Do rabbits need nuggets, and are they good?
Yes. Bunnies need nuggets unless you are willing to go the extra mile to ensure the foods you offer have all the essential nutrients and in their required proportion.
For starters, rabbit pellets or nuggets are energy-dense commercial bunny foods with balanced protein (all essential amino acids), essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals extruded using pellet mill or press. Unlike muesli diets, they are hay-based
While it is possible for your rabbit food without pellets or nuggets, it needs carefully selecting the hay and veggies feed on since weather, where, and how they are grown does influence their composition.
In some cases, hay, veggies, and fruit treats may lack the necessary nutrients vital to these pet’s optimum health. Therefore, it is wise to give them a limited amount of pellets together with unlimited hay and fresh drinking water as well as limited grees or veggies.
Finally, commercial bunnies kept for meat and fur often eat a lot more nuggets to foster fast growth and weight gain. However, your pet bunny or house rabbits don’t require a lot if you want them to live long and remain healthy.
Timothy grass vs. alfalfa pellets for rabbits
Alfalfa based rabbit pellets are energy-dense and high in proteins, fats, calcium, and nutrients but lower in fiber than those made using grassy hay like timothy.
Therefore, they are suitable for growing bunnies aged up to seven months that require more proteins and calcium for muscle and bone formation as they gain weight.
Similarly, sick, underweight, lactating or pregnant bunnies require alfalfa nuggets together with hay and veggies.
On the other hand, timothy hay-based nuggets are lower higher in fiber but lower in calcium and proteins. They also have the ideal nutritional balance for adult bunnies.
Choosing the best hay
With promotion terms such as complete diet, gourmet, fortified with vitamins, all-natural ingredients, premium, or select quality, picking the right brand may be very challenging. However, once you decide if you need alfalfa or timothy hay-based, here are vital guidelines:
1. Ingredients and nutritional analysis
Ingredients and nutritional analysis are key, determining if any specific nugget brand is ideal for your furry critters or not.
Usually, ingredients are listed with the most abundant first, while those in small quantities are listed as the last one. Therefore, this should give you a glimpse of the best brands to buy.
On the other hand, a guaranteed analysis will let you know how much of each of the vital nutrients like proteins, fats, carbs, calcium, and so on, as well as fiber amounts.
2. Fiber content
Their fiber should not be less than 18%, with typical values being 20-25%, especially for neutered bunnies or if you want to minimize hairballs. Fiber, especially one with long strands found in grassy hays, is essential in ensuring a healthy gut and motility while reducing the chances of GI stasis.
3. Protein amounts
They should low in protein, typically 12-14%. However, if these foods are young bunnies or those with long fur-like Angora or Jersey Wooleys, they should have about 16% proteins.
Larger breeds (like Flemish, Checkered Giant), lactating, nursing may also require higher proteins. However, not that very high protein will increase ammonia in their waste, strain their organs, slow gut motility, and increase urine production.
On the other hand, too little protein may affect growth, tissue regeneration, and micronutrient absorption.
4. Calcium, fats, vitamins content
Calcium content should be below 1%, about 0.6%-1% and phosphorus between 0.4–0.8 percent with ideal calcium to phosphorus ratio 1.5-2:1
Fats should be at most 3% but ideally 1-1.5%. Higher amounts, together with carbs, may cause obesity and stomach upsets or troubles.
Finally, vitamin A should 6000-10000 IU/kg, Vitamin D 800-1200 IU/kg, Vitamin E 40-70 mg/kg.
5. No whole seeds, real dried fruits, grains or kibbles
Some bunny pellets have added seeds, crunchy puffs, nuts, dried foods, carrots, and colored pieces of fatty or starches foods, which increase the volumes of digestible fats and carbs while keeping low fiber. They may cause cecal flora imbalance or cecal dysbiosis that will result in poopy butt syndrome where mushy feces cakes on their rear.
