Iceberg lettuce

[fuzzy9]

Is Iceberg lettuce ok for the buns? Seems to me I thought I read somewhere on here, or someone had said, it's not the best for them. We always have leftovers from the salad bar, and rather than toss it, I'd like to feed it.

Also, would the cores and hearts from the Romain and Iceberg be ok to feed?

How slowly should I transition them to these greens?

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

Romain is better than iceburg. Iceburg is made up primarily of water so it is an empty food source, lacking anything of value in a feed.

 

[fuzzy9]

There is some romain mixed in. But really if it's more to feed it, rather than waste it by tossing it at the restaurant, I'd be fine. They've got plenty of free choice minerals, and other supplements for anything of nutrient value.

What about the core?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I don't know if this is accurate, but many moons ago when I worked in pet stores, the claim was that Iceberg lettuce was host to some type of bacteria, which caused diarrhea if the lettuce was fed in quantity.

I can guarantee that the rabbits will wolf it down, and would love the core, but I am not sure if it would be very beneficial even if it is not harmful per se.

I think you need chickens or a pig... :twisted:

 

[Miss M]

Yes, I've read that iceberg can cause diarrhea as well. Didn't know about the bacteria, though.

 

[fuzzy9]

That's why I came here to ask! Thank you!

Would it be ok to feed the romaine core ends?

 

[Miss M]

Would it be ok to feed the romaine core ends?

Probably, though it won't be as nutritious as the leaves. Just start them off slowly.

 

[SatinsRule]

Something else you may care to try along the way: Celery. Rabbits tend to eat that rather readily.

 

[Secuono]

There is nutritional value in Iceberg lettuce, but it is also over flowing with just water weight. Because it's so cheap, people tend to go nuts with it and that leads to diarrhea. Giving them a leaf a day is fine, I wouldn't give them more. And if it's just scraps and they are used to greens, a handful per bun should also be fine.

 

[Frecs]

I'd go very very slow and build up. The darker colored leaves are the most nutritious. I'd lean toward the Romaine. Celery has diuretic properties in humans so I'd be careful not to give too much to rabbits in case it works the same in them. What other veggies can you get from the salad bar?

Oh, and make SURE they haven't treated the vegetables with anything to "keep it fresh"...

I've started gathering leftovers from gatherings and such for my chickens and will probably be hitting up a few of the many restaurants in the area for their scraps but I'm much pickier for my rabbits as their systems are more delicate.

 

[hoodat]

I think the bacteria problem arises when people feed trimmings from grocery stores. Some of the outer leaves they pull off the heads are already getting slimy. I don't feed it extensively because other than a few vitamins there is nothing there but I've never had problems if it's fed out of the garden. I feed the ones I thin out of the row and those that are already starting to bolt. They seem to prefer the flower stems of the ones trying to seed over the young leaves.

 

[Zab]

There is nutritional value in Iceberg lettuce, but it is also over flowing with just water weight. Because it's so cheap, people tend to go nuts with it and that leads to diarrhea. Giving them a leaf a day is fine, I wouldn't give them more. And if it's just scraps and they are used to greens, a handful per bun should also be fine.

No need for me to repeat it when you said it so well

Iceberg lettuce are very common to give here.

 

[fuzzy9]

I might just try a leaf a day, and see what happens. Otherwise Dave said if I wanted, he could order me a case of Romaine from our food supplier. I'd worry about waste doing that though. If the rabbitry is staying in the mid 30's, will it keep decent in there?