Can Rabbits Eat Dandelions(greens and flowers)? Here’s Why.

Last Updated on February 25, 2023 by Marjon Ramos

Dandelion greens and flowers are great for rabbits. Just make sure that your rabbit is at least 12 weeks old before you give one. You should also only give small amounts at first if it’s the first time you’re giving dandelions to your rabbits.

Like any other food in your rabbit’s diet, dandelions (greens and flowers) need to be introduced slowly. This is to ensure that your rabbit can tolerate them well.

You should also make sure that your rabbit is not eating dandelions in lieu of hay.

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

Do rabbits like eating dandelion greens and flowers?

Yes, dandelion greens are one of the most recommended foods for rabbits due to their nutritional content. In my case, both of my rabbits, Freya and Tyr, love eating dandelion flowers.

Due to how popular dandelions are as rabbit treats, you can even find some dried dandelions on Amazon.

Are dandelion greens and flowers safe to be eaten by rabbits?

Dandelion greens and flowers are safe for rabbits to eat as long as your rabbit is at least 12 weeks old and you’re only giving them in moderation.

The only way dandelions can harm your rabbit is if you’re giving too many dandelions in lieu of hay. The lack of fiber in your rabbit’s diet would eventually lead to digestive problems like soft uneaten cecotropes, diarrhea, and GI stasis.

Finally, if it’s your first time giving dandelions to your rabbits, only give small amounts at first, or 15 grams, and observe for any adverse effects. If your rabbit is tolerating dandelions well, you can then feed them normally.

What are the benefits of feeding dandelion greens and flowers to rabbits?

Gist:

Dandelions are a great source of vitamin A.

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To understand the benefits of feeding dandelions to your rabbits, you can use the nutrient constrain calculator for rabbits. This will show you how much and what nutrients your rabbit is getting whenever you feed them dandelions.

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 dandelions contain large amounts of vitamin A, which is responsible for bone development, vision, reproduction, immune response, and maintenance of epithelial integrity.

Are dandelion greens and flowers good for rabbits?

Dandelions contain large amounts of vitamin A. As well as moderate amounts of vitamin E, B6, copper, niacin, pantothenic acid, protein, choline, crude fiber, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium.

All of which are beneficial for your rabbit’s health and still within the nutritional constraints for rabbits.

How much dandelion greens and flowers can a rabbit eat?

To better understand the amount of dandelion greens and flowers you can give your rabbits, you can use the diet portion calculator below.

This calculator will show you how much dandelions (vegetables) you should give your rabbits based on their weight and age:

If you currently have no idea what your rabbit’s weight is, here’s a table on the average weight of rabbits based on their breed and how much dandelion greens and flowers are allowed per day:

When can rabbits start eating dandelion greens and flowers?

The table above assumes that your rabbit is already 7 months to 1 year old. Another important factor when deciding how much dandelion to give your rabbits is their age.

Here’s a table to guide you on how much dandelion greens and flowers you should feed your rabbits as they get older:

When should you not feed dandelion greens and flowers to rabbits?

Gist:

Stop giving dandelion greens and flowers to rabbits that are having digestive issues.

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The proper protocol whenever you notice or suspect digestive problems in your rabbits is to remove any other food from their diet except hay.

This would ensure that your rabbits are getting their required fiber (hay) for the day. But just to be safe, you should still bring your rabbit to a veterinarian.

Risk of overfeeding dandelion greens and flowers to rabbits.

While dandelion greens and flowers are safe and highly nutritious for rabbits, they still carry certain risks when overfed. That’s why it’s important to limit the amount you give and to introduce it slowly if it’s their first time eating it.

Here are the most common problems when rabbit owners overfeed dandelion greens and flowers to their rabbits:

• Gastrointestinal Stasis: Overfeeding dandelion greens and flowers in lieu of hay could lead to GI stasis, which is caused by a lack of fiber in your rabbit’s diet.
• Diarrhea: Diarrhea is also possible when rabbit owners overfeed large amounts of dandelions 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 dandelion greens and flowers instead of hay. This could lead to softer cecotropes due to the lack of fiber.

Healthy alternatives to dandelion greens and flowers.

While dandelion greens and flowers are safe and nutritious for rabbits, you should still mix in some other vegetables into your rabbit’s diet. This would ensure that your rabbits’ diet mimics the abundance of choices wild rabbits have when it comes to their diet.

Here are some of the best and healthiest alternatives to dandelion greens and flowers:

• Spinach
• Celery
• Green peppers
• Basil
• Mint
• Alfalfa, radish & Clover sprouts
• Beet greens (tops)
• 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)

Conclusion

Dandelions can be given to rabbits that are at least 12 weeks old. Dandelions should be introduced slowly, at 15 grams for the first few weeks, to see if your rabbits can tolerate them.

If your rabbits can tolerate dandelions well, you can follow the recommended amount using the diet portion calculator for rabbits to see the proper amount of dandelions to feed.