Here at In The Trough Farm we believe in supplementing our animals diet with as much natural produce and forage as possible. This not only helps to cut down on feed costs for the summer and fall seasons, but we believe it leads to healthier and happier animals.
I know many people have managed to go completely pellet free for their rabbits, and I applaud the effort that goes into that. Someday we hope to be there, but for now, we do the best we can with the time and set up that we have. Eventually we’d like to add a fodder growing system to help grow fresh sprouts during the winter, but for now we settle for growing what we can outdoors.
A few things first, before we dive in. Obviously, organic is always going to be better for your animals. If your growing produce yourself, this is easy to control. You know what is in and on your feed because you put it there. We also feed trimmings from store bought produce to both our rabbits and our poultry, but since we generally try to buy organic for ourselves as well, we feel pretty good about giving those to them. If you are foraging outdoors, such as for dandelions or dock, please make sure these areas haven’t been sprayed with pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers.
Another important point; we are not experts. Not by a long shot. The list of safe foods in this post are not all-inclusive, nor is it a guarantee of safety. Do your own due diligence. Research. Speak to your vet. We can only tell you about our experiences and opinions.
In addition, each rabbit is going to react differently to changes in feed. Start slowly when introducing foods. It is a good idea to only introduce one new food at a time, and monitor your buns for a few days. Watch their stools. Make sure they always have fresh grass hay and clean water available to them as both of these are essential to a healthy GI tract.
Know the proper balance. If you give your rabbit 3 full size carrots, you aren’t going to like the results! Just as with humans, rabbits need the right amount of different types of foods. Start with a quality grass hay. That should be the base of any rabbit’s diet and should be available 24/7. Variety is also important. All foods contribute different vitamins, minerals, textures, and flavors to a diet, and your buns will be healthier and happier with a wide range of offerings.
Rabbit safe vegetables and leafy greens should consist of the majority of their fresh diet. These could include such foods as:
Alfalfa sprouts (alfalfa hay should not be substituted for grass hay)
Arugula
Asparagus (ours don’t love these, but will eat them if there isn’t anything better around)
Green tops of beets, turnips, carrots, and radishes
Bell peppers (ours won’t touch these, so they go to our chickens)
Bok Choy/Pac choy (though I have terrible luck growing these)
Celeriac
Celery
Cucumber (we also feed the plant leaves as they begin to stop producing)
Fresh cut grasses
Green beans (beans and plants)
Kale
Lettuces (not iceburg!)
Peas (we feed pea pods as well as the plant – NOT ornamental sweet pea!)
Pumpkin (we feed leaves and vines as the plant fades, our chickens get the actual pumpkins)
Radicchio
Raspberry leaves
Swiss Chard
Watercress
Zucchini (though our chickens get the majority of these)
Our rabbits also love to eat the greens from our sweet corn plants as well as the stalks. I never feed the greens from store bought corn cobs however unless it is organic, which are harder to find where we live.
Vegetables that should be fed in smaller portions could include:
Broccoli
Brussel sprouts
Cabbage (we feed the outer leaves)
Cauliflower (again, outer leaves)
Spinach
Carrots (high in sugar)
Collard greens
Comfrey leaves
Safe fruits could include:
Apple (not the seeds)
Banana (fruit and peel)
Blueberries
Blackberries (also, marionberries and boysenberries which are blackberry relatives – berries and vines)
Cantaloupe (rind and fruit- seeds go to our chickens)
Grapes (grapes and leaves from the plant)
Pear (no seeds)
Peach, plum, apricot, cherries, nectarine, (no pits!)
Papaya
Pineapple
Raspberries
Strawberries
Watermelon (rind and fruit – seeds go to our chickens)
We also grow several types of herbs in our garden, most of which are fantastic as a treat for the buns and poultry. Those safe for rabbits to consume can include:
Basil
Borage
Chamomile
Cilantro
Dill (ours aren’t crazy about dill, but they will eat it)
Fennel
Lemon balm
Marjoram
Mint
Oregano
Parsley
Rosemary (though I personally haven’t tried this on our buns)
Sage
Salad burnet (one of our favorites)
Savory
Tarragon
Thyme
We also grow buckwheat as a treat for our chickens, so I pick that to feed to our buns as well.
As a flower farm, of course we feed those as well. Nasturtiums and marigolds are great companion plants, so they are all over our garden. Sunflowers are a favorite of ours, so there are always plenty of stalks, leaves, and flowers to go around. We tried drying the sunflower stalks two years in a row so the buns could have chew toys over the winter, but both times we ended up with mold issues and the stalks had to be thrown out. One of the challenges of living at the coast. There are lots of lists online of safe flowers to feed rabbits, but these are the ones we personally have fed:
Asters
Bachelor buttons
Dandelions
Marigolds
Nasturtiums
Roses
Sunflowers
Yarrow
Zinnia
When we have time, we also like to gather forage foods on our property. These include such plants as:
Blackberry
Broad leaf dock leaves
Clover (white only)
Dandelion leaves and flowers
Apple and willow branches
Lotus
Narrow leaf plantain
Purslane
I am sure there are many other plants growing around us that would be safe, but I like to error on the side of caution. Plants can look quite similar, and mistakes are easily made. Make sure the plant you are picking is what you think it is, and make sure it is considered safe before you try feeding it. Safe is always better than sorry. If at any time your rabbit has issues with their fresh diet, remove the fresh feed and supply plenty of quality grass hay. Having the contact information for a local vet who will see small animals is smart, as problems can progress quickly with rabbits.
There are many resources available on the internet for naturally feeding rabbits. Please do your research and be informed before you make any changes in your rabbit’s diet.
Because we continue to offer commercial pellets to our rabbits throughout the year, we don’t feel pressure to supplement with vitamins or minerals. Our fresh feed compliments what they are already getting, and simply lowers our feed bill slightly while adding variety and entertainment to our rabbits. If a pellet free diet is the goal, you will need to research further to ensure your buns get everything they require.
Daily playtime outside offers fresh grass as well as a chance to stretch their legs and play, but always check your outside area for any toxic plants, and make sure your fencing is secure. There are many resources available on the internet for naturally feeding rabbits. Please do your research and be informed before you make any changes in your rabbit’s diet. It is our responsibility as rabbit owners to always ensure their safety and quality of life. And in trade, we get to enjoy their company for a long time.