The Grass Doctor

I don't expect any real answers but can my lawn provide a complete source of food for my rabbits?

I have two suburban sized lawns (front and back) which are currently fescue grass and some clover, not tall fescue also known as fescue hay mind you, normal fescue grass. What would I have to do or grow to feed a family of rabbits year around in this space? If you tell me to buy pellets you're not understanding my question. I want to have a fully sustainable garden and rabbit population that requires no outside purchases beyond the original purchase of seeds, rabbits, hutches, and other necessary equipment. Jeff, rabbit pellets weren't around 100 years ago but people still kept rabbits. How could it be?

Public Comments

1. Two rabbits would graze down a lawn pretty quickly. Remember that in the wild 'lawn grass' does not survive, it's a blend of dandelion, weeds and native plants. That's what rabbits eat. Fescue likely won't supply all the nutrients the rabbits need to stay healthy. What you can do is contact your state's agricultural agent and question them about free range rabbits.
2. Although I totally disagree with this... Yes, you can. Rabbits are herbivores and their main diet should be hay, which is a substitute for.....grass. Be sure there is no fertilizer or anything and NEVER, under any circumstance, let them free roam. I'd also recommend putting up a fence in your yard to keep other animals away from the cages because a predator can literally scare a rabbit to death.
3. well just think what a rabbit would eat in the wild, try growin alfalfa, cabbages and fruit trees, also leafy weeds such as dandilions etc.
4. No, they need Rabbit pellets for a complete source of protein, etc.. I understand your question, completely, but for healthy rabbits, pellets are required.
5. The principle is sound, but the specifics are not. Many pet rabbits suffer from poor diet - problems such as digestive issues and gut stasis, overgrown teeth, malnutrition, boredom etc. The best diet for rabbits is one that best mimics their natural diet (ie what their entire behaviour and digestive system is designed for) but in such a way that you ensure proper nutrition (in terms of calories / fibre / vitamins / protein / minerals etc. It is completely possible to feed a rabbit without ever using pellets. This is usually called the "hay and veggies" diet as that is exactly what it is. However, it is more difficult to ensure a balanced diet without supplementing it with at least a small portion of pellets. The most important part of the rabbits diet is grass / hay so yes, your principle is sound. However, in the wild rabbits eat a wide variety of food stuffs. One species of grass and some clover may be enough to keep your rabbits alive (if there is enough of it) but these alone will not provide a balanced diet. Again ,in the wild they would consume a wide variety of grasses and "weeds", as well as fruits, vegetables, roots, farm crops etc depending upong what is available. I think the best way to explain it is comparing it to the human diet. You know they always tell you to eat your "5 a day" as in fruit and veg? That means 5 portions of DIFFERENT fruit / veg items. Eating a huge amount of just one would still only count as one portion. Same with rabbits. Yes, they eat "grass" but they actually eat "various grasses and other plants". It is also worth noting that animals eat to fulfil their calorie requirements - not their nutritional requirements! In other words animals will eat according to how much energy they are burning / how much energy they get from their food, how physically hungry they are, behavioural urges to eat, etc. They do not eat specific foods in order to get a proper balanced diet for good health (eg in terms of protein, vitamins, etc). Thus, animals left to their own devices will NOT automatically select the best diet for themselves. They will eat as much as they want / need of whichever food is available / is preferred. For pet rabbits to therefore be fully healthy, the owner needs to provide a diet that meets all of the rabbits needs, both in terms of psychological / behavioural needs to eat, physical quantity, calories / energy, and nutrional value. In theory you could do lots of research into the exact nutritional and dietary (physical and behavioural) requirements of rabbits, then research the nutritional vale etc of various fresh foods, and combine all this to design a food system that covers all your basis. Complicated? Hell yes. That's exactly why most people choose to feed a combo of hay / grass, veggies and pellets.
6. You would need to plant a complete garden full of many plants that wild rabbits eat. A wild rabbit travels around to find the best foods. I doubt that anyone could match natures rabbit garden.
7. No. rabbits need vegetables, fruits, and SALT to live healthily. They love grass and such as a treat, and under Supervised control ( like have your rabbit on a leash) can go outside, there are definatly things that store rabbit food provides that nature cannot. The rabbit you have is the domestic kind, bred for home. The wild kind are meant to be admired, but left alone. I have had rabbits and rodents and know that thier store food is important for thier health. Hope this is helpful! :) *and as some others have mentioned, please do not set store bought rabbits loose. 1 they are meant for home living and 2 the population is large enough as it is Thanks