Hello, Buneary.

Yes, vegetables are an essential in a rabbit’s diet, and it is certainly not too late for this girly start eating (and enjoying) them, either. From what I know of your issue, it seems as if you should consider eliminating the small amount of treats you feed in her diet. Not forever, just temporary. Until she starts eating vegetables. How many pellets do you feed Buneary? Do you feed 1/4 cup? 1/2 cup? Whatever measurements you feed, you may want to eliminate by half. Exmp: If you feed 1/4 pellets, start feeding 1/8… If you feed 1/2, feed 1/4…Make sense? If you already feed her the minimum of 1/8, then don’t go any lower.
My point is, eliminate things that Buneary may be choosing over vegetables. Bunnies love their pellets, and they are a special treat. Imagine being fed chocolate cake, then being offered broccoli. You are going to be like “Aw heck no! I want the yummy stuff!”. That’s exactly what happens here, though you feed your bunny the perfect diet, seeming, you may want to eliminate the good stuff even the slightest bit, just in case those foods may be replacing veggies. Also, don’t feed less hay, keep the hay no matter what! Just shrink the amount of the other foods you feed Buneary. Best of luck!

Have a great day, -L

In an ideal world, yes our pet bunnies should have veggies but we can’t force them. It might just be a case of continuing to try. I really don’t think she’s rejecting them because she’s too full, so I can’t see how decreasing pellets would help but I suppose you could try. Have you tried other fragrant herbs along with the mint, so thyme for example? If she really doesn’t want veggies tho, that’s just how it is unfortunately. At least you are giving her pellets so she shouldn’t have any deficiencies. I imagine it can be frustrating though (for you!)

If she’s never been big on veggies it may be she’s confused as to what to do with them. Buns are often very picky eaters and need to get used to dietary changes.
Personally I’m not a fan of cutting pellets to wait and see if they’d eat other things, mostly cause a very stubborn bun won’t care anyways and it could be detrimental to their GI and teeth health if they’re not chewing enough. You can cut on treats all you want, though. Since they’re extras

I suggest to stick to one veggie or herb at a time and insist with it until she tries it. You could start with salad or celery, which are less expensive and make for a great human side dish as well. Rinse under water, dry off and give her one piece every day consistently. You might even try to eat some in front of her after you’ve served her portion, maybe she’ll get inspired by seeing that it’s a safe food to try.

A trick I use is to stick my nail in the herb or vegetable to let the smell and juices out and then offer the bun that part.

Be patient and be consistent, I’m sure she’ll cave in eventually!

Coming from a bad enviroinment (the pet store) she must be thinking these weird green things are poisonous or something. I think she’s being more a survivalist than a picky eater at this point.

When she’ll be bonded to Chibi and will see her eat veggies, I have a feeling she’ll surely get convinced. In the meanwhile sharing some veggie eating sessions with you will be good for bonding and she’ll see you eat them and not die Be patient!

I got my bun to eat veggies by adding a little bit to his pellets. Once he got his first taste of veggies, it was easier to convince him to try the other veggies by themselves.

I also found ripping up herbs would tempt a picky bun to eat, as they can smell it better. Often you do just need to keep giving them the same thing every day, and one day they’ll somehow end up eating it. If you’re worried about waste it doesn’t need to be a huge amount. Just quarter a romaine leaf, or one sprig of cilantro. If its not eaten within 8 hours, remove it and try again the next day with a fresh piece.

My previous bun Bandit was a stinker for not trying new foods. The first green I introduced him to was bok choy. It took four days of my leaving it in his cage for him to finally eat it. Once he finally tried it, he realised that he liked it Before trying it he used to throw it and push it away into a corner. Just keep trying with one green, offer it every day for a week if need be. Eventually they get curious enough to try.

It was the same with apple, for years I couldn’t get him to try apple, then one day I wiggled a little piece in past his lips and he licked it, he never looked back! lol

I think you ought just continue to try, buns are often stubborn but humans can be more stubborn

When I first introduced Ophelia to veggies she was very hesitant. She would nibble here and there but she wasn’t scarfing them down. I think it’s just a natural instinct for them, they need to be very cautious about new foods because they don’t know if this is good for them or poisonous or what. Now I can’t even cook without having to share whatever herbs I am using with the bunny that is standing on my feet!!

