Feeding Babies Greens

[Bad Habit]

Well, I probably should have brought this up ages ago, you know, before the first litter came out of the nest box, but it really never occurred to me to ask here...

Anyway, what do you guys do for feedings when your kits come out of the nest box? I just kept feeding like normal, giving the mum her daily ration of fresh grass/lettuce/greens, and the babies started nibbling on it as they developed interest. I increased the amount, because the babies were eating so much. Didn't have any digestive issues that I know about, no poopy bum or runs or anything like that.

It didn't cross my mind until later that every site I've read has said you can't feed baby buns fresh greens until they're at least 3mths old. I didn't want to deprive Lily of her greens, because she gets snotty if I do, and I didn't want to take her out to feed them to her. Since weaning, I've been giving the babies greens daily, just like I do mum and dad. They get a lot of grass, apple tree leaves, raspberry cane and rose cane, some lettuce, they've had cucumber and carrots, some tomato, I give them frozen berries to help cool down... Well, whatever I give mum and dad, I've given the babies.

Does everyone here swear by the 3mth rule, or do you all feed greens right away, or what? I figure, in the wild they aren't weaned onto pellets and hay, so they should be able to handle the fresh stuff. Everyone's fat and healthy, so I don't think it's hurting them? I am just wondering if I should advise the new owners not to feed greens until they're 3mths, or not to feed veg, or what? I definitely value your guys's opinions over the house rabbit people, as they have some wonky ideas. And for what it's worth, I didn't wait until Lily or Dobby was 3mths before feeding them greens either, and they've come through okay...

 

[ollitos]

All of my rabbits are on pasture. They get grass before they even leave the nest box. I free feed them the same food as their dam and put them out of the hutch onto grass as soon as they are big enough to get back into the hutch.

 

[MaggieJ]

If the kits have access to healthy greens (watch the amount of lettuce and don't feed iceberg lettuce) from the very beginning, then they will handle digesting the greens just fine. At first they just taste things and this helps them to develop the gut flora that they need to digest the greens and other foods.

The three month rule (some sources say six months) came about because when a person buys a baby rabbit that has never had greens and then gives them lettuce, carrots, cabbage etc. the poor rabbit bloats and often dies. It can't handle them because it has not had a chance to adjust to them slowly.

Rabbits are herbivores, not vegetarians. While they can eat many garden vegetables in moderation, the very best greens for them are the European invasive weeds that European rabbits (the ancestors of our domestic rabbits) have been eating since the last Ice Age. See the Safe Plants sticky in the Natural Feeding forum for specifics.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

It sounds like you give your buns a nice variety! As Maggie said, problems develop when they have never had access to fresh foods- it's like a kid whose parents restrict eating sweets, and then when they have free access they overeat them and get sick.

 

[Bad Habit]

I consult the safe plant sticky often! I help my mum garden a lot, and there's always three buckets - one for weeds to go in her compost, one for evil weeds that go to a friend's farm, and one for rabbit food. Veg is more of a treat, I never feed any head lettuce - just the occasional leaf of romaine or green/red leaf lettuce. I probably feed carrot tops more than I should, but I get an abundance of them at market, and the rabbits really like them. I have had the herbivore vs vegetarian lecture, and I adjusted my greens feeding accordingly, but when I'm eating a tomato and cucumber sandwich, it's so hard to ignore the bunnies begging, and I have to give in, lol. I do give them things that aren't the best for them in moderation(my female is addicted to unsalted pretzels), but have avoided anything but greens and the occasional veg treat for the babies. Will advise the new owners as to what they've had, and what they shouldn't have, and hope that everything goes okay. I don't want to tell them not to feed the babies greens, because I know they love them, and they've been nibbling on them since they came out of the nest box. I figured it was something along the lines of them not having them before, and needing to adjust, but wanted to verify.

 

[MaggieJ]

You're doing just fine, showing good judgment and responsibility in how you feed your buns. Carrot tops are good greens for rabbits as long as they are pesticide-free; it's the carrot root itself that you don't want to feed too much of. Garden carrots are just the domesticated version of Queen Anne's Lace.

 

[ZRabbits]

I've stuck with the 6 month time frame until feeding greens, because all my rabbits were never introduced to greens (just pellets and hay). But I have started giving wheat grass to my 6 week olds with no trouble. My Lion heads and flemmish loved it. Since Luna, my doe is now eating greens with no problems, I don't think I will pull the greens when she has kits. See what happens.

Karen

 

[curlysue]

I dont feed greens too my babies.My mom always did but it wasnt lettuce it was dandelions and other greens she had picked.i tell people no greens because my babies arent used too them.since my rabbits are soo small its more likely they will get enough too make them sick.

 

[skysthelimit]

The babies get what ever the adults eat, including greens. I don't have an ample supply, but I try to make sure they have at least a little green each week, if it's just some lemon balm, mallow or lambs quarters.