne Moyes, explains: “This is because, when fed a muesli-style diet, rabbits will often selectively feed. Selective feeding is when rabbits pick out the high starch and sugary elements of their food and leave behind the high-fibre parts. This leads to rabbits eating an unbalanced diet which can result in poor health. That’s why we developed and continue to use our expertise to produce the best foods for all rabbits.”
What should my Mini Lop rabbits' diet look like?
When planning your Mini Lops’ food chart, their daily feeding plan should consist of a carefully balanced mix of rabbit food, feeding hay, pellets and treats. It's important to provide the right quantity of food to ensure they receive the right nutrients and don't overindulge.
How much should I feed my Mini Lop rabbits?
- 85% – 90% unlimited grazed grass (not grass cuttings) orhigh-quality feeding hay (not bedding hay, which may have poor nutritional value). As a guide, provide each rabbit with at least their own body size in feeding hay every day.
- A small handful ofrabbit-safe leafy greens, vegetables and herbs.
- Pelleted Junior & Dwarf rabbit food – around one egg cup a day per rabbit. Rabbit nuggets help ensure your buns get all the vital vitamins and minerals they need.
- Constant access to fresh water – provide a bottle and a bowl of fresh water daily – lapping from a bowl is more natural to rabbits, but bowls may be knocked over, so a bottle is a good back-up.
- Some yummy, healthy rabbit treats can also be part of your Mini Lop food chart These are great for training and hand feeding, helping you to build your bond with your bunny chums. What bun could resist a Forage & Feast hay bar topped with Cornflower, Marigold or Rose? Or how about some irresistible Nature Snacks such as Fruity Feasts with banana and blueberry, Herby Hearts with mixed herbs and apple, or Meadow Munchies with dandelion and chamomile!
DID YOU KNOW?
Mini Lops are friendly and affectionate and are only one of the few rabbit breeds that enjoy being petted and cuddled. However, when angry, they will stamp their hind feet, especially when their meal is late or when strangers enter their territory!
Help to keep your Mini Lops calm and contended by feeding them with Burgess Excel Junior & Dwarf Nuggets with Mint. This high-quality recipe has been formulated by vets to ensure it contains the right balance of vitamins and minerals.
Fun games to play with your pet rabbits
What vegetables and herbs can my Mini Lop rabbits eat?
A selection of rabbit-safe leafy greens – a handful per day, per bunny – will feature highly on your Mini Lops’ favourite food list, adding variety to a well-planned Mini Lop rabbit diet. Ideal vegetables and herbs include:
- Broccoli
- Fennel
- Parsley
- Coriander
- Rocket
- Carrot tops
- Cauliflower leaves
- Mange tout
- Kale
- Mint
- Romaine lettuce
- Leaves from dandelions, hazel, willow or apple trees
Rabbits don’t naturally eat root vegetables, so carrots are generally best avoided. Rabbit Welfare, a charitable organisation that works to ensure all pet rabbits in the UK are cared for with understanding, insight and kindness, has a comprehensive list of recommended vegetables and herbs.
DID YOU KNOW?
The way you feed your Mini Lop rabbits is also important as buns love to snuffle around for titbits. So, rather than putting their nuggets in a bowl, place them around their enclosure, in their tunnels, in paper bags, cardboard loo rolls or under some hay, to encourage their natural urge to go foraging.
Mix and match different hay varieties to keep your Mini Lops' rabbit diet interesting - British Meadow Feeding Hay (which comes in a recyclable cardboard box), top quality Timothy hay and sweet-smelling Hay with Hedgerow Herbs (rated five stars by customers), or Green Harvest Hay, the extra green, first cut meadow feeding hay, and classic favourites such as Hay with Dandelion and Marigold and ultra-chewable Long Stem Feeding Hay.
Add to the foraging fun by mixing in some Luscious Leaves with your Mini Lops' rabbit food – containing dandelion leaves, nettle leaves, red clover and ribwort – or Wildflower Forage – made with a delectable blend of rose, hibiscus, marigold and cornflower.
Help your bunnies stay in great shape with these exercises for rabbits >>
What fruits can my Mini Lop rabbits eat?
While your bunnies can enjoy some fruit as part of their Mini Lop rabbit diet, only give them a little bit such as a couple of strawberries or a slice of apple occasionally. This is because rabbits don’t naturally eat fruit, which is generally high in sugar, and eating too much can lead to tubby bunnies.
Safe fruits that can be included in your Mini Lop rabbits‘ diet include:
- Apples – not the pips, they’re poisonous
- Bananas
- Kiwi fruit
- Melon
- Pears
- Plums
- Strawberries
DID YOU KNOW?
Although rabbit nuggets only make up 5% of your Mini Lop rabbits’ diet, they play a vital role in making sure your bunnies get all the vitamins and minerals they need, such as vitamins A and C to support the immune system, vitamin D3 to support bone and dental health, zinc for healthy skin and coat, iron to support the blood, and copper for nerve function.
What should I not feed my Mini Lop rabbits?
There are a few items that are classed as unsafe food for Mini Lop rabbits and therefore should be avoided altogether. These include:
- Rabbit muesli – Two years of research at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Edinburgh, linked muesli style foods to life-threatening dental and digestive problems in rabbits.
- Sweet treats – Some treats that are marketed as rabbit food – such as milk-based yoghurt drops or sticks of sweetened cereals – can contribute to obesity and tooth decay.
- Lettuce – Some types of lettuce, such as iceberg, contain lactucarium, which can be harmful to rabbits in large quantities. Light-coloured lettuce varieties are high in water, have very little nutritional value and will just give your rabbits the runs.
- Avocado – It’s very fatty and should never be included in your Mini Lop rabbits’ diet.
- Chard – It’s a leafy green but not one that rabbits can tolerate, causing colic and bloating.
- Grass cuttings – Rabbits should be given unlimited access to steadily graze on fresh grass, just as they would in the wild, but a pile of grass cuttings can be very harmful to them.
- Rhubarb – This common garden plant can be poisonous to animals if eaten raw.
- Bread, pasta and crackers – High-carb foods can cause series stomach issues if they're included in your Mini Lops' rabbit food.
- Nuts – All nuts are high in fat, not fibre, and will give your rabbits extremely uncomfortable indigestion.
If you’re not sure whether something’s safe for your rabbits to eat, it’s best avoided.
Why should I choose Burgess Excel rabbit food for my Mini Lop rabbits?
The Burgess Excel rabbit range is made at our own factory in Yorkshire, using only the best ingredients and UK-grown grass. Plus, it’s easy to order online, with free delivery over £25.
Because a rabbit’s digestive system is so delicate, moving them from one food to another has to be done very carefully, requiring a transition period of 14-28 days. If you’re at all unsure about your Mini Lop rabbits' diet or have any concerns about specific nutritional requirements, ask your local veterinary practice for advice.
You can also call our expert team, available 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday, on +44 (0)1405 862241 who’ll be happy to help. Alternatively, use our online contact form to get in touch.
Are your bunnies Burgess bunnies? Join the Burgess Pet Club for exclusive offers and rewards.
You can also sign up to the Excel Bunny Base – a safe Facebook community for rabbit guardians that are looking for advice and friendly discussions from likeminded owners – and there are lots of cute bunny photos and videos!
CARE MORE Find lots of useful advice on caring for all your pets from Burgess, the pet experts. Training, nutrition, grooming and general care, it's all here
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