That’s so frustrating! But with some rabbits, regardless of what they are SUPPOSED to eat, they’re going to eat what they eat and don’t care about your opinion. I have a rabbit that won’t eat hay. Seriously. He’ll eat one of two single strands of it and that’s about it for the day. He’s always been that way (he’s 10), so maybe you just have a really picky bunny like me. I would keep offering them to her, because you never know when you might find the ONE THING she likes the smell of, that will get her started on trying them all. You’ve probably already tried this, but my only other suggestion would be to rip some lettuce up into very small pieces and put it in her pellets.

You can’t expect changes to happen in a couple of days. Keep pushing consistently every day for a long time, buns are hard nuts to crack.

Be perseverant!

Have you tried basil or fennel?

With herbs, it can help to “slap” it against your wrist to release the aromatics and entice the bunny to try it.

Carrot tops are also usually a favorite. And dandelion.. you might even see if she’d like fresh grass as an intermediate between hay and veggies.

This reminds me of a children’s book that I loved as a kid about a bunny that wouldn’t eat his carrots!

This is technically not okay from a proper civilian point of view, but to save effort, can you be sneaky and go grocery shopping and just pluck a leaf from like, everything in the produce section, and bring it home to present a sampler platter? People eat grapes in the grocery store all the time, so….

The distinction between fresh fruit and dehydrated fruit is very interesting. There is a distinctly different smell between dried apples and bananas to fresh apple and bananas, so maybe she’s more particular about scents. Additionally, the texture is very different too. For Wick, it’s much easier to eat dehydrated fruits than veggies, which needs to be rotated, more thoroughly chewed, and the flavor reward is not nearly as satisfying. Dehydrated fruits are much more concentrated, so more bang for your buck. Thinking this way may lead to a good way to get her to try and eat some veggies.

This is pretty out there and unconventional, but maybe a scent-potent herb, like basil or mint, that you wash in ice cold water, crumple/bundle together with haystrands or with its own stems, and freeze for a bit so they’re slightly frozen, better mimicking a dehydrated state. I’ve given Wick frozen fruit before and he didn’t seem to mind the temperature. Maybe try it with other veggies or mix it with the dehydrated fruit and see what the result is.

Hahaha Wick, I’m just imagining you sneaking around the grocery store sneaking leaves up your sleeve ??

I had a bunny just like that. She lived a long and happy life so don’t fret! Maybe look into giving her more pellets, those have all vitamins she needs so they could substitute for veggies in a way.

Have you tried (dried) herbs? Maybe mix it in her hay? Give her some grass and hide some small leafy veggies in there so she accidentally eats them?

One of my current bunnies is very hesitant in trying new things but as soon as he finally tries it, he usually likes it and happily eats it after that. I happen to have another bunny (his girlfriend) that eats literally everything so she is his example in trying new things. If he sees her munching on something he will be all like “oooh is that edible?”

That’s really strange. I’m at a loss except for maybe trying dandelion greens, if you haven’t yet. They are a fave for a lot of buns.

Don’t know if you’ve tried any dried herbs or forage? I give my buns things like dried strawberry and blackcurrant leaves, rose petals, marigolds, plantain….

If she really won’t eat fresh veg though, then I think there’s probably not much you can do. I don’t think it will affect her lifespan – hay is the most important part, and she should get nutrients from her pellets. Sarahthegemini doesn’t feed veg because of stasis issues, so bunnies definitely can be healthy without veg!

I don’t think you should increase pellets or fruit, just be sure she has lots of fresh water and hay. The normal amount of pellets is enough to supply necessary vitamins.

Also keep offering from time to time! Especially fragrant herbs (fennel, basil, cilantro, parsley). Sometimes it just takes time for them to try it and realize they like it.

Yeah my Pepper is the same way. She LOVES pellets and hay but when it comes to veggies or fruit she could care less. The only way I can get her to eat some apple or anything else is to “share” it with her. If I eat a bite and offer it to her she will take it. Like a small dog haha. Best of luck to you! Keep trying, sometimes its a matter of trial and error.