6. Avoid muesli cereals
Muesli diets are bright-colored grain-based foods. They may have corn, pea flakes, oats, milo, sunflower seeds, peanuts, puffed corns, cornflakes, popcorns, dried fruit, locust beans, among other ingredients. These foods are high in calories, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins but low in fiber.
In most cases, they are bound with honey, very appealing, and branded as mineral or vitamin-enriched. Mueslix cereals are not suitable to bunnies as they are likely to cause cecal dysbiosis, dental problems, obesity. Furthermore, they may lock essential nutrients rabbits need.
Finally, these pets may selectively eat some cereals and ignore nuggets, which are nutrient fortified, creating a risk of nutritional deficiencies.
7. Price or cost
Expensive doesn’t always mean better. Compare the prices of various brands to see if you can make a saving.
8. Other consideration
Besides the above, a good brand:
- Should have less dust
- Shouldn’t have any artificial additives or preservatives
- Come with feeding instruction.
- Be low in calories
- Specific to breed or age group such as for adults, long-haired, growing juniors, and so on.
If you are unable to decide on which nugget brands to buy, call your vet for assistance or advice.
Best rabbit pellets or nuggets for adult or maintenance review
If you have adult rabbits aged between 1 and 5 years, they need a nutritionally balanced maintenance diet lower in proteins and calcium. Furthermore, it should not be calorie-dense to avoid weight gain or obesity.
Below are the best adult bunny nuggets for adult rabbits. In our reviews, we did not include many ‘popular brands’ that have nuts, seeds or grains, real dried fruits, carrots, and so on.
1. Oxbow Animal Health Bunny Basics Essentials Adult Rabbit Pet Food timothy hay-based
Topping the list of the best rabbit pellets is Oxbow Animal Health Bunny Basics Essentials Adult food. This premium, highly rated, and voted brands by vets and users is simply the best option for not only your bunnies but also chinchillas and guinea pigs.
This rabbit feed is timothy hay-based and has been enriched with various nutrients to benefit your pets maximally.
Key benefits
- This food is fiber-rich, thanks to the hay and soy products. Furthermore, soy products are a source of balanced proteins and healthy fats, while wheat is its source of energy.
- All the nuggets have a uniform size and color to prevent selectively. Furthermore, it doesn’t have fruits, seeds, or colored bits that are high in carbs and also promote selective feeding and other health issues.
- No added sugars or refined ingredients like dextrose, corn syrup, or glucose, which often cause GI, obesity, and dental problems.
- It is formulated in consultation with nutritionists and vets to ensure it provides all the essential nutrients.
- It has beneficial antioxidants, chelated minerals (to make absorption easier) and prebiotics (food for good gut bacteria) to promote a healthy gut.
Your rabbits will love this food, and it will support a healthy digestive system. However, like any other brand, don’t forget to provide unlimited hay and clean water while limiting on veggies.
2. Small Pet Select Rabbit Food timothy hay Pellets
Small Pet Select Rabbit Food Pellets is, without a doubt, one of the highest quality timothy hay-based made using only the best ingredients. You have a choice of buying the 5, 9.5, 10, or 12-pound package.
Key features
- Being timothy hay-based, it is high in fiber but low in calcium and calories – just what adult bunnies need.
- During milling, it is fortified with nutrients to ensure it has all the essential nutrients that rabbits require.
- Small Pet Select uses present year hay crops, making their pellets freshest and healthiest.
- Many veterinarians recommend it, i.e., it is their favorite choice.
- It is well packaged and has no nuts.
3. Kaytee Timothy Complete Rabbit Food Nuggets
When it comes to pet food and products, Kaytee is a household name with many excellent quality products backed with their long experience, nutritionists, and veterinary experts. You can trust Kaytee Timothy Complete Rabbit Food if you need bunny nuggets.
Key benefits
- They are made with long-fiber hand-selected timothy hay, making them ideal for the gut as well as dental health. The high fiber will improve digestion.
