Iceberg lettuce?

[jackieblue]

Is it true this can kill some bun’s?? And that they shouldn’t be started on fruits or veggies until about 6 months?

I just read the pellet type food shown in a picture was not that great of stuff but that is what the pet store weaned my sons new bunny to so I didn’t figure I would jump to introduce the kind that came with the cage kit for a few more days and then slowly thereafter. Is that good?

Thanks!!

[Beka27]

Iceberg is high in pesticides and is altogether not very nutritious. You want to feed dark leafy green veggies (romaine, kale, greens, etc). You can start feeding veggies right away, but in a very limited amount. Some people wait until 12 weeks, but with a healthy bun that isn’t necessary.

I don’t understand your pellet question. Can you clarify?

If your bun is new, try to set up an appointment with a rabbit vet sometime within the next couple weeks. A baseline exam is important with young bunnies who may have coccidia, a condition that can be fatal within a couple months.

[jackieblue]

 

 This photo by a new owner asking lots of questions and one of the first few answers was by jerseygirl who said she avoids that sort of pellet feed and that is the same stuff our Dig Dug was eating before bringing him home and the kind that the salesperson gave me a bag of. 

I added some fruit and veggie mix to it last night and she ate nearly non stop for a looong time and even “kicked” a bunch of those pellets out to get to the apparent “good stuff”, LOL!

[BB Administrator]

I’m not sure how old your bunny is, but even healthy dark leafy greens should be started about 12 weeks (3 months) so if he’s younger than that, I’d wait.  This is a great link to the HRS Diet Guidelines and it even has info about what to look for in a healthy pellet. 

Be sure to make note though of the age requirements in the article for different feed changes. 

http://rabbit.org/faq-diet/

Helloworld!!

[jerseygirl]

Just to clarify, I was referring to the grains. I realize now its one of those treat bars. They’re not great either.
The plain pellets are good. You do see mixes with things like grains, seeds, corn and molasses coated chopped hay along with pellets. Those mixes are not healthy.
It’s good to initially keep the rabbit on the feed it was eating when you got it. You are correct in that introducing new food should be done slowly. : )

[MoveDiagonally]

BB gave you a great link for info about a bunnies diet. Please take a moment to read through it because it’ll help a lot (I’m using it for my baby bunnies). Iceberg Lettuce can lead to loose stool which for a baby bunny can become a medical emergency rather quickly. As everyone else said it’s also not very nutritious. 

I have two babies right now 8 and 9 weeks old. They currently eat unlimited Oxbow Young Rabbit pellets and unlimited alfalfa hay (though when we run out of the alfalfa they’re going to be switching to orchard hay like the rest). When they get to be about 12 weeks old I’ll introduce a small amount of veggies (probably romaine lettuce to start). 

At 6-7 months I will switch them over to Oxbow’s Adult Rabbit pellets (1/4 – 1/2 cup per 6 lbs), unlimited hay, and 1-2 cups of veggies per 6lbs, HERE is a safe veggie list. 

[Fox]

I’m not sure whether this is true or not, but I’ve heard that Iceberg lettuce has such a high water content that it could potentially drown them.

[Beka27]

Posted By Fox on 04/11/2013 08:45 AM

I’m not sure whether this is true or not, but I’ve heard that Iceberg lettuce has such a high water content that it could potentially drown them.

I’ve never heard that.  I don’t know how that would even occur.  Must be one of those weird misconceptions about rabbits.  

[Beka27]

To clarify further on Coccidia which I briefly mentioned… A lot of what happens is coincidental.

Rabbit breeders treat their “breeding stock” and the babies with a diluted medication to control Coccidia. The dose is usually too low so it CONTROLS it, but does not CURE it.

Next…

You bring home your baby bunny at 8 weeks and suddenly he/she is no longer getting this low dose medication from the breeder, so the Coccidia is allowed to flourish. Pet store bunnies have been without this medication even longer, that’s why they sometimes seem “sicker”…

Fast forward to 12 weeks old…

Sources say you can start feeding veggies at 12 weeks old. People start feeding iceberg lettuce (or any lettuce). Coincidentally, this is also when the bunny starts showing symptoms of Coccidia (diarrhea, listlessness, weight loss).

Not being aware of what Coccidia is (and not seeking prompt vet care), people assume the illness is due to lettuce and they stop feeding it. The bunny does not get better though (if vet care isn’t provided), and passes away. 

Now this person thinks… LETTUCE = DEATH, which is simply not true.

So that is the long version of the misconception about lettuce and bunnies. Hopefully that helps!

[Fox]

Posted By Beka27 on 04/11/2013 08:48 AM

Posted By Fox on 04/11/2013 08:45 AM

I’m not sure whether this is true or not, but I’ve heard that Iceberg lettuce has such a high water content that it could potentially drown them.

I’ve never heard that.  I don’t know how that would even occur.  Must be one of those weird misconceptions about rabbits.  

That’s what I thought too  

[Sarita]

What Beka posted – SO TRUE!!!

[Author]

Messages