rabbit diet information

Question
I have recently adopted two rabbits from a shelter who ate a dried mix, i want them to eat more natural foods that grind down both molars and incisors though as well as being good for them and ive heard from many places that dried mixes arnt good. They have a constant supply of hay here but i think because they have had their dry mix at a fixed time at the shelter they are waiting for a main tea time now, is there any vegetables that take down their teeth and is good for them? or is it best to encourage lots of hay eating? ive just gone to check up on them and they are ignoring their hay and asking for food, should i leave them to eat their hay? also i know they need 80% hay at least but how much would you give them, if any, of these vegetables weekly? any other tips on diet i would appreciate a lot, many thanks x

Answer
Dear Sarah,

In addition to unlimited timothy hay, we give our rabbits a daily salad of at least five different kinds of greens.  You can find a list of good ones here:

http://www.bio.miami.edu/dana/diet.html

It's not the food items that actually "take down" the teeth.  But fresh grass is excellent for fostering the normal chewing motion that grinds the teeth down, and the wetness and silica in the blades makes for a natural tooth polishing "paste".  :)  If you can get long grass that's pesticide and fertilizer free, and preferably from where wild animals have not roamed (parasites!), then that's an excellent fresh food your bunny will love and will also help with the teeth.

Hope this helps.

Dana