- They are fortified with vitamins and minerals to ensure your rabbit gets all the nutrients they require.
- To support healthy gut flora, Kaytee adds prebiotics and probiotics.
- They don’t have sugary fruits or loose fruits.
Buying this brand guarantees your bunny’s longevity and good health since animal nutritional experts back their development. Also, many vets recommend it.
4. Sherwood Pet Health Adult Rabbit Food – Alfalfa/Timothy Blend
Sherwood Pet Health Adult Rabbit Food – Alfalfa/Timothy Blend is a superior and premium quality brand that most rabbits, even the very pickest ones, will enjoy eating.
Key benefits
- They are made with a blend of timothy and alfalfa hay, meaning it has the benefits of the two, and thus more nutritious.
- They will improve not only your bunny’s overall but also urinary and digestive health. Expect your pet to have a better coat and be more playful or active.
- Chelated minerals added are easy to absorb. They also natural vitamins.
- Most vets use and recommend it.
- These nuggets are of excellent quality and will retain their quality up to the last one. However, ensure you store them well in a dry, dark place.
Sherwood Pet Health Adult Alfalfa/Timothy pellet blend is all-natural and nutritionally complete bunny food. Your bunnies will enjoy each bite with delight.
Additionally, you can go for the Sherwood Pet Health Adult Rabbit Food Timothy Pellets Premium and Natural.
5. Burgess Excel Nuggets with Mint Adult Rabbit Food, 10 kg (UK)
These delicious and tasty mint-flavored nuggets will perfectly complement the bunny’s hay and veggies diet. They are not only the best rabbit pellets in the UK but also the most selling, highest-rated, and most loved ones.
Key benefits
- They are fiber-rich, i.e., 39 percent, making them suitable for digestion and a healthy gut.
- They natural prebiotics vital for gut health
- These feed has added minerals and vitamins for optimum skin, coat, and eye health.
- Supports immunity, thanks to the natural antioxidants present
- All pellets are the same size to prevent selective feeding frequent in picky eaters who would pick pieces that are sweet or high in sugar.
Also, Burgess has nuggets for Junior or dwarf rabbits, oregano, light, and mature rabbit foods
6. Science Selective Rabbit Food Adult
Science Selective Rabbit Food is one of the best alfalfa based rabbit nuggets for adult bunnies whose formulation is based on published scientific research and complies with the European Pet Food Industry FEDIAF guidelines on rabbit nutrition.
Key benefits
- It is high in fiber, i.e., has 25% fiber making it suitable for your pet’s dental and gut health.
- There are no added sugars, and most ingredients have low calories to prevent rabbit obesity or weight gain. They will help your bunny maintain weight.
- These nuggets are rich in natural ingredients, are fortified with minerals and vitamins, and have the right calcium to phosphorus balance. Calcium is 0.6%, while phosphorus stands at 0.4%.
- IT has prebiotics to promote good intestinal health, digestion, and wellbeing.
- Your pet will have a glossy coat and healthy skin, thanks to linseed, which is a natural omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
7. Mazuri Timothy-Based Rabbit Food
Mazuri Timothy-Based Rabbit pellets are an excellent option as they will provide all the nutrition needed by not only adult bunnies but also those in any life stage.
Key benefits
- Since these pellets are timothy hay-based, they are high in fiber, low in calcium, and calories.
- They nutritionally complete, meaning that you don’t have to buy additional mineral or vitamin supplements.
- This brand is high in fiber, which will benefit your critter’s digestive system.
- Probiotics have been added to promote healthy microflora health.
- It has flaxseed as a source of omega-3 fatty acids as well as vitamin E from natural sources.
- The yucca shidigera extract present will help minimize urine ammonia odors
8. Kaytee Forti Diet Pro Health Rabbit Food for Adult Rabbit
Kaytee Forti Diet Pro Health Rabbit Food for Adult Rabbit diet is timothy hay and alfalfa-based pellets made by nutritional experts to ensure they have all the essential nutrients.
