Best first veggies

[lolasuggs]

My girls are 11 weeks old and have handled the change from breeders feed to excel really well, done it gradually over a week and no tummy probs. Good grass and hay eaters. Just wanted to ask from experienced owners how they introduced veggies - which ones are the best to go for first? How much would you give and when would you start? Theyre mini rex rabbits for info. Thanks

 

[InspectorMorse]

Fresh herbs are generally better tolerated than fresh veg. Herbs like Coriander, flat leaf parsley, Dill. You can give a few sprigs of one type of herb at a time and see if they like them and that their tummies cope OK with them. With veg, dark leafy greens are the best to start off with. I would avoid carrots, except for carrot tops. Cabbage and broccoli is known to cause a gassy tummy for some Rabbits so I would avoid feeding those until the girls are a bit older. Rexes are usually extremely greedy so don’t get fooled into feeding them anything in large quantities !! Rexes will have you believe that they are always starving :lol:

 

[Shimmer]

There is also forage around at the moment - bramble leaves, leaves & stems of willow / apple / raspberry - all high fibre and good for teeth & tums.

 

[lolasuggs]

Fresh herbs are generally better tolerated than fresh veg. Herbs like Coriander, flat leaf parsley, Dill. You can give a few sprigs of one type of herb at a time and see if they like them and that their tummies cope OK with them. With veg, dark leafy greens are the best to start off with. I would avoid carrots, except for carrot tops. Cabbage and broccoli is known to cause a gassy tummy for some Rabbits so I would avoid feeding those until the girls are a bit older. Rexes are usually extremely greedy so don’t get fooled into feeding them anything in large quantities !! Rexes will have you believe that they are always starving :lol:

This seems very true! With my previous bun there were always dried pellets left, but these two seem to eat everything I put in there. Theyre good hay munchers so thats good hopefully - how about dandilion leaves? Are they a good first food?

 

[Shimmer]

Dandelion leaves are good - just don't feed too many. Also beware of the side effect of the plant pigments coming out in the urine. Don't panic if it is orange or red.