How do you get a rabbit to eat vegetables (and fruit)?

[Paisley&Sage]

Hi, I just got a new rabbit Willow. She is a one-year-old holland lop. My other rabbit devours fruits and veggies. Willow does not touch them. She eats hay and pellets fine, but I know vegetables are a critical part of rabbit’s diets. I only got her a week ago so I have not tried many different options yet, but she seems like she will not be interested. Talking to her previous owner, she did not eat fruits and vegetables for them either. How do I encourage her to eat produce? Thank you in advance! 🙂

[Wick & Fable]

So actually, if you have good-quality complete pellets (see here: http://www.therabbithouse.com/diet/rabbit-food-comparison.asp), then your rabbit is getting everything she needs from hay and pellets. Veggies are a nice addition for stimulation and just another source of those other vitamins and minerals, but pellets actually cover those fine.

For my more anxious rabbit, Fable, I need to present the same veggie on a plate for every day for 1 week. She doesn’t touch it until we really get to that point, in which case after several hours my other rabbit gets her plate, haha. Sometimes they need multiple exposures to it until they are willing to try it.

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.

[ParsleyBun]

Fruits aren’t important, they’re actually treats and  they’re unnecessary if you’re bun dislikes them. I suggest cutting back to less than a fourth a cup or possibly an eighth of a cup of pellets so she’ll be more hungry for her pellets and veggies. But as long as she’s not gorging on pellets, is eating lots of hay, and her weight is staying consistent, there’s nothing to worry about.

[DanaNM]

I agree that they aren’t necessary (especially fruits, which I rarely feed mine). BUT, if you’d like to encourage some veggie eating, it is best to just keep offering them. If she sees the other bun eating them that might also convince her to take a nibble.

Really fragrant herbs like cilantro and parsley tend to be good for enticing a bun to try them too.

. . . 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.  

[LBJ10]

Yeah… it takes some bunnies awhile to realize veggies are edible. LOL  I agree with simply continuing to present them to see if she will eventually decide to try a little. However, it isn’t absolutely critical for her to eat them on a regular basis, so don’t stress too much over it.

[Cinnimon&Ollie]

There isn’t a need to stress over it but one my bunnies LOVE is kale if you want to try.

[Bam]

I remember one BB member that said his bun reacted to arugula as if he had offered her a pork chop 🤣 He had to try several times before his bun would  venture a bite. Once she did, she was like H*ll yeah!

Try small pieces of veg, several times. Don’t buy too much vegetables. It’s best if you get veg that  you and your family enjoy  -or else the veg will wilt and become less appetizing for the bun.

Fruit is actually best avoided.

[DanaNM]

And then there is @Sonn, whose bun is terrified of strawberries! lol

Other other weird tip, one of my bridge bunnies, Bunston, hated when his salad was served wet! So I would have to wash everything and let it dry before giving it to him. With herbs you can also “slap” them to release the aromatics and encourage the bun to have a nibble.

. . . 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.  

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