Key benefits
- These nuggets are flavorful, fresh, and have both hay and alfalfa making it very nutritious with their fiber meeting the minimum required amount.
- They have added prebiotics and probiotics to help promote gut health and digestion
- The natural antioxidants present will boost your pet’s immunity and health
- The larger blue, green, and orange pieces are crunchy, making them ideal for dental health by virtue that your pets will have to chew them.
Some people have noted preference feeding, where some bunnies opt for the colored pieces. Fortunately, these pieces are not kibbles, real nuts, or seeds.
Another good alternative is the Kaytee Supreme Rabbit Food.
9. Supreme Science Selective 4+ Mature Rabbit Food
If you have bunnies aged four years onwards, Supreme Science Selective 4+ Mature Rabbit Food should be the ultimate bunny nuggets you buy. As these pets age, their nutritional needs also vary, a reason why this food is a must-have.
Key benefits
- They are specially made to meet the nutritional needs of all rabbits breeds aged four years + rabbit for optimum health.
- Rich timothy hay and herbs that will stimulate appetite and make them very palatable.
- These nuggets are high in fiber standing at 22% but lower in proteins (12%) to ensure your furry critter doesn’t add weight or have digestion problems.
- They have natural antioxidants and vitamin C for immunity support and vitality
- They have balanced calcium and phosphorus as well as linseed for healthy coat and skin.
- No added sugars and artificial colors
- They have the same size to discourage selective feeding
- Kind to their teeth and tastes awesome
10. KMS Hayloft Timothy Choice Pellets Guinea Pig and Rabbit Food
These timothy based bunny and guinea pig nuggets are ideal for pets that are at least six months of age. Like other bunny nuggets, feed them with grassy hay and plenty of water. Veggies and treats should be limited.
Key benefits
- They manufactured with quality natural nutrients including vitamin C and raw materials with minimal fillers
- They are free of BHT, BHA, corn, or ethoxyquin, making them quite safe to your furry critters.
- To ensure you receive fresh pellets, KMS Hayloft makes them in smaller batches.
- The vets recommend them, including in dealing with urinary stones and bladder sludge.
11. Versele-Laga Crispy Pellets Rabbits
Unlike the many alfalfa or hay-based pellets, the Versele-Laga Crispy Pellets Rabbits are vegetable derivatives. However, they still meet the threshold needed in quality nuggets for bunnies.
Key benefits
- They are nutritionally complete for bunnies
- They are fiber-rich making them useful for their digestion and gut health
- They don’t have whole grains to prevent selective feeding, where your pet may prefer one kind of grains, predisposing them to nutritional deficiencies.
12. Heygates Rabbit Choice Pellets 20kg
These nuggets ideal for your rabbits and guinea pigs. They are made with raw materials that have been carefully selected to give your animals the best nourishment and health.
Key benefits
- They high in protein, making them ideal for all bunnies, including those that are growing, lactating, and adults. Just follow their feeding guideline.
- They have the essential vitamins, minerals, vitamins including vitamins A and C supplements, among other nutrients
On the downside, we feel that the 16% fiber is way low for house rabbits. It should be at least 18% onwards.
13. Sherwood Pet Health Professional Adult Rabbit Food
Last on our top 13 best rabbit nuggets for adult bunny’s reviews is the Sherwood Pet Health Professional Adult Rabbit Food. These alfalfa-based pellets are nutritious and very tasty. Your rabbits will enjoy munching them.
Key benefits
- They are nutritionally balanced to ensure your pets get all the essential nutrients.
- They are enriched with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for good coat and skin.
- They don’t have any grains or soy, making them ideal for a rabbit’s digestive system.
