Daily greens, kale not ok as an everyday food?

[Peapod026]

Hey all!
Well, my little Merlin is growing up fast and is starting to get fresh greens as part of his diet, in addition to pellets and hay. I am fairly confused on some veggies, such as kale, which people on these forums say is not ok to feed daily, but websites like rabbit.org list as something that can be fed everyday. So I figured I’d ask my fellow bun lovers in cyberspace how they feel/their experience feeding Bunnys the following veggies daily:

Kale (Merlin’s favorite, but some say too high in calcium to feed daily?)
Nasturtium leaves (not flowers, but we’ve got a ton of plants growing, are leaves ok?)
Blackberry leaves
Rose leaves
Herbs, such as rosemary and basil (I know parsley needs to be rotated)
Apple leaves
Pear leaves (are these ok fresh?)

All veggies listed are growing in my garden and are fresh and clean, so just want to know what’s ok to incorporate into a daily feed, so Merlin can have the freshest veg possible!
Thanks!!

[Sarita]

From the House Rabbit Society website on kale:

Please note that there is currently dispute within the scientific community regarding the levels of oxalates and goitrogens in kale. Many of our rescuers have fed kale daily, combined with other veggies, with no ill effects. Others have found that kale fed in large amounts on a daily basis may contribute to bladder sludge and other health issues. HRS encourages you to make your own decisions on how you feed kale to your rabbit based on this information, and when solid, undisputed research is found we will update this and other articles relating to feeding kale.

[JackRabbit]

Our vet is taking the scientific side and saying that an occasional bit shouldn’t hurt but why risk it.

Check your basil good every time before giving it to your bunnies. I grew basil for mine and found it had basil downy mildew. Another BBer has found it on hers as well. You can google it to see what it looks like. Some types of basil are more resistant to it; sweet basil is most likely to have it.

[Sarita]

I think they don’t know scientifically – I say that it would be good to give it but if you don’t feel comfortable don’t feed it daily – it’s very good stuff and rabbits do need calcium.

I have fed it every day to my rabbits and some have had sludge and some have not….sludge is another one of those rabbit things that there is just not much information about…

[Deleted User]

Since I discovered Kale (I never heard of it till I met BB) – it is such a favourite (staple) for Henry that if the shop has run out we ask when there next lot is due and go back just to buy it.
Henry eats and has eaten Kale ‘every’ night for the last year along with about another 5 varieties of veg/salad. I have never had a health issue with Henry to this day…… (gosh, I hope I haven’t jinxed him???). But keep in mind, for some of the crap he has eaten and his tummy still hasn’t exploded – I honestly believe his tummy is made of steel. Another veggie that get’s some BBer’s talking is cabbage. Again, Henry has cabbage every night and no probs. I really think it depends of how the bunny’s tummy tolerates certain food’s?

Edit to ADD – We have a mulberry tree and for as long as it has leaves, we feed Henry an abundance of leaves every day – they are very healthy! I’m assuming (?) blackberry and mulberry leaves are simular in nutrition?

[Peapod026]

Thanks guys!
You know, I think I’ve read too much, because I forget what I read on important websites, like rabbit.org! But, maybe I’ll compromise and rotate Merlin’s diet, just to be safe. I’m very paranoid and found myself stressing out thinking he had gas bubbles or GI trouble from the kale, but he was just hanging out in the corner, not stretched out, and is fine!
Sounds like it’s just good to be in tune with my bunny and see what works for him!
Oh, and thanks for the heads up on the basil! I actually can’t grow it so get it at the farmers market every week! I vigilantly check it for mildew though, because I think I read the posts about that (and the $600) vet bills that came along with it!!

[JackRabbit]

That vet bill was me.

I think with kale vs no kale, you’ve got it right — the best diet includes variety and rotation, whether you’re a bunny or a human. Two of mine get a tiny bit of kale when it looks good. Kieko is the one who tends to have a little issue with excess calcium (even tho she’s otherwise my iron gut mutt bunny!) so she doesn’t get high calcium greens, she gets a good variety of other greens and herbs. I think my bunnies eat healthier than I do!

[Author]

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