Last Updated on March 1, 2023 by Marjon Ramos
Rabbits can safely consume small amounts of common vetch. Just make sure that your rabbit is eating enough hay because vetch cannot meet the required fiber a rabbit would need per day.
While common vetch is safe for rabbits to eat, you should still limit the amount you give your rabbits or make them a part of your rabbit’s regular diet.
There is better, more nutritious food out there that’s better for pet rabbits.
Also, make sure that what you’re feeding your rabbit is common vetch.
Another variety of vetch is hairy vetch, which should not be fed to rabbits.
I can’t find any sources or reports of hairy vetch toxicity in rabbits, but since hairy vetch is toxic to horses, it’s best that we don’t take any chances with our pets.
Now that I’ve given you the gist of the article, read on as I explain the topic in more detail:
Table of Contents
Would rabbits intentionally eat vetch?
Yes, rabbits would intentionally and gladly eat common vetch.
In fact, a lot of rabbitries would feed rabbits fresh or dried common vetch, especially in countries where there’s an abundant supply of common vetch like the United States.
We’ve interviewed several rabbit owners who have a lot of common vetch where they’re from.
Most of them reported giving their rabbits some amount of it.
Risk of overfeeding vetch to rabbits.
While vetches themselves are not poisonous to rabbits, overfeeding them to your rabbits, on the other hand, could lead to the following conditions:
- GI stasis: Gastrointestinal stasis is possible when your rabbit is eating vetch in lieu of hay. Make sure that you’re not replacing your rabbit’s main diet (hay, veggies, and pellets) with vetch.
- Diarrhea: Diarrhea is also possible when you feed your rabbits too much vetch in one meal. Diarrhea in rabbits often happens when new food is introduced too fast and too much.
- Soft uneaten cecotropes: Feeding too much unnecessary food like vetch to your rabbits could also lead to uneaten cecotropes due to the lack of fiber in your rabbit’s diet. This can be fixed by feeding large amounts of fiber (hay) for several weeks to a month.
Healthy alternative to vetch.
Here are some alternatives to common vetch that are safe to give to rabbits:
- Chickweed
- Roses
- Marigolds
- Dandelion
- Nettles
- Daisies
- Clover
- Sunflowers
- Pot
- Nasturtiums
- Pansies
Conclusion
Giving vetch to your rabbits is safe as long as they’re not eating it in lieu of hay.
Make sure that what you are feeding your rabbit is common vetch.
Another variety of vetch is hairy vetch, which should not be fed to rabbits.
Finally, if it’s the first time you’re feeding vetch to your rabbits, take it slow and feed it in small amounts.
Introducing new food into your rabbit’s diet too fast could trigger diarrhea and other digestive distress.
Cite this article:
Sources
Image source – “Common Vetch” by Katja Schulz