Other good bunny nuggets
- Purina® Complete Rabbit Feed (chow)
- Manna Pro Small World Complete Feed for Rabbit
- Coyote Creek Certified Organic Rabbit Pellets
- Blue Seal Show Hutch Deluxe Extruded Pellet Rabbit Food
- Hagen Rabbit Pellets
- Hollywood Rabbits Premium Feed, Hand Crafted High-Fiber, Probiotics for Digestive Health
- Zupreem Food Nature’s Promise Rabbit Pellet
- Dodson & Horrell Chudleys Rabbit Pellets Plain (the UK)
- Barastoc Rabbit Pellets (Australia)
- Country Road Rabbit Feed 50 lbs.
- Hygain Country Vital Rabbit Pellets 20kg (Australia)
- Modesto Milling Organic Rabbit Pellets
- ARGO Rabbit Pellets Complete Food (UK)
- Harrington’s Optimum Rabbit Nuggets – 10kg (UK)
- Sweet Meadow Rabbit Food, 10 lb.
Best junior, juvenile or young growing rabbit nuggets
Since they are rapidly growing, minor bunnies or juniors require pellets that are energy-dense, higher in proteins, calcium, and other nutrients to promote muscle and bone formation.
Some of the best nuggets to buy include the following:
1. Oxbow Essentials Young Rabbit Food: alfalfa-based
Alfalfa-based Oxbow Essentials Young Rabbit Pellets should be your first choice if you have growing or young bunnies (juniors or juveniles). They are available in 5, 10, and 25 lbs., packages.
Key benefits
- They are formulated by animal nutritionists and veterinarians to ensure they meet all the nutrients needed by growing bunnies.
- They are high in fiber, protein, calcium, and have other essential nutrients to promote weight gain and growth (muscle and bone formation) while keeping your young rabbits healthy.
- They are fortified with vitamins as well as chelated minerals. Chelation makes mineral more absorbable.
- 100% uniform pellets to prevent selective feeding among picky eaters.
- They don’t have seeds, miscellaneous colored pieces, fruits that are high in simple sugars or carbohydrates or refine sugars like dextrose, glucose or corn syrup that pose health and gastrointestinal problems.
- Most small pet owners and veterinarians recommend them.
2. Kaytee Forti Diet Pro Health Rabbit Food for Juvenile Rabbits
Growing rabbits need a slightly different diet as when compared to mature adults. Kaytee understands this and has made nuggets best suited for your growing bunnies using their nutritional experts to help these pets thrive.
Key benefits
- High in protein to meet the protein demand for growing or breeding rabbits as well as other vital nutrients.
- Has probiotics and prebiotics to support a healthy gut with properly balanced microflora.
- Remains fresh, thanks to the natural preservation Kaytee uses.
- They come in a re-sealable bag to help keep these nuggets fresh after each use.
- These nuggets have antioxidants that will boost your pet’s general health as well as a better immunity.
- Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health Juvenile Rabbit food has some more significant and crunchier pieces to promote dental health by the act of chewing them.
3. Sherwood Pet Health Baby Rabbit Food Pellet – Alfalfa based
Breeders and those who have baby bunnies aged 12 weeks or less should take advantage of this great food formulated by Dr. Sherwood. It is one of the best pellets for baby rabbits that meet all the nutritional requirements once they have begun weaning.
Key benefits
- These alfalfa-based pellets are nutrient-rich with all the macro and micronutrients necessary for optimum growth and wellbeing.
- Only whole natural ingredients are used before milling and pelleting.
- They are free of wheat, corn, or soy that would otherwise cause digestion issues, i.e., will promote digestion health.
- Have added omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
- Sherwood packages only fresh-made pellets to ensure they are fresh by the time you receive them.
4. Supreme Petfoods Science Selective Junior Rabbit
Supreme Petfoods Science Selective Junior Rabbit pellets are delicious bunny nuggets formulated to support growth, development and optimal health in young, lactating or pregnant bunnies
Key benefits
- They are alfalfa-based, meaning they have more protein, calcium, and are energy-dense to meet the needs of growing, pregnant, and lactating bunnies. Additionally, they are fortified with amino acids.
