Last Updated on February 25, 2023 by Marjon Ramos
Quick Facts About Dandelions:
- Scientific name – Taraxacum
- Also known as – Irish daisy, lion’s tooth, piss-in-bed, pissinlit, priest’s crown, puffball, swine’s snout, tell time, and yellow gowan.
- Origin – Eurasia
- Most commonly found in – North America
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:
Table of Contents
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.
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: