I need help with veggies

[Number1Sticky]

I need help with veggies for my rabbits (and guinea pig-if anyone knows about guinea pigs). I’ve haven’t been very good about feeding them veggies over the years. I know it’s bad and I feel horrible about it. But I’m feeding them veggies on a daily basic now. But the problem is because they aren’t use to them they don’t eat much of a variety. I’m trying to give them a variety. But they don’t eat most of the stuff I try, and I’ve tried several times. I can try to give them the same food for a week straight but have to throw it away because they don’t touch it.

Right now they are only getting (each day):
Red Leaf Lettuce
Carrots
Green Peppers

Stuff they won’t eat that I’ve tried:
Celery
Cucumber
Squash
Tomatoes
Zucchini

So I was just wondering what I can try to do to get them to eat it?
What are some other stuff they can eat on a daily basic?
Can I give them two different kinds of lettuce in one day?
Like could I give them red leaf and romaine lettuce?

[mocha200]

Two different kinds of lettuce in a day it fine. Some things I think you should try is: Romaine lettuce, Parsley, and Cilantro.

[LizzieKnittyBun]

Below is a really great guide that you can print and cut out to take with you to the store.  Try cilantro and bok choy; they’re very healthy and can be given every day.  Plus, most buns I know love them!

Don’t give too much carrot, because it has a lot of sugar in it and can make bunnies gain weight!

I would avoid the asterix vegetables, except on a rare basis, because they can give buns the runs.

 

 

[Dee]

Hi Number1Sticky- my bunnies wouldn’t eat anything on your bunnies “won’t eat” list either. In fact, when I got my female bunny, Nelli, she didn;t know what to think of greens at first. She was 5 months old and never really had them before. BunBun, my male bunny, can be a bit finicky about his food. Here’s a list of their favorites:

Can Have Daily Without Any Poopy Butt:

Parsley
Red/Green Swiss Chard
Red/Green Leaf Lettuce
Chicory
Escarole

Small Amounts (Bun gets poopy butt from too much)

Cilantro
Dandelion Greens
Watercress
Arugula
Kale
Collard Greens
Turnip Greens

There are also pre-mixed greens which are convenient but nt as fresh as something you wash/prepare yourself. But once your bunnies eat greens regularly, they might be a good option.

Spring Mix Greens- These come in a bag or plastic package. They contain a mix of lettuces, kale, chard, and other greens. They are kind of expensive but great for busy days cuz they’re prewashed- just rinse them and serve them! I would only feeed the Spring Mix AFTER you have given your bunny a variety of greens that are in the mix so you know that they can eat them without a problem.

Good luck with the greens- I’m sure your bunnies will be thrilled to try some new things. Sorry I don’t know anything about guinea pigs!

[Number1Sticky]

I was looking at some sample lists for guinea pigs and think this one would work well for me. This is a list for just one guinea pig, so I would double everything for a rabbit because rabbits are supposed to have twice as much as guinea pigs.

But I have a few questions.
1. Will this also work for a rabbit? As far as I know everything listed is good for rabbits also.
2. Instead of Romaine can I use red/green leaf lettuce?
3. Is there something else I could use instead of Mixed leaves? Could I use Romaine instead?
4. Can I freeze some of the veggies? Because most of this stuff I don’t eat and I would have to buy it in somewhat large quantities.

Thanks!!

Monday am.
Romaine – 1 large leaf/2 smaller leaves
Cherry tomato – half
Courgette/zucchini – 1/2 inch chunk
Bell pepper – green – 1/8 pepper sliced
Bell pepper – yellow – 1/8 pepper sliced
Carrot – 1 baby carrot/pinky finger sized chunk
Cucumber – 1/4″ chunk

Monday pm.
Round lettuce – 2 leaves
Celery – 2″ piece chopped
Bell pepper – red – 1/8 pepper sliced
Green beans – 2
Coriander/cilantro – 2 sprigs

Tuesday am.
Curly lettuce – (endive) 2 – 3 leaves
Cherry tomato – half
Courgette/zucchini – 1/2 inch chunk
Bell pepper – red – 1/8 pepper sliced
Bell pepper – orange – 1/8 pepper sliced
Carrot – 1 baby carrot/pinky finger sized chunk
Curly Kale – 4 small pieces chopped

Tuesday pm
Round lettuce – 2 leaves
Melon skin – taken back to the rind – 1″ slice
Cucumber – 1/4″ chunk
Bell pepper – green – 1/8″ pepper sliced
Dill – 1 sprig
Coriander/cilantro – 2 sprigs

Wednesday am.
Romaine – 1 large leaf/2 smaller leaves
Cherry tomato – half
Courgette/zucchini – 1/2 inch chunk
Bell pepper – green – 1/8 pepper sliced
Bell pepper – yellow – 1/8 pepper sliced
Carrot – 1 baby carrot/pinky finger sized chunk
Broccoli – 1 branchlet
Coriander/cilantro – 2 sprigs

Wednesday pm
Mixed leaves (from bag) – 1 handful
Celery – 2″ piece chopped
Bell pepper – orange – 1/8 pepper sliced
Parsley – 2 sprigs
Apple – 1″ chunk

