Can Bunnies Eat Dandelions?

Can bunnies eat Dandelions? The answer is, yes they can! Bunnies adore dandelions, but they shouldn’t have them too often. Dandelions however are extremely rich in phytonutrients and vitamins making them a great natural body tonic.

Hay is a great way of getting your rabbit to eat more hay, simply sprinkle on some Rosewood Dandelion Delight into their hay and they’ll get in the habbit of eating the hay around their Dandelion treats.

If you want to make sure that you provide your bunny with a healthy diet and maintain their well-being then you must know what your rabbit can eat. Fibre is an important part of rabbit diet and it can be found in grass, hay and pallets, it is an essential element of their diet.

What exactly are Dandelions?

Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) is a flowering plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family. There are many varieties of dandelions available such as fleshy, rough, horned, the white and the pink and many others.

Dandelions are rich in calcium, potassium, iron and beta-carotene. They contain more iron than spinach and more beta-carotene than carrots. They are rich in vitamin B complex as well as Phosphorous, Zinc, Magnesium and other nutrients.

Dandelion is both used as a medicinal herb and in food preparation. And whilst this plant is mostly considered as a weed by most gardeners, it can be great to ask your neighbours to keep them for your rabbit!

Can Rabbits Eat Dandelions and is it Safe?

Yes! Rabbits can eat dandelions and in fact it is one of their favorite foods. And is it safe? Yes! Dandelion is one of the safe weeds; these herbs are really nutritious for your rabbit and has many health benefits.

Your furry friends will love having dandelions in their diet; it has rich protein content that is why it is considered as one of the most nutritious plants that should be included in your rabbit diet.

Benefits of Dandelions

• If your rabbit diet includes dandelions, their digestive and respiratory health will improve.
• With the intake of dandelions, rabbits are less likely to develop any problems with bloating, diarrhea, constipation and breathing problem.
• Dandelions are great for preventing swelling, bladder infections, pneumonia and liver problems due to their high content of vitamins and phytonutrients.
• Dandelions are known to be a natural body tonic for your rabbit as it provides benefits to the entire body.

How much Dandelion should I feed my rabbit?

When you’re feeding your rabbits with dandelions, you might want to introduce them to Dandelions slowly and gradually the same way you introduce other foods.

You can start off by feeding your bunny with one or two leaves, if you have fresh Dandelions you can feed your bunny with a piece of blossom as well.

After feeding, you should keep an eye on your bunny for the next 24 hours, check for problems including discomfort, diarrhea and bloating.

If everything is normal after feeding your bunny with Dandelions, you can approximately feed 5 large Dandelions for an adult rabbit as time passes or mix it with other greens if you’re feeding it frequently.

One Fact about Dandelions you can’t deny

Bunnies love dandelions very much. We loved them too. During the Victorian era, people used to grow dandelions as salad greens, they were widely used as the key ingredient in dandelion wine, dandelions were highly prized for their bright yellow color and their fragrance.

Many people are rediscovering dandelion as a healthy source of food; you can purchase it as a healthy treat for your bunny and also add it to your own salad, if that’s your kind of thing!

How often can I feed my bunny with Dandelions?

Dandelions are healthy and a natural diet, but they are high on calcium. It’s important to monitor your bunnies calcium intake as the excess of calcium can bind the oxalates in vegetables and lead to the formation of kidney stones.

That means that you have to limit their intake of dandelions, you cannot feed them dandelions on the same day when you’re feeding them with other high calcium foods.

When you have fresh and clean dandelions available, then you can feed them to your bunnies 3 to 4 times per week. It is best to mix dandelions with some other herbs and then feed them to avoid digestive problems.

Feeding Dandelions

Before feeding your bunnies with dandelions you need to make sure that its source is free of pesticides. You should wash the dandelions thoroughly under water to get rid of any pesticides and then feed it to your bunnies.

When your bunnies have dandelions for the first time, you need to feed them with small amounts and then increase the amount gradually.

You can mix 4-5 leafy greens with dandelions for your bunny. Leafy greens like spinach, lettuce, kale, mint, cilantro and basil etc.

Do not forget to supply your bunnies with fresh and clean water, and always stick to the recommended rabbit diet to avoid any health problems in bunnies.

Tips to feeding bunnies

• Freshwater should always be available for your rabbit; if you have a cage for your rabbit then you should hanga water bottle or use a water bowl in the cage. It’s important to clean the water containers to make sure they are being supplied with clean water.
• Serve a mix of 2-3 vegetables each day and a low – moderate amounts of dandelions; avoid feeding foods that have high sugar content, they can only be fed as a treat.
• When feeding fruits, take out the seeds and then feed your bunnies.