I'm interested in getting rabbits ---- Edit: Just caught a dumped Bunny!!!

[EverythingDucks]

I'll do some more research on what brand to feed, hoping or something Organic or at least non-GMO.

Maybe her previous owner fed a lot of greens, I'm not entirely sure. I know most small owners over feed "treats", using carrots, greens, veggies, as treats. Maybe her owner was one of those.
I read/heard form a few sources that greens were a great nutrient dense addition to the diet, so I plan on feeding dark leafy greens like lettuce, select herbs, etc, but read that Cabbage and Iceberg lettuce are hard on digestion, and don't have many nutrients.

I would just slowly introduce greens, just incase they're new to her. You don't want her to get a messed up stomach from too much of something new.

Avoid iceberg lettuce for sure. Cabbage could be used as a treat, but again, slowly introduce everything, one thing at a time.

 

[Weeg]

Iceburg is nutrient poor and can cause diarrhea, so that one is a no go. Cabbage can potentially be fed in small amounts but like other cruciferous veggies (brusselsprouts, brocolli etc) it can cause gas and bloating in rabbits (and humans ) so introduce slowly and don't over do it. My bun likes the occasional cabbage leaf or sprout though.

Thanks for the more illiterate explanation. I appreciate it.
That makes sense though, I'll stick to a spring let's mix instead.

 

[Weeg]

I would just slowly introduce greens, just incase they're new to her. You don't want her to get a messed up stomach from too much of something new.

Avoid iceberg lettuce for sure. Cabbage could be used as a treat, but again, slowly introduce everything, one thing at a time.

Will do! I'll start a 1/4 of the amount I plan on feeding her, than go from there. Thanks for all the help guys!

 

[NatJ]

Because greens are only supposed to be a small amount of their diet. No other reason but that.

But why?
Is it based on what wild rabbits eat?
Is it based on research that shows rabbits are healthier eating mostly hay and few fresh greens?
Is it based on what is convenient for people, because hay is usually cheaper than lettuce?
Is it because grass (dried into hay) has different nutrients than the plants people usually give as fresh greens (like lettuce)?

(I'm not trying to make an argument, but I am trying to understand the logic here.)

 

[Kiki]

But why?


(I'm not trying to make an argument, nut I am trying to understand the logic here.)

It is a very common for habitual arguers to use this exact phrase.

Is this particular rabbit a pet rabbit or a wild rabbit?

Why... Because a balanced diet is best for all pets no matter what kind of pet it is.

 

[NatJ]

It is a very common for habitual arguers to use this exact phrase.

I'll be happy to delete that, and just leave my questions, if that will help.

Is this particular rabbit a pet rabbit or a wild rabbit?

Why... Because a balanced diet is best for all pets no matter what kind of pet it is.

I asked about wild rabbits because sometimes people claim we should feed pets the same way their wild ancestors eat, and I was trying to figure out if that was the case here.

But how do we know what a balanced diet is for a pet rabbit?

Purina makes several versions of rabbit food, each of which claims to be a complete diet for rabbits of one type or another, with no need to add anything else. So logically, we should just feed that and skip the hay.

Buying the right bag of "complete feed" works for chickens, and for dogs, so logically it should work for rabbits too.

But if the bag of food is not right, then on what grounds do we decide that rabbits need hay vs. green plants? And what kind of hay or what kind of green plants?

 

[CSAchook]

But why?
Is it based on what wild rabbits eat?
Is it based on research that shows rabbits are healthier eating mostly hay and few fresh greens?
Is it based on what is convenient for people, because hay is usually cheaper than lettuce?
Is it because grass (dried into hay) has different nutrients than the plants people usually give as fresh greens (like lettuce)?

(I'm not trying to make an argument, nut I am trying to understand the logic here.)

Rabbits have evolved to survive on a diet that is high in insoluble fiber and low in nutrients. It is one of the reasons they practice coprophagy (poop eating) to extract maximum nutrition. Hay is widely available and generally mirrors that natural diet (ie fiber rich and nutrient poor). Grasses like hay also contain silica based phytoliths which help wear down teeth. Fresh garden fruits and veggies are lower in fiber, higher in nutrients, and, thanks to selective breeding under domestication, often higher in sugar. They are also more delicious than hay. Feeding too much veggies will therefore often lead domestic rabbits to consume proportionally less hay. This can result in them not getting enough fiber, which can cause digestive and dental issues. The greater calorie content of tender veggies can also lead to weight gain over time if fed in large quantities.

edited for typos

 

[CSAchook]

Commercial rabbit feed is intended to provide complete nutrition. And from what I have read, many young rabbits as well as meat rabbits and breeding does do well on a pellet based diet. However, for pet rabbits specifically, where longevity and long term health are primary goals, an exclusively pellet diet may still be too nutrient rich or fiber poor (and there is quite a bit of variation in this regard among different brands) and eventually lead to excess weight gain or other issues. A primarily hay based diet is intended to keep pet bunnies very lean and active for the duration of their potentially 10 year lifespan.

 

[NatJ]

Rabbits have evolved to survive on a diet that is high in insoluble fiber and low in nutrients. It is one of the reasons they practice coprophagy (poop eating) to extract maximum nutrition. Hay is widely available and generally mirrors that natural diet (ie fiber rich and nutrient poor). Grasses like hay also contain silica based phytoliths which help wear down teeth. Fresh garden fruits and veggies are lower in fiber, higher in nutrients, and, thanks to selective breeding user domestication, often higher in sugar. They are also more delicious than hay. Feeding too much veggies will therefore often lead domestic rabbits to consume proportionally less hay. This can result in them not getting enough fiber, which can cause digestive and dental issues. The greater calorie content of tender veggies can also lead to weight gain over time if fed in large quantities.

edited for typos

So if I'm understanding that right, the real difference is not in whether it's fresh or dry, it is in the kind of plant.

When I think "greens" for a rabbit, I think of freshly-picked grass, maybe with some dandelion and plantain and leaves from an apple tree and similar things (which I think would be fine, based on what you said.)

But most people with pet rabbits are getting their "greens" from the grocery store, and it's easier to tell people to limit greens than to teach them what kinds of greens, and then warn them not to pick pesticide-sprayed greens either.

I think that makes sense now. Thank you for explaining.

 

[CSAchook]

So if I'm understanding that right, the real difference is not in whether it's fresh or dry, it is in the kind of plant.

When I think "greens" for a rabbit, I think of freshly-picked grass, maybe with some dandelion and plantain and leaves from an apple tree and similar things (which I think would be fine, based on what you said.)

But most people with pet rabbits are getting their "greens" from the grocery store, and it's easier to tell people to limit greens than to teach them what kinds of greens, and then warn them not to pick pesticide-sprayed greens either.

I think that makes sense now. Thank you for explaining.

Yes, perennial grasses like those used for hay are nutritionally very different than most annual plants. For example even dandelion greens (which I do pick for my bun along with twigs etc) are much lower in fiber and higher in nutrients than wild grasses. And lawn grasses are different (less fibrous etc) than native grasses

Beyond that though wild rabbits naturally eat a more varied diet. They also are burning more calories. Spoiled indoor buns like mine do not have access to the incredibly wide range of foods that wild animals do nor are they as active. And they never experience the lean of winter. This can present challenges in keeping them at a healthy weight. So we rely on hay as a key staple to try to mimic key aspects of their natural diet (high fiber, low nutrients). And use a bit of fresh veg for variety and enrichment.