- Are high in fiber (19%), and have no added artificial colors or sugars.
- They have added vitamins and herbs to provide antioxidants needed for stronger immunity and optimum health.
- Highly palatable, will help in teeth wear and improve digestion health.
- All pellets are the same size to help prevent selective feeding.
- They are good for your pet’s coat and skin.
5. Sunseed Vita Prima Young Rabbit Food
Since the nutritional composition of adult maintenance and growth rabbit’s nuggets is different, Vita Prima Young Rabbit Food is formulated to help active and young bunnies meet their dietary need for growth and development while staying healthy.
Key benefits
- The alfalfa-based formula will ensure more proteins and calcium needed for growth and development.
- They don’t have any artificial flavors, preservatives or colors
- Added vitamins A, D, and E
- They are crunchy to promote dental health, and the various ingredients will spur natural foraging behaviors.
On the downside, while it has a blend of wholesome grains, fruits, and vegetables that may seem like a noble idea, they may increase the chances of GI upsets and unnecessary carbohydrates and sugars.
6. Allen & Page Rabbit Breeder Grower Pellets Complete Dry, 20 kg
Allen & Page Rabbit Breeder Grower Pellets are made using wholesome ingredients including mint, grass, alfalfa, oat fiber, and linseed.
- They are high in fiber (23%), making them excellent for a healthy digestive system.
- They are balanced nutritionally with vitamins and minerals.
- Don’t have any GMOs and approve by the Vegetarian Society in the UK.
- They are low in starch and don’t have any coccidiostats
While their manufacturer recommends them for growing and adult maintenance, their protein level (12%) seems a little lower for growing bunnies.
Allen & Page also have the Natural Rabbit Pellets Complete, 20 kg designed for adult bunnies.
Others top brands
- Kaytee Exact Rainbow Rabbit Food, 4-Pound
- Alffy Rabbit Pellet by American Pet Diner
- Pieter’s Premium Rabbit Diet Growth Formula
How to feed pellets to your rabbits
How you will feed nuggets to your bunnies largely depend on their age, breed, size, and health status (such as skinny, sick, or nursing, lactating or pregnant).
Pellets can account for 5-10 percent of their diet. For example, if you have mature adults bunnies, a typical feeding schedule is:
- 2 to 4 lbs. – ¼ cup
- 4 to 7 lbs. – ½ a cup
- 7 to 10 lbs. – ½ to ¾ a cup
- 11-15 lbs. – ¾-1 cup
Investing in a good automatic like WOPET Automatic Pet Feeder Food Dispenser will make dispensing a required amount more manageable. You can also use rabbit feeders, bowls, treat ball with holes, puzzle toys, etc.
Weaned young growing rabbits below the age of seven months should have access to unlimited pellets. However, as they grow beyond this age, you need to begin reducing the amount as you give them more hay and veggies (required amounts) to avoid obesity and other health issues.
For the underweight, sick, nursing, lactating or pregnant, they can have unlimited access but also with hay and leafy greens or as your vet may.
Finally, if overweight, restrict nuggets and let them exercise to help them lose weight quickly. Don’t fast them as it will result in anorexia. Also, do the diet change gradually over up to two weeks.
Why can’t rabbits eat pellets alone?
Pellets are not only nutritious but also very appealing to rabbits. However, they lack some benefits of hay and veggies. Therefore, always ration the amount you feed to your bunny.
Feeding them on exclusively pellets may result in the following issues:
1. GI issues and obesity
Rabbits depend on a high volume of food with low nutrients such as grassy hay, yet nuggets are dense and very nutritious. Therefore, only a small amount is needed.
Since such an amount will not provide enough indigestible fiber and may cause gastrointestinal problems, including GI stasis and soft stool, as well as bouts of anorexia.
On the other hand, a lot of nuggets for them to get fiber may make them obese. They will also have excessive calcium that may cause urinary stones or calcium bladder sludge, soft tissue calcification, among others.
