How to Feed Cottontail Rabbits

For the most part, domestic rabbit breeds originated in Europe, but cottontails are all American. It's not often that a wild cottontail will need your assistance in finding food. A good rule of thumb is that if a cottontail has it's eyes open, leave it alone even if it appears to be young. It's mother is likely close and will return to care for it. Cottontail nests should only be disturbed if the kits are cold and appear dehydrated, and the mother does not return in the evenings. Injured cottontails should be reported to an appropriate rescue group for proper care. However, if you're nursing a cottontail back to health, you must feed it what it's used to eating in the wild--or at least come as close as you can.

Things You'll Need

  • Vegetables
  • Garden greens
  • Weeds
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Instructions

    • 1

      Pile on the green. While domestic rabbits do just fine with hay, commercial rabbit food and the occasional fresh treat, cottontails are used to eating a green diet of fresh vegetables, garden greens (turnip tops, carrot tops, lettuce) and freshly cut or pulled weeds.

    • 2

      Don't overdo the water. Cottontails are used to getting most of the moisture they need from the fresh greens they eat; they don't need very much drinking water. Provide it, but be prepared to replace most of it with fresh water at the next water change.

    • 3

      Adjust for the cold months. Since green, leafy food is not generally available to wild cottontails in the winter, offer them small twigs, roots and tree buds until the world outside your door is green and lush once more.

    • 4

      Allow the cottontails to ingest their feces. Cottontails practice coprophagy, which is the act of eating their own feces. They produce a fecal pellet called a cecotrope that is rich in nutrients.