Veggies Question..

2479 Views 16 Replies 7 Participants Last post by Jess, Apr 29, 2011

Angelnstuff

Discussion Starter · Apr 19, 2011

When feeding your rabbits lettuce, do you ever offer them the core? It never occurred to me before that she might like it, We usually just throw it in the compost, It should be ok for her right? I know theres a ton of veggie related topics on here, but i haven't seen anything about the cores.

What have you been feeding your rabbits lately? Ours mostly eats red/green leaf lettuce , Celery, cilantro, carrots, and basil. seem to be her favorites.

Shes soo picky about trying new ones, I tricked her into taking a bite of parsley today, shoulda seen the look she gave me! And i mixed some in with her salad today so shes sitting there staring at it in protest! lol
I'm sure she'll be enjoying it by the end of the week tho, if she ever tries it!

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Jess

· #2 · Apr 19, 2011

I don't usually give Smudge the core, because it's mostly just water. The lighter colored stuff doesn't have as much nutrition as the darker parts of the lettuce. It wouldn't hurt to give her a little though, if she likes it.

Smudge gets Romain lettuce, parsley, and a little bit of carrot every night. Sometimes I'll switch it up a little with spinich, collard greens, cilantro, cellery, or give him a little fruit instead of the carrot.

SanWolf

· #3 · Apr 25, 2011

Kodo doesn't like carrots but I usually give him Romaine lettuce, its his fav. He is super picky and doesn't like herbs like parsley and cilantro :/
I don't think the cores are that nutritious ;like Jess said " mostly just water"
Iceburg lettuce is bad too because there is more water content

Angelnstuff

Discussion Starter · #4 · Apr 25, 2011

Our rabbit didn't like cilantro at first either, shes so picky just like a little kid, you have to give it to them quite a few times or let it sit there before shes willing to try it.. and even after shes tried it, it takes awhile for her to decide she likes it, but cilantro is now her fav veggie, its the only veg she'll follow us around for. Thats why we dont buy anything new just for her, that we wont eat, but i needed some parsley for a recipe so i thought i'd sneak it in on her lol

Those papaya tabs people talk about on here were like that too, everyone said their rabbit loved them so much so we ordered some from oxbow and it took nearly a month of putting one in her food bowl with her pellets before she would even try it. now she loves them too!

lol silly buns!

As for the lettuce core, I found another site where someone said they give there buns the cores, maybe i'll try giving it to her next time, she might enjoy gnawing on it a bit, just got something different.

Purple-Hops

· #5 · Apr 25, 2011

I never thought about the core. I know from experience that Acacia only picks at the bland white parts

She eats parsley but with a mad face, and loves the lettuce blends I buy. Sobeys and Dominion (our 2 main grocery chains) sell organic, pre-washed mixes in a plastic shell. It lasts like 4 nights and is less than 4$ and some contain things like baby lettuces, arugula, and um- other dark healthy leafy veggies. Acacia just dies for it. She prefers to drink water from her bowl I've noticed so I don't care about giving her cores. It's something we just never thought of!!

I'd say it's okay to give as long as they're getting regular good dark veggies. It will up their water intake too. It's almost totally nutrient-less so keep that in mind.

BarkingPup

· #6 · Apr 25, 2011

I don't feed Hamm much lettuce expect in the winter (when I can't find Kale or Fennel) because it doesn't have much nutrients. Same for celery, it's mostly water. I don't see how much harm the core could do, it's never done anything for Hamm and he likes having something large to pull apart.

So far Hamm only eats leafy green things because his previous owners only fed him collard greens. I'm hoping that this summer I can get him to eat peppers, cucumber, squash, etc. I think a varied diet is the best diet ^^

Dragonrain

· #7 · Apr 26, 2011

I don't feed much lettuce either but when I do, yes I do give them the core. I'm weird and don't like to throw stuff away if someone in the house will eat it, and my bunnies actually seem to enjoy it so I'd rather let them eat it than trash it.

I feed very small amounts of pellets so my rabbits get salads every day. Usually I give them combinations of at least 3 types of green leafy veggies like collard greens, dandelion greens, kale, mustard greens, parsley, peppermint leaves, romaine lettuce, basil, spinach...then extra stuff like a small amount of fruit and a bit of other types of veggies like green peppers, snow peas, carrots, etc.