2. Overgrown teeth
They are easy to eat and will not provide the side to side chewing that hay and fibrous greens do to wear down their teeth.
3. Boredom and behavioral issues
Bunnies spent almost 2/3 of their time eating. The tossing and turning of hay as they look for something to chew make them busy. However, for nuggets, it will take them a shorter time, leading to boredom. Bored bunnies tend to be destructive, among other behavioral issues.
They may refuse to eat their usual diets as they will find pellets more appealing and tasty.
Common rabbit pellets ingredients
Some of the components and their roles include the following:
- Forage products: alfalfa meal, grass hay including timothy hay (has long-stem fiber), lespedeza meal, soybean hay, or dehydrated silages. They are useful in fiber and other nutrients.
- Protein ingredients – Soybean meal (soy oil extraction by-product), safflower meal, canola meal (canola oil extraction by-product) as well as peanut, linseed, sunflower, cottonseed meals, and cultured yeast.
- Mineral and vitamin sources or ingredients: ascorbic acid (vitamin C), choline chloride (vitamin B4), monosodium phosphate (phosphate), magnesium oxide (magnesium), calcium carbonate or limestone (calcium), mixed tocopherols (Vitamin E source), among others.
- Roughages: Hulls of rice, peanut, oat, soybean (cheap source of fiber, higher than timothy hay), and cottonseed. Also, citrus and beet pulp (energy-dense, high in pectins, sugars, and digestible sugars. Obtained from what is left after sugar extraction from beets) as well as apple products.
- Grain products: Barley, oats, corn, rye, rice, and wheat.
- Processed grain by-products: Wheat middlings (cheap protein and carb sources with highly digestible fiber with energy like corn), rice and wheat bran, gluten feed, corn bran, distilled dried grains, and brewers’ dried grains.
- Mold inhibitors: Sorbic acid, propionic acid, calcium propionate, benzoic acid, ammonium hydroxide, an acetic acid.
- Probiotics/prebiotics: Saccharomyces, streptococcus, yeast cell wall extract, lactobacillus
- Pellet binders:- Sodium bentonite (clay mineral common in cat litter), sodium lignosulfonate, molasses or cane molasses (also increases palatability and it is a source of magnesium), and lignin sulfonate (paper making by-product)
- Palatability additives: Corn gluten meal and safflower oil and cane molasses or molasses.
- Yucca: Helpful in ammonia control in rabbit waste and aids in digestion
- Rosemary extract: A natural antioxidant. There may also be other herbs.
- Oat mill by-product: These are middlings or brans gotten from groats to oatmeal transformation low in protein and high in indigestible fibers.
What to avoid
Rabbits are strict herbivores. Therefore their foods should not have the following:
- Non-dietary nitrogen (NDN): It is toxic, and bunnies don’t use them.
- Animal products and protein products: They include Bone, blood or fish meal, feathers, or any other animal produce, hydrolyzed feather, milk products, and so on.
Buying rabbit pellets in bulk and storage
While buying them in bulk saves, only buy those that last for at most 90 days since soluble vitamins like vitamin A, D, and E have a shelf-life on only three months. Buying for a shorter time is a better decision.
When storing, place them in a vermin-proof cool area and discard any moldy, old, rancid, insect-infested, or foul-smelling pellets. Molding causes toxins that may harm your feline friend.
A shorter time, like six weeks, is better.
Cheap rabbit pellets for sale
If you are looking for cheap rabbit pellets, compare prices at your local pet stores near you or only ones like Petco, Amazon, eBay, PetSmart, Pets at Home (UK), Coles (Australia) Tractor Supply.
Conclusion
If you have commercial rabbits for fur or meat, feeding instruction, fiber content, and content of other ingredients may vary.
Finally, when changing their diet, be gradual and over 7-14 days while increasing the new food and reducing the old one since their complex cecum flora balance may easily be thrown out of balance.