Feeding
the house rabbit 2: Vegetables
Camilla
Bergstrøm
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Most
rabbits love vegetables. They add variation to the diet and are entertaining
to eat. Vegetables also contain many nutrients your rabbit need. The high
water content helps hydrate the intestinal content, and further improve
digestion. Introducing
vegetables
It is
very important that vegetables and other types of fresh food are introduced
slowly and carefully. It is often best to introduce just one kind at a time.
Don’t be tempted to give your rabbit large amounts in the beginning. This can
cause soft stools, diarrhea or stasis. Start with one vegetable (e.g.
celery). Offer a small piece and wait for at least 24 hours. If there are no
soft stools, a larger piece can be offered the next day. If the droppings get
soft, discontinue the introduction, and try again some other time. Take your
time, and allow 5-7 days to introduce each vegetable. The
digestive tract of young rabbits is not fully developed and they may suffer
diarrhea if the diet is changed. Watery stools are, however, more often the
result of an infestation of the digestive tract by coccidia, a major cause of
death at this young age. Young rabbits will start to nibble on hay and fresh
vegetables after leaving the nest, at age of 2 or 3 weeks. If the young does
not suffer adverse effects, this natural behavior should be encouraged, so to
help develop a healthy bacterial flora in the intestine. If a young rabbit
does not handle fresh food well, it should be stopped during a few days, and
then reintroduced slowly. Other causes like parasitic infestation or
environmental conditions should be ruled out. Video of young rabbit nibbling on fresh
greens.
Linda
Baley
An adult rabbit should be offered at
least 3-6 different types of vegetables every day. Be sure to vary once in a
while to keep it interesting. A 6 lbs rabbit should have between 1 ½ and 2 ½
cups of fresh vegetables a day. It is an individual matter which, and how
much vegetables a rabbit can tolerate. You might have to experiment a little
to find the perfect balance for your rabbit. Video about fresh vegetables
for rabbits
Debbie
Hanson, with the collaboration of Barbara Schmeitz and the rabbit Pixel. At least one of the daily vegetables
should contain vitamin A (e.g., beet tops, broccoli, carrot tops, dandelion
leaves, endive, cress, chicory). Some vegetables to try
• Dark
green and red lettuces are OK, but the light green varieties (iceberg) can
cause diarrhoea in some rabbits. • Cucumber
and iceberg lettuce contain almost no nutrients and some rabbits can get
digestive problems. • Too
much cabbage can cause enlargement of the thyroid and digestive problems.
C. Bergstrøm Rabbits enjoy socializing at meal times The following vegetables are OK in limited
amounts, but may cause gas in some rabbits:
Adar enjoying fresh vegetables or a carrot |
e-mail: info@medirabbit.com
