Feeding your pet rabbit fresh greens is essential for their health and well-being.
When feeding fresh greens to your rabbit, it's crucial to introduce new foods gradually to avoid digestive upset. Start with small amounts and observe how your rabbit reacts. As a general guideline, fresh greens should make up about 10-15% of your rabbit's daily diet, with hay being the primary component (about 70-80%). The remainder can consist of high-quality rabbit pellets.
Always provide clean, washed greens, and remove any uneaten portions to prevent spoilage. Additionally, consult with your veterinarian for specific dietary recommendations tailored to your rabbit's age, health, and nutritional needs.
Here are some popular and nutritious options for supplementing your bunny's hay intake with fresh greens:
1. **Romaine Lettuce**: Romaine lettuce is a favorite among rabbits. It's low in calories and high in fiber, making it a healthy choice for your pet. However, avoid feeding iceberg lettuce, as it has minimal nutritional value and can cause digestive issues.
2. **Leafy Greens**: Various leafy greens such as kale, spinach, arugula, and Swiss chard are nutritious options for rabbits. They are rich in vitamins and minerals, including calcium and vitamin A. Rotate these greens to provide variety in your rabbit's diet. Because rabbits absorb high amounts of calcium, greens that are high in calcium including kale, carrot tops and parsley should not be fed in large quantities or everyday.
3. **Herbs**: Herbs like cilantro, parsley, basil, and dill can be given to rabbits in moderation. They add flavor to their diet and contain beneficial nutrients.
4. **Bok Choy**: Bok choy is a type of Chinese cabbage that rabbits typically enjoy. It's rich in vitamins A, C, and K, as well as calcium and potassium.
5. **Dandelion Greens**: Dandelion greens are safe for rabbits to eat and provide essential nutrients. Just make sure they are sourced from areas free of pesticides and other chemicals.
6. **Collard Greens**: Collard greens are another excellent option for rabbits. They are packed with vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin K, and calcium.
7. **Limited Amounts of Carrots and Fruits**: While carrots and fruits like apples and strawberries are often associated with rabbits, they should be given in limited amounts due to their sugar content. Treat these as occasional snacks rather than staples of their diet.
When deciding how much fresh greens to feed, its important to remember that your bunny's appetite is not a good indicator of how much non-hay foods to feed. He/she will not be good at self-monitoring and may avoid filling up on sufficient quantities of hay if there is a hint of more tasty foods on offer. Although fresh greens are a high-fibre food for humans, they are not high-fibre when compared to grass and hay, the staple food to adequately maintain your bunny's digestive function.
Because of the potential for digestive sensitivity, its a good idea to include which greens you usually feed in your rabbit's profile page so your rabbit boarding host or pet sitter can make good choices.
Let your host know
Remember why its important not to overfeed on fresh greens or pellets. They have a lower fibre content than hay which needs to be the main part of your healthy rabbit's diet.
