Good Veggies...

**Bunnicula05** · 04-06-2002, 07:59 PM

I had a job interview to be a CIT (couselor in training) at Wonderland Camp for the mentally and physically disabled kids. Then we ate at Country Kitchen and then we went to Sam's Club. Suddenly I really like Sam's...I got a package of 6 romaine (spelling?) hearts for 5 bucks and a 2 lb. bag of broccolli, couloflower (spelling?), and carrot mix for 5 bucks too. I cut the lettuce and veggies up into a bunny salad and put the rest of their pellets into the bag and filled it with the salad. Grey really likes the broccolli. I think it will take a while for Gypsee to adjust to the new diet. I also give them pellets, just not as much. I also got some doggie treats for my dog, Fridae. I have to baby-sit tonight, so I'm going to use that money to buy 50 lbs of timothy hay for $27.49. But, I need to buy a hay manger or a hay basket. Which do you all think is best to feed hay in? A wire manger or a basket they cam climb in?

**Heather Wallace** · 04-07-2002, 06:20 AM

probably the wire manager is best, it will keep the hay a bit cleaner.

Listen just to advise you, dont give your little buns to much lettuce it isnt good for them, there is the myth that rabbits should have lettuce but is contains water which isnt good for your buns.

**Bunnicula05** · 04-07-2002, 03:24 PM

I mix all the veggies together, I don't think it's THAT much lettuce. Actually they eat the lettuce first and THEN they eat the rest of it. LOL. But I thought romaine lettuce was very good for them?

**Daisylover** · 04-09-2002, 03:24 PM

The only lettuce bunnies should NOT have is iceberg. It has too much water and no nutirents in it. They can have all the hay they want and likewise with romaine and leaf lettuces as well as Boston and endive.
I think HRS has a list of good bun veggies and I think the Rabbits USA recent edition had this info as well.
LIMIT the amount of broccoli they get to one stalk between the two of them once or twice a week.....too much will cause gas which is quite painful.

**Heather Wallace** · 04-09-2002, 03:29 PM

Thanks for clearing that one up for us Daisy, i shall have to check out HRS for that list, my buns still love the carrots best.

Whats your rabbits favorite vegs?

**Daisylover** · 04-09-2002, 03:45 PM

My guys like....PARSLEY of course and dandelions. Other than that they are not very picky, although they do get bored with collard greens. The trick to remember is that as long as the vegetable is DARK Green it is ok.....it's the light - medium greens that do not have as much nutrients and or have too much water in them. So..for example, they can have the outer leaves of a cabbage, which are that real nice dark green, but not the inside leaves. Who would have thought feeding an animal would be this complicated!?!?!?

**Heather Wallace** · 04-09-2002, 03:54 PM

Again, thanks for the tip.

**Bunnicula05** · 04-09-2002, 04:01 PM

Hehe........yea, thanks. I have always given my buns romaine lettuce. But if I cut out the broccolli to once to twice a week, all they will have to eat is mainly romaine lettuce, maybe a few bites of coliflower (spelling?), and maybe a baby carrot or two. I need to go shopping for some good veggies. I got $20 for baby-sitting last saturday. I need to find a store that sells fresh parsley and dandelions. Where do you get your parsley and dandelions?

**Daisylover** · 04-09-2002, 04:24 PM

I get dandelions at one of those superstores....Meijer Thrifty Acres, but I think they're located only in Michigan. But I can also get dandy's from one of the local produce stores....you just have to look for them or ask. I think dandy's are becoming real popular so hopefully stores in your area will start carrying them soon. And you can always ask the produce manager if he can get them in.
At the sanctuary we have found if we approach a health food store/organic produce store that they are more willing to donate their discards which we will give the buns as long as the produce is not nasty... These stores also tend to carry a lot more variety of veggies too. So you might see if there any such stores in your area and explain to the manager that you have bunnies and would like to give them the BEST produce and could he give you his discards or could you buy his discards at a reduced rate. For whatever reason chain grocery stores, like Kroger's, will NOT donate day old produce that they can't sell....I think they think if they start giving the stuff away, then everyone is going to want stuff for free..... So my advice is to ask your local stores if they'll make an arrangement with you regarding their day old produce first. Make sure they know you will be a regular customer or other things as well as the produce (mention your mom, other family members shop there). And remember too you are not restricted to romaine and green leaf lettuces....try the endive, or anything else that is dark....swiss chard, beet tops even! Our stores are starting to carry a lot of chinese cooking veggies...my guys love bok choy, napa cabbage, etc. The more variety you can give in a fresh veggie diet to the rabbits, the better...my vet says a variety of 5 diff greens/day but I just read I think in Rabbit USA that they advise 7 diff. veggies/day for buns on a no pellet, veg and hay only diet. Good luck! You're going to have really healthy bunnies!

**Karen** · 04-09-2002, 07:49 PM

It's funny - Miss Hoppy is very particular about bok choy - she will eat BABY bok choy, but not only won't touch the normal bok choy, it is not allowed to remain on her plate. We tried some, she hopped over to the plate, dumped the bok choy off, and pulled the plate away from it - and toward the refrigerator, that source of all things good!

Every supermarket I know carries parsley - the flat "Italian" kind is tastier than the curly, more decorative kind.