Myth #3 - Rabbits eat lettuce Reality: a rabbit's diet shouldn't be based on lettuce. Rabbits shouldn't eat some lettuces (such as iceberg), as they contain lactucarium, which can be harmful in large quantities.
Iceberg Lettuce
This may come as a shock, but you should avoid feeding your rabbit light-colored lettuce, including iceberg, as it can contain lactucarium, a chemical that can be harmful to your bunny's health if ingested. Iceberg lettuce also contains mostly water and will add little to no nutrition to a diet.
Romaine lettuce and lamb's lettuce are safe for rabbits. The darker the leaves, the healthier it will be. Butterhead lettuce is fine, but it's high in acids. Do not feed a rabbit iceberg lettuce as it contains excessive amounts of lactucarium, which is toxic for rabbits in high doses.
Particularly good vegetables include the dark leafy greens like romaine lettuce, bok choy, mustard greens, carrot tops, cilantro, watercress, basil, kohlrabi, beet greens, broccoli greens, and cilantro.
Yes, it is safe for rabbits to eat cucumber! Most rabbits will love the fresh taste. Rabbits can also eat cucumber leaves. Before feeding cucumber to your rabbit, wash it in cold water to remove pesticides.
What can rabbits not eat? These foods are poisonous for your rabbit and could make her ill: Potatoes, daffodils, tulips, rhubarb, lillies, mushrooms, avocado, broad beans, sweet peas, buttercup, kidney beans, jasmine, foxglove and iceberg lettuce.
Leafy greens daily
Rabbits must have an adult-sized handful of safe, washed leafy green vegetables, herbs and weeds daily.
Can rabbits eat tomatoes as an occasional treat? Yes, but there are a couple things you should know first. Tomatoes do have some health benefits (they're a great source of vitamins A and C) — but they're also high in sugar. As a result, as with all fruits and vegetables, a small amount is key.
Any leafy green that is safe for a human or a horse to eat is safe for a rabbit to consume. An approximate amount to feed would be around 1 cup of greens for 2 lbs of rabbit body weight once a day or divided into multiple feedings a day.
Generally speaking, suitable greens for every day feeding is lettuce (any kind EXCEPT iceberg - no nutrients) and herbs, which includes parsley, cilantro, dill, basil, etc. The amount is approximately 2 cups of veggies per 6lbs of rabbit (this can be split into two feedings).
Rabbit owners are being urged to feed their pets carrots as an occasional treat only. Vets say they contain too much sugar to be healthy. Read more on what can rabbits not eat.
Iceberg lettuce
Darker leaves are more nutritious for rabbits and can be fed more frequently.
Myth #3 - Rabbits eat lettuce
Reality: a rabbit's diet shouldn't be based on lettuce. Rabbits shouldn't eat some lettuces (such as iceberg), as they contain lactucarium, which can be harmful in large quantities.
Do not give broccoli to rabbits. It will give them painful gas. Never give your rabbit kale or spinach. Kale and spinach can cause health problems over time, due to the high amount of oxalates and goitrogens.
Rabbits eating a diet that is too high in carbohydrates (typically pellets) are prone to developing intestinal problems because they are not consuming adequate fiber (grass hay).
Celery is one of the healthiest vegetables for rabbits to eat. It's packed with nutrients such as vitamins C, A, B6, iron, and fiber. But it shouldn't be eaten in excess, so only offer your rabbit a small piece per day. Celery should be cut up into small pieces, as long celery strings can cause digestive problems.
Fruit For Rabbits
As long as the you remove the peel, feeding oranges to your rabbits are healthy for them in moderation so you can give this to them as an occasional treat. Orange colored fruits have a lot of healthy benefits. Oranges contain the fiber pectin, which helps to eliminate any toxins in the colon.
So, can rabbits eat strawberries? Strawberries are non-toxic and fed in very small quantities are unlikely to cause harm. However, there are plenty of veggie treats that are a more suitable choice, so save the strawberries for yourself and reach for more bunny-friendly options for your pet's daily portion of fresh veg.
Feed one-half in the morning and the other half in the evening. Feed your rabbit three types of vegetables per day, with at least one vegetable being high in vitamin A.
Rabbits can eat apples with the skin, but only in moderation. Feed your rabbit only 1 or 2 slices of apple per week. Although apples are rich in flavonoids, antioxidants, and fiber, they're also high in sugar. This can cause dental problems and obesity in rabbits.
Fresh food – an adult-sized handful of leafy greens, vegetables and herbs twice daily. Nuggets – just one tablespoon of rabbit nuggets once daily (or twice daily if your rabbits weigh over 3.5kg). Water – constant access to clean, fresh drinking water.
Do NOT feed the following: cereals, grains, nuts, seeds, corn, beans, peas, breads, biscuits, sweets, sugar, breakfast cereals, chocolate or any garden plants that are toxic to rabbits (see links below).
Fruit. Pretty much any fruit will make a good sweet treat, though the high sugar content means it should only be given in moderation. It's also important to remove any pips or stones that could become choking hazards. Bananas, apples, strawberries and raspberries have all proven a hit.