What can I feed a cottontail rabbit?

What can I feed a cottontail rabbit?

The House Rabbit Society recommends feeding pet cottontail rabbits a combination of pellets, hay and fresh vegetables. The young cottontail can be weaned off of pellets as it ages. As for vegetables, a combination of dark leafy vegetables, root vegetables and those of varying colors are best.

What do wild baby cottontail rabbits eat?

As soon as the wild bunnies’ eyes are open, you may introduce them to plain alfalfa pellets, hay, such as oat hay, timothy, alfalfa and veggies such as carrot tops, Italian parsley, dandelion greens. Dandelion greens and hay (timothy and oat hay) are extremely important for wild rabbits.

Can you keep a cottontail rabbit as a pet?

Unfortunately, cottontail rabbits are not the right candidates for a lavish pet lifestyle. These beautiful animals have lived in the wild for eons, and that is where they should continue to stay. Keeping a cottontail might sound appealing, but they won’t do well in captivity.

What can you feed a wild rabbit?

The best food items that you should provide the wild rabbits are hay. It is safe and also a favorite to them. You may provide timothy hay, alfalfa hay (for baby bunny), orchard grass, or oat hays.

Do wild bunnies eat lettuce?

Give the wild rabbits fresh vegetables. Give them at least three different types of greens per feeding, and including one that is high in vitamin A. For the wild rabbits in your yard, you can give them: Lettuce: Romaine, Red or Green leaf (no iceberg or light colored leaf)

Do wild cottontail rabbits eat carrots?

Interestingly, wild rabbits do not actually prefer veggies. They will not consume carrots if green, leafy vegetation is available instead. So, if you’re wondering “Do wild rabbits eat carrots?” the answer is, “Yes, they will, but it’s not their favorite.” The same applies to most other vegetables.

Do cottontail rabbits eat carrots?

Although carrots are a very popular food for rabbits, they are high in carbohydrates and should only be fed in small quantities(only half a carrot every other day). Wild rabbits can get diarrhea if they are introduced to new vegetables too quickly. Wild rabbits also enjoy eating clover and watercress.

What does a 3 week old cottontail look like?

Three Weeks Old: At this age, their fur should be standing up a little more off their bodies and they should start to appear to have normal rabbit fur. Three and a Half Weeks Old:Cottontails at this stage should have fur that stands out from their body, eyes and ears bright and alert.

How long can a cottontail rabbit live?

Rabbits are short-lived; probably none die of old age. Research conducted on eastern cottontails suggests that only about 25 percent of individuals survive for two years, with the average lifespan about 15 months.

Can I keep a baby wild rabbit?

Wild baby rabbits don’t do well in captivity. Not only do their natural survival instincts prevent them from being a suitable pet, but they spread dangerous diseases. Most bunnies become stressed and depressed living in small hutches and cages. Keeping wild rabbits is illegal in many areas.

Can wild bunnies eat lettuce?

Do wild rabbits eat apples?

Wild rabbits should not eat sugary fruits, such as apples and tomatoes. Even carrots aren’t considered suitable for wild rabbits. Rabbits in the wild prefer branches, twigs, dry and fresh grasses, and plants.

What are the Predators of the cottontail rabbit?

The rabbits reproduce at a strong rate, and there are generally plenty of cottontails in a given population to support the predators in the area. Some common predators include coyotes, birds of prey, bobcats, snakes, foxes, mountain lions, and more.

Where do cottontail rabbits live in winter?

One animal active during the winter is the cottontail rabbit. They don’t hibernate, but use other behaviors to survive winter. The range of the Eastern cottontail rabbit includes the entire United States east of the Rocky Mountains ; it’s found in both urban and rural areas in Nebraska.

What is the life cycle of a cottontail rabbit?

The average life span of an eastern cottontail in the wild is usually less than three years . In captivity, though, a cottontail rabbit can live up to eight years . Cottontails can reproduce by one year of age, and a reproductively mature doe can have up to five litters of three to eight young in a single season!

What are wild rabbits favorite food?

Wild rabbit diet. Rabbits will seek out the freshest greens, which can include grasses, herbs, weeds, clover and others. The list of what do wild rabbits eat can also include tree bark, although they prefer fresh green foods with a high nitrogen and water content.