Thursday am.
Curly lettuce (endive) – 2 – 3 leaves
Cherry tomato – half
Courgette/zucchini – 1/2 inch chunk
Bell pepper – green – 1/8 pepper sliced
Bell pepper – orange – 1/8 pepper sliced
Carrot – 1 baby carrot/pinky finger sized chunk
Snap peas – 2
Coriander/cilantro – 2 sprigs

Thursday pm
Round lettuce – 2 leaves
Melon skin – taken back to rind – 1″
Turnip – small 1″ slice
Cucumber – 1/4″ chunk
Bell pepper – red – 1/8 pepper sliced

Friday am.
Romaine – 1 large leaf/2 smaller leaves
Cherry tomato – half
Courgette/zucchini – 1/2 inch chunk
Bell pepper – green – 1/8 pepper sliced
Bell pepper – yellow – 1/8 pepper sliced
Carrot – 1 baby carrot/pinky finger sized chunk
Curly Kale – 4 small pieces chopped

Friday pm.
Mixed leaves – handful
Celery – leaves – from 1 stem
Bell pepper – red – 1/8 pepper sliced
Blueberries – 2
Coriander/cilantro – 2 sprigs

Saturday am.
Romaine – 1 large leaf/2 smaller leaves
Cherry tomato – half
Courgette/zucchini – 1/2 inch chunk
Bell pepper – green – 1/8 pepper sliced
Bell pepper – yellow – 1/8 pepper sliced
Carrot – 1 baby carrot/pinky finger sized chunk
Broccoli – 1 branchlet
Coriander/cilantro – 2 sprigs

Saturday pm.
Curly lettuce (endive) – 2 – 3 leaves
Cucumber – 1/4″ chunk
Melon skin – taken back to rind – 1″ slice
Bell pepper – orange – 1/8 peper sliced
Parsley – 2 sprigs

Sunday am.
Curly lettuce – (endive) – 2 – 3 leaves
Cherry tomato – half
Courgette/zucchini – 1/2 inch chunk
Bell pepper – green – 1/8 pepper sliced
Bell pepper – yellow – 1/8 pepper sliced
Carrot – 1 baby carrot/pinky finger sized chunk
Green beans – 2

Sunday pm.
Mixed leaves – from bag – handful
Celery – 2″ chunk chopped
Coriander/cilantro – 2 sprigs
Bell pepper – red – 1/8 pepper sliced
Parsley – 2 sprigs

[LoveChaCha]

I would introduce new veggies slowly and not all at once. It may upset your bunny’s tummy. I would try a new veggie a week, and add on from there.

I feed my rabbit romaine, cilantro/italian parsley, green leaf lettuce. She won’t even touch a carrot.

Romaine is the main staple in most rabbit diets

[Monkeybun]

Don’t give them green beans, not good for buns

[Joyfull_music]

I agree that you should introduce new veggies one at a time. Momo is not fond of carrots and they make her poops soft. Her favorites are chicory, cilantro, green pepper, and carrot greens. Different types of lettuce are good like red leaf, boston lettuce, butter lettuce, and of course romaine, which my girl gets daily.

You can also try things like spinach, collard greens, turnip greens, parsley, mustard greens, basil, broccoli (in small amounts).

I got the book “Rabbit’s For Dummies”, it has a pretty good list in it. I got Momo at 3 months, which is when you start introducing veggies as a regular into their diet. So I just took the book with me at first to the store to buy for her. Then I checked off what she would and would not eat, and made note of her favorites. That way I always have a reference.

[BinkyBunny]

 I am dittoing everyone’s suggestions to try slowly and stay away from green beens. 

Also, with bunnies, though the hard veggies are on the list, leafy type greens are really the best first choices if you have them available in your area.  So Romaine, parsley, cilantro, chicory, bok choy, dill  etc.

[Beka27]

We feed a few types of leafy green veggies each week. We buy enough for the week, and that’s what they get the whole week. The next week we buy a few other veggies for the week. You have too many non-leafy veggies on the list. They need a lot of lettuces, greens, and herbs.

[mocha200]

I agree. Rabbits are different then guinea pigs and although rabbits can have tomatos, peppers, ect. They should only be given in very small portians, like as treats. Leafy greens are best.

[bwild]

I have a very picky eater too, she definitely dislikes more than she likes. Also, I’ve found that if I give her the same thing everyday, except for romaine, that she won’t eat some stuff that she has eaten before, so I try to mix her normal veggies up as much as possible.

And I know when I tried to give more variety too fast to Penelope, she stopped eating almost everything, like she had more than what she knew to do with. So definitely go slowly with that.

Also, one thing that is a huge hit with ms.picky-butt is butter lettuce, you could give that a try too.

*Should I be limiting the amount of butter lettuce I give Penelope? It doesn’t give her poopy butt, but I haven’t seen it on the list (might have over-looked it). So just wondering if it’s ok to give everyday?

[Beka27]

I would think butter lettuce is okay. You’re right, I don’t see that or “boston bibb” on the veggie list.

We just started getting that (for our human salads) and that stuff is GOOD! Haven’t given any to the buns but I should try.

