Can Rabbits Eat Beet Greens?

Last Updated on March 2, 2023 by Marjon Ramos

As long as your rabbit is at least 12 weeks old, beet greens (tops) can be given to them as part of their leafy green diet. Also, make sure that you introduce it to your rabbits slowly, or 15 grams only for the first few weeks.

This would ensure that your rabbits would have time to adjust and to prevent triggering digestive problems like diarrhea.

Only feed the leaf part (tops) of beet greens to rabbits.

Other parts of beet greens are not recommended to be eaten by rabbits.

Now that I’ve given you the gist of the article, read on as I explain in more detail why rabbits can eat beet greens:

Do rabbits like to eat beet greens?

The top part of beet greens is actually included in the list of leafy greens that are recommended for rabbits due to the fact that rabbits love to eat them and they are full of nutrients.

In my case, I always give the top part of beet greens to my rabbits, and as soon as it leaves my hands, my rabbits (Tyr and Freya) gobble them up.

I’ve also asked several of my friends who have rabbits, and all of them reported feeding beet green tops to their rabbits.

Are beet greens safe to be eaten by rabbits?

Beet greens are safe to be eaten by rabbits as long as you’re only giving them the top part and your rabbit is at least 12 weeks old.

You should also limit the amount to 15 grams per day if it’s the first time you’re giving beet greens to your rabbits.

Most of the problems associated with feeding beet greens to rabbits are when their owners overfeed large amounts of it in lieu of hay.

The lack of fiber would eventually lead to digestive problems.

Finally, the bulb part of beets should be avoided due to its high sugar content.

Feeding large amounts of beetroot bulbs could lead to digestive distress.

What are the benefits of feeding beet greens to rabbits?

Gist:

Beet greens contain large amounts of vitamin A and potassium.

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In order to properly understand the benefits of feeding beet greens to your rabbits, you can use the nutrient constrain calculator for rabbits that shows how much and what nutrients your rabbit is getting whenever you feed them beet greens.

It would also show if the amount you’re giving is within the nutritional constraint.

You can also click on the blue icon beside the nutrient to show its benefits and deficiency:

As you can see from the nutrient constraint calculator above, 100 grams of beet greens contains large amounts of vitamin A and potassium.

Are beet greens good for rabbits?

Beet greens contain large amounts of vitamin A and potassium as well as small amounts of vitamin E, copper, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, niacin, protein, choline, fiber, lysine, calcium, magnesium, and sodium.

All of which are beneficial to your rabbit’s health as long as you follow the proper feeding amount.

How much beet green can a rabbit eat?

The proper amount of beet greens to give your rabbits would depend on their age and weight.

You can use the diet portion calculator below to calculate the proper amount of beet greens (vegetables) to give your rabbits:

If you currently have no idea what your rabbit’s weight is, here’s the estimated weight of rabbits based on their breed and how much beet greens you can give per day:

When can rabbits start eating beet greens?

The table above only accounts for your rabbit’s weight.

Another important factor when feeding beet greens to your rabbits is their age.

Here’s a table to help you decide at what age you should give beet greens to your rabbits and how much beet greens to give as your rabbit gets older:

When should you not feed beet greens to rabbits?

Gist:

Stop giving beet greens to rabbits that are having digestive problems.

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The proper protocol whenever you notice any changes in your rabbit’s stool or when you suspect any digestive problems is to remove any other food in their diet except hay.

This would ensure that your rabbit is eating enough fiber.

But, as an extra precaution, you should still bring your rabbits to a veterinarian for a proper diagnosis.

Risk of overfeeding beet greens to rabbits.

The risk associated with beet greens is mainly due to overfeeding.

Overfeeding any other food to rabbits (except hay) is dangerous because rabbits wouldn’t be able to get their required fiber for the day.

Here are the most common problems when rabbit owners overfeed beet greens to their rabbits:

• Gastrointestinal Stasis: Overfeeding beet greens in lieu of hay to your rabbits could lead to GI stasis, which is caused by the lack of fiber in your rabbit’s diet.
• Diarrhea: Diarrhea is also possible when rabbit owners overfeed large amounts of beet greens to their rabbits too fast. Always introduce any new diet to your rabbits slowly.
• Uneaten cecotropes: Soft uneaten cecotropes are also possible when rabbits are eating large amounts of beet greens instead of hay. This could lead to softer cecotropes due to the lack of fiber.

Healthy alternatives to beet greens.

While beet greens are safe for rabbits, you should still mix in some other vegetables for your rabbit’s diet.

Here are some alternatives to beet greens that you can give to your rabbits:

• Spinach
• Celery
• Green peppers
• Basil
• Mint
• Alfalfa, radish & Clover sprouts
• Parsley
• Peapods (the flat edible kind)
• Peppermint leaves
• Bok choy
• Escarole
• Clover
• Peppermint leaves
• Carrot & carrot tops
• Radicchio
• Raspberry leaves
• Wheatgrass
• Watercress
• Cilantro
• Dandelion greens and flowers (no pesticides)

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Can rabbits eat beet greens daily?

No, always mix in some other vegetables and leafy greens to your rabbit’s diet to prevent triggering digestive problems.

Ideally, your rabbits should be eating 2-4 types of vegetables and leafy greens.

Conclusion

Beet greens are one of the most recommended leafy greens for rabbits.

You can safely feed your adult rabbit (1–5 yr) 1-2 cups of beet greens per 6 lbs of your rabbit’s body weight and make sure that your rabbit is at least 12 weeks old before introducing leafy greens like beet greens into their diet.

When introducing beet greens to your rabbits, always start with small amounts (less than 15 grams) for the first few weeks to prevent triggering digestive problems.