Thinking of Giving Rice to Your Pet Bunny? Here’s What You Need To Know

If you’re wondering how much and how often to feed rice to your pet bunny, then this article is for you! Rice is a unique food that can be enjoyed by rabbits. However, it should not be used as the main part of their diet. Can rabbits eat rice? Can they enjoy eating rice just like us humans do? Read on below for more information about what type of rice is best for rabbit consumption, how much and when to feed them with rice, whether or not there are any possible concerns when giving them this type of food.

Can you give an example of a diet plan and feeding times? (for example: at 7am and 3pm)

Of course, no problem! Let’s say we have a rabbit that is fed twice a day; once in the morning and once in the evening. The first feeding would be around 10AM-11AM and second around 4PM-5PM. But it could also be 8AM-9AM and 4PM-5PM depending on your schedule, mileage difference between home and work for example because rabbits can adapt to their owner schedule.

For those who feed one time daily

It’s usually better to feed them early than later because they will not feel hungry for a long time and may stop eating. Plus, you don’t have to worry about them getting a full stomach which can cause rotting and heat in their intestines. I think this way of feeding is better for those who work during the day.

As for how much

Like we said before, give him small amounts frequently but not too small that it’s negligible. Instead, give him 2-3 tablespoons every two hours throughout the day (morning/evening). Those with more experience can feed one or two times a day instead of twice depending on the schedule they would like to follow.

Food family of rice

1. Brown rice/Oryza sativa
2. White rice/Oryza sativa
3. Wild rice/Zizania aquatica
4. Rice bran/Oryza sativa var. brown
5. Rice germ(polished)/Oryza sativa var. glutinous
6. Wholegrain rice/naturally with husk, bran and germ in tact
7. Converted rice/wholegrain rice that has been pre-cooked to reduce the cooking time by removing part of the outer coating making it faster to cook but loss some nutritional content due to this process
8. Instant or ready cooked converted type white parboiled or precooked rice which are both pre-cooked and dried so it can be prepared and eaten after just adding boiling water.

How to prepare rice for rabbits?

1. Rinse the rice with water to remove dust and starch
2. Don’t completely submerge it in water because you may lose too much nutritional content. Just rinse until the water becomes clear
3. Put the cleaned rice in a pot/sauce pan with double or triple amount of water than rice then cook on high heat for 10-15 minutes(until cooked)
4. Turn off the stove once it’s done cooking and let it stand for about 5-10 minutes before removing from pot by using strainer/colander
5. After that, cool it down under room temperature until you can handle them without being burned. That way, your rabbit won’t be able to eat hot rice which could burn his tongue. If he bites into something hard, it could even hurt his teeth/bite off a piece of his tongue

This is important to prevent them from getting burned. If you can’t hold the rice with your own hands without feeling too hot then it means it’s still too hot for him so let them cool down first

• Once cooled, put in a dry jar and store in fridge. It should last about 5 days or less depending on how often you give him this food so please keep an eye on the expiration date especially if you live in tropical country like us where ambient temperature is very high all year round.

Give small portion at each feeding time throughout the day (morning/evening). Give 2-3 tablespoons per two hours of feeding time(morning/evening)

Rice preparation for early rabbit (newborn to 8 weeks old)

1. Clean rice with water until it becomes clear
2. Rinse with water until it no longer has starch
3. Put the clean rice in a pot/sauce pan with double or triple amount of water than rice then cook on high heat for 10 minutes(until cooked)
4. Turn off the stove once it’s done cooking and let it stand for about 5 minutes before removing from pot by using strainer/colander
5. After that, cool it down under room temperature until you can handle them without being burned. That way, your rabbit won’t be able to eat hot rice which could burn his tongue. If he bites into something hard, it could even hurt his teeth/bite off a piece of his tongue

This is important to prevent them from getting burned. If you can’t hold the rice with your own hands without feeling too hot then it means it’s still too hot for him so let them cool down first

• Once cooled, put in a dry jar and store in fridge. It should last about 5 days or less depending on how often you give him this food so please keep an eye on the expiration date especially if you live in tropical country like us where ambient temperature is very high all year round.

Rice preparation for adult rabbit (1 year old and above)

1. Clean rice with water until it becomes clear
2. Rinse with water until it no longer has starch
3. Put the clean rice in a pot/sauce pan with double or triple amount of water than rice then cook on high heat for 10 minutes(until cooked)
4. Turn off the stove once it’s done cooking and let it stand for about 5 minutes before removing from pot by using strainer/colander
5. After that, cool it down under room temperature until you can handle them without being burned. That way, your rabbit won’t be able to eat hot rice which could burn his tongue. If he bites into something hard, it could even hurt his teeth/bite off a piece of his tongue

This is important to prevent them from getting burned. If you can’t hold the rice with your own hands without feeling too hot then it means it’s still too hot for him so let them cool down first

• Once cooled, put in a dry jar and store in fridge. It should last about 5 days or less depending on how often you give him this food so please keep an eye on the expiration date especially if you live in tropical country like us where ambient temperature is very high all year round.

Rice preparation for growing rabbits (than 8 weeks old to 1 year old)

1. Clean rice with water until it becomes clear
2. Rinse with water until it no longer has starch
3. Put the clean rice in a pot/sauce pan with double or triple amount of water than rice then cook on high heat for 10 minutes(until cooked)
4. Turn off the stove once it’s done cooking and let it stand for about 5 minutes before removing from pot by using strainer/colander
5. After that, cool it down under room temperature until you can handle them without being burned. That way, your rabbit won’t be able to eat hot rice which could burn his tongue. If he bites into something hard, it could even hurt his teeth/bite off a piece of his tongue

This is important to prevent them from getting burned. If you can’t hold the rice with your own hands without feeling too hot then it means it’s still too hot for him so let them cool down first.