[Number1Sticky]

I just wanted to let everyone know that I started feeding cilantro and my rabbits. I don’t think it’s their favorite yet, but they do eat it. Next I think I’m going to try endive.

[Number1Sticky]

Posted By LizzieKnittyBun on 09/03/2011 06:12 PM

Below is a really great guide that you can print and cut out to take with you to the store.  Try cilantro and bok choy; they’re very healthy and can be given every day.  Plus, most buns I know love them!

Don’t give too much carrot, because it has a lot of sugar in it and can make bunnies gain weight!

I would avoid the asterix vegetables, except on a rare basis, because they can give buns the runs.

 

Thank you the list it’s very helpful. I’m not too worried about one of my rabbits gaining weight she’s getting older and started loses weight a few months ago, I had to start feeding her more. She’ll be 6 years old in January. So she’s not a senior yet, but getting up there. My rabbits live in separate cages.

[Number1Sticky]

I was just wondering, would it be ok if I gave them a carrot everyday as long as I cut it to about the size of a baby carrot? Or would that still be too much sugar? One of my rabbits LOVES carrots. She begs for them. I like handing her all her veggies and she will take all the other veggies and drop them until I hand her her carrot. It’s really funny. She will eat her other ones if she doesn’t get her carrot, but she will pout about it. It’s kinda funny watching a rabbit pouting. But obviously is it’s unhealthy for her I will not give it to her.

[Sarita]

Yes, that’s fine. The deal with carrots is that they aren’t really the only things that you should be feeding your rabbits (like Bugs Bunny) – they need a variety of greens and you can have carrots but it needs to be part of a balanced diet. Its’ not bad for rabbits.

[Sarita]

Also those veggies with an asterik, they don’t give buns the runs, they just suggest that you give them sparingly because they are high in calcium oxolates but don’t need to be completely eliminated.

[Cheyann]

Whats wrong with green beans? Its on the veggie list on this website under “vegetables that are usually tolerated but may cause some problems in very sensative rabbits”. I feed my rabbits green beans and have never had a problem.

[Number1Sticky]

Here is a list I made from information I’ve gotten. Are all the veggies on this list ok to give on a daily basis?

Butter lettuce (Boston/bibb)
Carrot (small amount)
Cilantro
Corn husks
Endive
Grape tomatoes
Green Leaf Lettuce
Green Swiss Chard
Red Leaf Lettuce
Red Swiss Chard
Romaine lettuce
Zucchini

[mocha200]

This is a website that names all of the veggies that are ok for rabbits: http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/GI_diseases/Food/Veg/Veg_en.htm

I wouldn’t think that corn husks would be good for rabbits.

[Tate]

I haven’t read anything that says corn husks are ok… Where did you find that? I also wouldn’t do tomatoes either… I know rabbits CAN have those but they are so acidic and I wouldn’t think the gut bacteria would do well with it..

[Number1Sticky]

I don’t remember where I read that. But I can take them off of the list. That’s ok my rabbits don’t like tomatoes anyways.

[Number1Sticky]

What about:
Bok choy
Escarole
Fennel
Mint
Orange bell pepper
Oregano
Radish tops
Sage
Spring greens

[Tate]

Lol. Here’s what I feed mine daily:
Lettuces- Red leaf OR green leaf OR romaine. I used to do all but I’m poor so I’ve had to make choices. You could do all three at once though.
Parsely
Cilantro
Red Pepper OR Green Pepper… Again, I used to do both, but veggies are expensive where I am. Boo!
Carrot
Broccoli… Usually every other day.
Spinach… They looooooove spinach but they don’t get it often anymore, again because of price.
Cucumber
Wheat Grass

Are any of those possible for you to get? My two boys eat all of these- they aren’t fans of bok choy or celery or really anything else not on that list.

[Hoppy Valentine]

Hoppy seems to only like:
Cilantro (daily)
Radicchio (daily)
Belgin Endive (daily)
Endive (daily)
I have tried other veggies but he isn’t having those.
The only fruit I can find that he likes is banana and I do that about 1 time per week.

I can not get him to eat carrots either. He tried them but just would rather not have them. I have a huge list of safe fruits, veggies and flowers but I can’t find that many he will eat. I just don’t know what other picky bunnies eat that maybe he will, any suggestions on what your picky bunnies eat? He hates the mixed spring greens, any of the lettuces (ofcourse I never gave him regular head of lettuce but tried all the others), he hates mustard greens, green or anyother color peppers, dandelion greens (which he ate before but now he won’t), bok choy and even baby bok choy (my 7 year old daughter loved the bok choy though so she ate what was left), and about 5 others that I can’t remember.

[LoveChaCha]

Hoppy, it is normal for rabbits to not like carrots. Besides, all bunnies aren’t bugs bunny hahaha.

My Chacha bun doesn’t even like carrots. I tell people “The girl has gourmet tastes…”

Wow, you guys all give so much variety :p I’ve tried mint, regular parsley, carrots, celery, spinach, and baby bok choy and Chacha won’t even have them She only prefers her basic green lettuces (romaine, green leaf, red leaf), cilantro, and italian parsley!

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