Confused! Help!

[Oatmeals_Mama]

Hey! So I’m a new bunny mama! My little guys name is Oatmeal. I feel him Timothy hat and pellets and the occasional carrot. What other sorts of vegetables or stuff is good for him? I’ve read to never give a bunny lettuce, broccoli, or celery, as it can kill them however I’m reading a book right now and it says that you CAN give them those things. Can anyone give me some pointers? Thanks!

[Bam]

Hi Oatmeal’s mama! It’s easy to become confused, there so much conflicting info about suitable vegs and greens for rabbits. The House Rabbit Society is a trusted source though, so many of us (most of us, actually) go by their suggestions. Here’s a good article about vegs and fruit for rabbits: http://rabbit.org/suggested-vegetables-and-fruits-for-a-rabbit-diet/

Rabbits can absolutely eat lettuce, it’s only iceberg lettuce that is ill reputed. Romaine lettuce is a go-to green for most of us, it’s well tolerated by most buns and it’s often available all year round.

Broccoli and other cabbage plants can cause gas in some individuals. You should introduce all new vegs slowly, to allow the tummy to get used to them. It’s clever to plan your own dinner to include the same vegs as the bun’s having, otherwise you’ll waste good vegs. A thumbnail piece of broccoli is a good starter portion.

Celery stick doesn’t kill rabbits. I cut it up in small pieces (half inch) because of the long threads that could potentially get stuck between teeth etc. I don’t know if that’s really necessary, but I still do it just to feel safe ? As with all other new food, do the introduction slowly.

[Wick & Fable]

Also, think of carrots as a treat, not a vegetable. They are high in sugar, so they shouldn’t be given anywhere near the same frequency as lettuce and other vegetables.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[kurottabun]

Just wanted to add that if Oatmeal is still very young (less than 3 months old), you might not want to give him veggies as his guts may not be developed enough to digest them properly. Vegetables can be slowly introduced in small portions when the bunny is 3 months old.

Of course if Oatmeal is older than that, then it’s fine for him to be eating vegetables as long as they are the ones suitable for buns

[Oatmeals_Mama]

Awesome! Thank you!

[DarthVadar]

Great veggies and other plants- romaine, celery (they love the leafy tops), carrot tops, clover (all varieties), dandelion greens, maple, birch, basswood, strawberry plants, grass
Good fruits and veggies as treats – carrot, banana, apple, strawberries
There are commercial treats available, but, quite frankly, are usually unhealthy and unnecessary. A little bit of banana will do fine.

[Oatmeals_Mama]

Can I dehydrate any if those for him?

[DarthVadar]

Probably, but they may get flaky and fall apart.

[Doodler]

I have heard conflicting opinions of feeding dehydrated fruits. Some say you should never feed them, some say you can. People who say you shouldn’t normally say this because they feel the sugar is too concentrated. My buns have gotten both dehydrated and freeze dried. I decided I couldn’t justify buying whole fruit and having it spoil so quickly. My buns get it so infrequently and so little of it that I’m not worried in the least. They love dehydrated apples and freeze dried blueberries in particular. If you ever end up buying instead of making it yourself just make sure they are just fruit with no sugar added.

[Oatmeals_Mama]

We have a dehydrator so I’d rather I make it then buy it.

[Author]

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