Can Rabbits Eat Kale? Your questions answered.

Last Updated on March 12, 2023 by Marjon Ramos

Giving kale to rabbits is safe as long as your rabbit is old enough (12 weeks) to eat vegetables and you only give it in moderation.

You should also mix in some other vegetables when feeding kale to lessen the chance of triggering any digestive problems.

Also, if it’s the first time you’re giving kale to your rabbits, you should introduce it in small amounts (e.g., 15 grams) at first.

Doing this would reduce the chance of triggering digestive problems, especially in young rabbits.

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

Do rabbits like to eat kale?

Rabbits would never dislike vegetables like kale.

In my case, both my rabbits (Tyr and Freya) like to eat kale and would devour it the second I gave it to them.

I’ve also asked a few rabbit owners if they’ve ever fed kale to their rabbits and what their rabbit’s response was.

Most of them reported that their rabbits liked kale and it was part of their diet.

Is kale safe to be eaten by rabbits?

Kale is safe for rabbits to eat as long as your rabbit is old enough to eat it and your rabbit is not eating kale in lieu of hay.

Another possible danger is when a rabbit owner introduces kale in large amounts.

Always introduce any new food to your rabbit’s diet slowly.

This would ensure that your rabbit’s gut flora would be able to adjust accordingly.

What are the benefits of feeding kale to rabbits?

Gist:

Kale is rich in vitamin A. It also contains small amounts of vitamin E, niacin, protein, and fiber.

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In order for you to properly know the benefits and risks of feeding kale to your rabbits, you can use this nutrient constrain calculator for rabbits.

You can also click on the blue icon beside the nutrient to see the benefits and deficiencies of kale:

As you can see from the nutrient constrain calculator above, 100 g of kale is rich in vitamin A.

Kale also contains small amounts of vitamin E, niacin, protein, and fiber.

All of which are beneficial to your rabbit’s health.

Although kale contains the nutrient I mentioned above, you should still give your rabbit a variety of foods in their diet.

Do not feed kale to your rabbits all the time.

Mix in some other veggies.

Finally, when feeding kale to your rabbits for the first time, do it slowly and only in small amounts.

Overfeeding large amounts of kale to your rabbits could lead to digestive problems if it’s their first time eating it.

How much kale can a rabbit eat?

The amount of kale you should feed your rabbits depends on your rabbit’s current weight and age.

You can use the diet portion calculator below to see how much kale (or other vegetables) you should feed your rabbits per day:

If you don’t have a weighing scale, here’s the estimated weight of rabbits based on their breed and how much kale to give per day:

At what age can rabbits eat kale?

The table above assumes that your rabbit is old enough (1–5 years old) to regularly eat vegetables (kale).

Another important factor when deciding how much kale to give your rabbits is their weight:

Make sure you follow the table above and only feed your rabbits vegetables (kale) if they are old enough.

It’s also important to introduce any new food slowly and only in small quantities.

When should you not feed kale to rabbits?

Gist:

You should stop giving your rabbits kale when you notice or suspect any digestive problems.

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Always remove any other food except hay from your rabbit’s diet if you suspect or notice any digestive problems.

This would ensure that your rabbits are getting enough fiber and are not eating too many vegetables in lieu of hay.

Finally, bring your rabbits to a veterinarian if you notice or suspect any digestive problems.

Risk of overfeeding kale to rabbits.

While kale is safe and nutritious for rabbits, there are still risks associated when a rabbit owner overfeeds their rabbits:

• Gastrointestinal Stasis: Overfeeding kale in lieu of hay to your rabbits 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 kale 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 kale instead of hay. This could lead to softer cecotropes due to the lack of fiber.

Healthy alternatives to kale.

Although kale is safe and nutritious for rabbits, rabbit owners should still give their rabbits a variety of foods in their diet to mimic what wild rabbits eat.

Here’s a list of vegetables and leafy greens that you can feed your rabbits as an alternative to kale:

• 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)

Can rabbits eat kale stems?

Yes, the stems of kale are safe to be eaten by rabbits.

Kale stems are highly nutritious, just make sure that you only give them in moderation.

Can rabbits eat kale daily?

Ideally, you should mix in 2-4 vegetables to your rabbit’s diet.

Feeding one kind of vegetable to your rabbits every day is not ideal.

Can rabbits eat kale flowers?

Yes, rabbits can eat kale flowers as long as you only give them in moderation and your rabbit is not eating them in lieu of hay.

Conclusion

Kale is one of the safest leafy greens for rabbits.

It’s rich in vitamin A and other important nutrients.

Just make sure that you only give kale in moderation and that your rabbit is old enough to eat vegetables.