If a natural disaster or something happened, what could I feed my bunny?

[elizabethy738]

My family was considering what would happen if an natural disaster hit our neighborhood and all the pet stores wouldn’t create rabbit food or hay anymore. What would I be able to feed my rabbit then? Rice?

[MoveDiagonally]

Rice would probably cause bloat and GI stasis which could end up being deadly.

If this is a big concern for you and you’re wanting to prep for your rabbit you could always make sure you’re well stocked. For example, you buy a bag of pellets and hay and use them normally until they are half gone at which point you by another bag of pellets and hay. Use the open stuff first and then when you get down to 1/2 again you buy one more of each and so on. This would ensure you always have at least 1/2 bag of each which could last you long enough for things to get back to normal or for you to evacuate.

I don’t think doing something like the above is entirely necessary in most situations but if it’s something you and your family wants to do I don’t see the harm. Are disasters a big concern where you live?

[Jessie1990]

I do this anyway because I’m always worried people will buy all the orchard grass at my petsmart… Moogle is allergic to every other hay, so it is essential that I have orchard grass available. No where else carries it. I noticed they have started stocking double the hay now

[CheriB603]

Not sure if your bun would be allergic, but there is always grass from outside (if it’s pesticide free, of course) and you can take some time to find out what might grow naturally around you… we have apple trees and blue and blackberry bushes in our woods, farms down the road grow hay that I would not hesitate to steal from the fields in an emergency etc.
Of course, these suggestions are for true emergency.

[BunnyLady1989]

I always have to stick up on litter and hay as well because the only kind Lulu likes seems to disappear quickly. If I don’t is have to go to the store constantly like I do with her veggies. I have to go two times a week to get her fresh food, so I’m thankful I don’t have to go so often to get hay and litter.

[Beka27]

I agree about having extra “non-perishable” food on hand (pellets, hay). Of course those aren’t truly non-perishable, but obviously more so than veggies. If for some reason you couldn’t access pellets, you’d need to increase her veggies.

[calipa_st]

Since I got a second bun, I bought a larger bag of hay..and realized I should have been doing that all along especially since it’s winter (we keep getting snow every other week and people freak out here over it)
I’d just have extra hay and pellets on hand. Veggies is harder. I’m constantly running out, my boyfriend just ran out at 10pm to get more!

[LBJ10]

I would suggest always keeping an extra bag on hand. Using the “extra” bag when you buy a new bag would ensure the “extra” bag did not go stale. You could do the same with hay. Having extra “non-perishable” (as Beka pointed out) is the best way to go. A rabbit would be just fine going without veggies for awhile, but hay is a must and pellets would have the nutrition they need. What if no produce trucks were able to deliver veggies to the grocery store for awhile? You can’t stock up of veggies, but you can with pellets and hay.

[niniliefie]

We don’t really get extreme natural disasters where I live, but a while ago there was a lovely thread re: natural disasters and how to handle the situation. If I remember correctly it talked about how to move your bun quickly, how to keep food clean and safe etc. Maybe worth looking it up under the q&a section. I agree with keeping a back-up supply for the bun. I personally have a “diaper bag” with enough of everything for atleast a week,incl bowls,blankets, toys and water(I use purified water for mango-now he won’t drink tap anymore-spoilt little prince) also some dried fruit(treats- very high in sugar). My bag is prepped in case I have to leave for a week or so on short notice and just cause I’m a control freak. Also his carrier is always on top of his cage and ready(only cause I like all his things to be together.) I know that large packs are cheaper, but I buy 2 times smaller packs the 2kg pellets and 2kg hay(recently he has been chowing down hay, so I buy an extra pack at a time). Never more than 2.5 weeks stock, In case something happens to one pack(gets wet/ smoke contact or something), I always have a back-up which is sealed and safe. I suggest you find that thread(don’t comment on it-not advised to comment on old threads,) and read through it, I’ve done most of what I read that was applicable to MY situation. Maybe you can find great ideas. It was a very helpful thread!

Hope its helpful
Have a lovely day(although if I see the time your threads came through-im guessing your day is half way already-its 6am here-hahaha)

[Eepster]

Foraging would be you final option. If you live in an area that supports a wild rabbit population, you should be able to keep your bunny allive for quite some time foraging.

As Cheri mentioned, grass is the main staple. Other things to add for balance would be dandelion, clover, roses, violets, thistle. Obviously there are many other edible to rabbits plants, but the ones on my list are very common and easily identified. Personally I would stick to that list as being safe, even though I know there is plenty of other plants that I could feed my bunny. An example of one I could forage but won’t is wild carrot, it is just too similar in appearance to poison hemlock to risk misidentifying it.

BTW, though you can’t eat the grass or thistle, you can eat the dandelion, clover and rose. The fruit of the rose (rose hip) is especially high in vitamin C.

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