• Once cooled, put in a dry jar and store in fridge. It should last about 5 days or less depending on how often you give him this food so please keep an eye on the expiration date especially if you live in tropical country like us where ambient temperature is very high all year round.

Health benefits of rice for rabbit

Rice is the staple food of more than half of the world’s population, including in Asia. It is also a popular dish for pet rabbits as it contains lots of nutrients such as carbohydrates and proteins. But make sure you introduce them to your rabbit gradually especially if he has been eating hay and dry commercial pellet all his life because rice lacks fiber which could cause digestive problems.

Some sources say that rice should be limited (only once a week) due to potential arsenic and lead toxins but I think these toxic metals can still be removed/killed by cooking them like how we normally prepare our meal at home – boiling with sufficient water then discarding the leftover after straining them out.

Possible concerns when eating rice to rabbit?

Rice is very starchy so it could cause digestive problems if your rabbit isn’t used to eating it. It’s best to start with small amount first until he gets adjusted but of course, you have to monitor him closely for possible symptoms of it causing diarrhea/gas/etc because there are many factors that can contribute to their health status.

• Location of origin
• How they are fed
• Birth date/ age
• Developmental stage (e.g. baby, adult)

(This is important since some sources say that rice should be introduced gradually while others don’t)

3 Signs pet rabbit is sick from eating rice?

1. Symptoms of food poisoning in rabbits if they eat too much rice at once because it could cause diarrhea, gas, bloating and even stomachache
2. Sudden change in behavior/ activity level -Decreased appetite or refusal to eat -Scruffy coat with clumps of fur falling out -Weakness and lethargy (e.g. not able to stand or jump, laying down more than usual)
3. Running nose and watery eyes which could lead to infection if left untreated so please take them to a rabbit vet for medical treatment right away and stop giving him rice+anything else until their health is restored back to normal especially if you notice any of these symptoms! If health gets worse, it can even be fatal so please do not wait and seek treatment immediately.

The main concern here is if their health gets worse, it could even kill them so please take them to a vet as soon as possible for treatment!

What to do if your pet rabbit is sick from eating rice?

1. Your vet might advise you to stop giving them rice but it’s up to you if your rabbit is willing to eat pellets or hay instead. I think this depends on the individual so monitor them closely if they are still refusing to eat hay/pellets even after being off rice for at least a week
2. Give only pellets and hay because rice lacks fiber which could cause digestive problems. Hay should provide enough nutrients their body needs. If he eats too much of it, his gut flora would be disrupted which can lead to digestive issues later on if not taken care of properly so make sure he only eats the amount that’s necessary for him
3. As for me, I’d rather give my pet bunny fresh vegetables since they’re rich in different types of nutrients that hay/pellets doesn’t have. I know this is still up to you but I’m just saying it’s better than not giving him anything at all even if he only eats the amount necessary (e.g. half of what his body needs)
4. Provide fresh water for your pet rabbit because they might not be willing to drink it if their health gets worse since dehydration could easily happen
5. Hay and pellets are always available for them so make sure there won’t be any shortage in supply (plus, check expiration date especially if you live in tropics like us)
6. Your vet might also advise you to give probiotics but again, this depends on the individual so monitor them closely before feeding them.
7. Back to what I said, give vegetables everyday since they’re rich in nutrients that hay/pellets doesn’t have
8. Fresh water is always available for them so check expiration date then replace it with a new one in case there’s any defect in the water bottle/ bowl
9. (Not necessary but) If your rabbit is willing to eat anything at all when he gets sick, try giving him special treats like baby carrots or plain cheerios instead of his usual pellets/hay because this might not provide enough nutrients their body needs. Don’t forget about fresh water!
10. What NOT to do if your pet rabbit is sick from eating rice? (e.g. avoid these at all costs!)
11. No vaccinations because if their health gets worse, it could be fatal so please keep them away from any external factors that might worsen their condition
12. I know you want to help but unless a vet says otherwise, do not give them anything else beside pellets/ hay and produce. Just watch them closely instead. If they eat too much of it, their gut flora would be disrupted which can cause digestive problems later on if not taken care of properly so make sure he only eats the amount that’s necessary for him
13. Also, I don’t think this is necessary but avoid giving your pet rabbit human food since this would leave very little nutrients in his body and statistically speaking, there’s a high chance that your pet rabbit might get sick from eating human food (e.g. chocolate is known to kill rabbits but I’m not sure about the rest)
14. I know you love your pet bunny but avoid touching their fur/cheeks when they’re sick because this can make them feel insecure and lead to serious health problems later on like growing tumors or something like that (not sure how it works though)
15. Lastly, take your time with everything since this might be an emergency situation if their health gets worse so try your best! Thanks for reading! <3

3 QUICK Tips before giving rice to rabbit

1. Make sure you have pellets/ hay available for your pet rabbit so he won’t get hungry or worse, starve.
2. If possible, give them fresh produce everyday to provide different types of nutrients that pellets/hay doesn’t have.
3. Your vet might also advise you to give probiotics but this depends on the individual so monitor them closely before feeding them.

By and large

I hope you found this information helpful. Rice is not a staple food for rabbits, but there are some benefits to giving it to your pet rabbit on occasion. There are many other types of foods that make great alternatives if you can’t give rice all the time or at all. If you have any questions about feeding rice to your pet bunny, please comment below and we’ll be happy to answer them!