You may be surprised to learn that many of the so-called ‘weeds’ growing right in your front lawn are safe, and even healthy, for your rabbits to eat.
We’ve been offering our rabbits many ‘weedy’ species for years, especially around springtime when the weather gets warm!
One such common lawn plant is the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), well-known for its bright yellow flowers that puff white when ripe with seed.
So, can rabbits eat dandelions? Are dandelions good for rabbits? How many dandelions can rabbits eat? These are all great questions that we will answer in this quick post, so read on!
Your Rabbit’s Diet: Can Rabbits Eat Weeds?
Rabbits are natural herbivores and require surprising amounts of plant fiber. In fact, in order to remain healthy and happy in the long term, rabbits require between 75-80% of their daily diet in high fiber plant foods.
This is why we feed our rabbits unlimited amounts of quality hay in every season of the year. Wondering more about hay for rabbits? Read our posts on How Much Hay To Feed Rabbits for some great information and guidelines on this important part of rabbits’ diet!
Now, the other 50% of your rabbit’s diet can consist of a balanced mix of greens, rabbit pellets, some grains, and fruit, veggie and herb treats.
Many common weedy plant species fit nicely into this and, in fact, are a regular part of wild rabbits’ diets! So really, offering your domesticated rabbit dandelions is a great way to help them eat a natural diet!
Dandelions For Rabbits: What You Need To Know
Dandelions are actually incredible plants to offer your rabbit for various reasons:
- Dandelions Are Abundant
Dandelions grow in disturbed, and somewhat compacted soil. This means they are found all over the place! And as long as you pick dandelions from areas that are chemical and waste free, there is an almost endless supply of these weeds to feed your bunnies.
- Dandelions Are Natural Bitters
If you’ve ever eaten a dandelion leaf, you know that they are quite bitter! This is natural and normal due to the secondary compounds the plant contains. In fact, being bitter means dandelions are a great digestional aid for rabbits and humans alike. This is why we make sure to offer our rabbits lots of dandelion greens mixed in with their hay during spring and summer, when their digestive system needs the most help adjusting to a greener seasonal diet.
Hint: Collect dandelion greens before the plant flowers to avoid the super bitter leaves. Some of our rabbits will only eat these young, more palatable leaves!
- Dandelions Are A Great Diuretic
Dandelions naturally act as a diuretic and can be added to your rabbit’s daily mix of greens and/or hay if they are suffering from some kidney or urinary issues.
Better yet, dandelion doesn’t deplete the body of potassium like so many other diuretics!
- Dandelions Are A Natural Part Of Rabbit’s Diets
As stated, dandelions grow everywhere, and are a natural part of a wild rabbit’s diet.
As such, they are extremely safe for domesticated rabbits! They provide your rabbit with great plant fibers and a whole host of vitamins such as zinc, iron, potassium, folate and vitamins A and K.
How Much Dandelion Can A Rabbit Eat
While dandelions are a great food for your rabbits, it cannot meet all the dietary needs of bunnies!
This means that you cannot sub in dandelions for the unlimited hay you offer your bunnies. Rather, offer dandelions as a frequent supplement.
As mentioned, we mix fresh dandelion greens in with the daily hay we give our rabbits daily. This ensures our rabbits ingest enough fibers while benefiting from the goodness of the dandelion!
Can Rabbits Eat Dandelion Flowers
Yes, the yellow flower of the dandelion is safe for rabbits to ingest.
The flower is much less bitter than the leaves and we have a few rabbits that always eat these first thing!
How To Dry Dandelions For Rabbits
Drying dandelions for rabbits is a bit tricky. This is because, once picked, the dandelion flower can continue to mature and often puffs into the familiar fluffy white seed head; no animal wants to eat the fuzzy seed head!
To get around this, and be able to offer your rabbits a yummy natural treat throughout the year, you are best off picking dandelion flowers that have just barely opened, not ones that have been big and yellow for a few days.
Spreading out the flowers on a screen with good air ventilation will ensure good quality drying and discourage mold or fungus from forming on the blossoms!
Does Dandelion Change The Color Of Rabbit Pee
Don’t be alarmed if your rabbit’s pee seems a bit reddish after eating dandelions. This is a phenomenon that often happens and usually passes within a day.
Other veggie and plant treats make this occur as well, such as cabbage. It is simply due to natural pigments within the plant itself.
However, if this color in the urine lasts for a few days or it seems that your rabbit is in pain while urinating, call your local vet immediately!
Frequently Asked Questions Related To Can Rabbits Have Dandelions
Can Rabbits Eat Dead Dandelions?
Dead, brown, yellow, or wilted plants are never good to offer to rabbits.
Not only is their nutritional quality gone, but they often harbor bacterias and fungus that can upset your rabbit’s digestive system.
Stick to fresh, green plants and veggies for your bunnies!
This video shares three great reasons why to share dandelions with your rabbits and shows you how to harvest them as well!
Final Thoughts On Can Rabbits Eat Dandelions
Without a doubt dandelions are a great food for your rabbits.
Picking off the young yellow flowers and offering them to your bunnies is a great way to control the spread of these weedy plants as well; and while you’re at it, add some of the bitter greens into your own foods, our bodies benefit from them as well!