Funny thing about cilantro, my rabbits all really like it but I cannot stand the smell! Neither can my fiance. The smell of it seriously makes me want to throw up :lol: Apparently, there is some gene that some people have that makes the smell/taste of cilantro really disgusting. So my poor bunnies are deprived of cilantro.

Angelnstuff

Discussion Starter · #8 · Apr 26, 2011

no stores here sell stuff like dandelion greens, peppermint leaves, I think i've only ever seen kale at our store, and it was only one little sickly lookin bit.
Our produce section leaves much to be desired, lol I like buying the bags of mixed lettuce, theres an Italian blend our rabbit likes, I think its just leaf lettuce and arugula. I've seen the plastic containers of organic salad mix, but im not always sure whats in them, like it will just say baby greens or something, dont wanna end up giving her something that will make her sick
I wonder if you can buy dandelion seeds somewhere, I know they grow anywhere, but i wouldn't want to feed the ones from our lawn cuz everyone around here sprays the weeds.

I havent tried giving her collard greens yet.. mostly because ive never had them before, wouldnt know what to do with them if she didnt eat them lol

I thought i read somewhere they weren't supposed to have spinach? or is it just a limited thing?

Dragonrain

· #9 · Apr 26, 2011

Spinach is okay in small amounts.

Maybe you could get dandelion seeds outside? If you got them outside from seeds and grow them indoors or whatever, they should be fine to feed the bunnies.

We're lucky here that our produce section has a lot of variety. The stores I use to shop at before we moved didn't have the weirder greens line dandelion leaves either...but the grocery store we shop at now always has them.

http://www.rabbit.org/care/veggies.html

Purple-Hops

· #10 · Apr 26, 2011

Dragonrain said:
Funny thing about cilantro, my rabbits all really like it but I cannot stand the smell! Neither can my fiance. The smell of it seriously makes me want to throw up :lol: Apparently, there is some gene that some people have that makes the smell/taste of cilantro really disgusting. So my poor bunnies are deprived of cilantro.

I avoid cilantro for its awful smell too!! I don't think Acacia likes it anyway :approve:

Dragonrain

· #11 · Apr 26, 2011

Haha glad to hear I'm not the only one!

Jess

· #12 · Apr 26, 2011

Dragonrain said:
Usually I give them combinations of at least 3 types of green leafy veggies like collard greens, dandelion greens, kale, mustard greens, parsley, peppermint leaves, romaine lettuce, basil, spinach...then extra stuff like a small amount of fruit and a bit of other types of veggies like green peppers, snow peas, carrots, etc.

I heard that collards, kale, and mustards have too much calcium to feed very often? Maybe I'm wrong, but I've only been giving collards about once a week. Collards and mustards are what Dudley eats, so if Smudge could have more of those that would be awesome, because so much of it rots before I can use it all.

I think cilantro is gross too, but other people in my house actually like it LOL, so we almost always have some around.

Angelnstuff

Discussion Starter · #13 · Apr 27, 2011

i didnt know so many people didnt like cilantro! i must admit i wasn't crazy about it at first, but it grows on you, we make a quick homemade salsa that wouldn't be the same without it. lol

BarkingPup

· #14 · Apr 27, 2011

Jess said:
I heard that collards, kale, and mustards have too much calcium to feed very often? Maybe I'm wrong, but I've only been giving collards about once a week. Collards and mustards are what Dudley eats, so if Smudge could have more of those that would be awesome, because so much of it rots before I can use it all.

I think cilantro is gross too, but other people in my house actually like it LOL, so we almost always have some around.

I know that carrot tops are controversial because of the calcium content... checking my Rabbit Safe Veggies List it says that Chard is no problem but Collard Greens can cause bladder sludge. And Mustard Greens and Kale are good in moderation.

Dragonrain

· #15 · Apr 27, 2011

I just pretty much give everything in moderation...and don't overdo any one food but instead give a lot of verity.

binkies

· #16 · Apr 29, 2011

Some lettuce are dangerous, I would avoid any, they have almost no nutrition.

Jess

· #17 · Apr 29, 2011

Dark leafed lettuces are fine, it's the iceburg that is too watery for them.

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