Can Rabbits Eat Microgreens?

A rabbit is an herbivore, which means it only eats plants. A rabbit's diet usually consists of vegetables, leafy weeds, hay, and grass. Rabbits may also occasionally eat vegetables, fruits, and nuts. The stomach of a rabbit contains a type of bacteria that creates enzymes that breaks down the plant fibers.

Rabbits should never eat foods that are high in starches, carbohydrates, and sugars. You should never feed your rabbit food items like rice, bread, and potatoes.

Can Rabbits Eat Microgreens?

Microgreens are safe for rabbit consumption; however, a rabbit's main diet should consist of hay and grass. You can feed your rabbit between 10 percent and 30 percent microgreens with the rest of their diet consisting of any variety of hay.

Microgreens are expensive if you are not growing them yourself. On average, microgreens will cost between $25 and $100 per pound, depending on the type of microgreen. Rabbits are big eaters, which means feeding your rabbit microgreens could cost a lot of money.

What Are the Best Microgreens for Rabbits?

Microgreens, much like vegetables, are good for bunnies. However, knowing which microgreens are best to feed rabbits can help keep your bunny healthy and happy. As a rule of thumb, you should not feed rabbits microgreens that are spicy. Instead, feed them the following types of microgreens:

• Alfalfa microgreens
• Barley microgreens
• Basil microgreens
• Beet microgreens
• Borage microgreens
• Broccoli microgreens
• Brussel sprout microgreens
• Celery microgreens
• Chard microgreens
• Chicory microgreens
• Cilantro microgreens
• Collard microgreens
• Corn microgreens
• Cucumber microgreens
• Dandelion microgreens
• Dill microgreens
• Endive microgreens
• Fennel microgreens
• Fenugreek microgreens
• Kale microgreens
• Lentil microgreens
• Lettuce microgreens
• Millet microgreens
• Mint microgreens
• Mustard microgreens
• Pak Choy microgreens
• Pea microgreens
• Spinach microgreens
• Sunflower microgreens
• Turnip microgreens
• Wheatgrass microgreens

The microgreens listed above are filled with nutrients that help your rabbit develop properly. In fact, microgreens have about 40 times more nutrients than mature vegetables.

Which Microgreens Are Harmful to Rabbits?

Although many microgreens are great additions to a rabbit's diet, there are some that should e avoided. Microgreens that have a higher carbohydrate content, have a sweeter flavor or have a stronger flavor should not be fed to rabbits. The following microgreens can cause stomach problems in rabbits and may eventually lead to other health issues.

• Arugula microgreens
• Azuki bean microgreens
• Cress microgreens
• Fava microgreens
• Lemongrass microgreens
• Nasturtium microgreens
• Parsley microgreens
• Popcorn microgreens
• Radish microgreens
• Spreen magenta microgreens
• Tangerine microgreens
• Wasabi microgreens

How to Keep Your Rabbits Safe When Feeding Them Microgreens

One of the major concerns when it comes to feeding rabbits microgreens is mold. If rabbits consume mold, it can cause them to become very sick.

Because of the way microgreens are grown, mold can be a problem. However, if you follow our growing instructions for microgreens, the risk of mold can be minimized.

Why Choose Microgreens Rather than Full Grown Vegetables

Full-grown vegetables and microgreens are both beneficial to rabbits; however, there are three main reasons why your rabbits should eat microgreens rather than full-grown vegetables.

1. Microgreens are chockful of nutrients. Microgreens contain 40 times the nutrients that full-grown vegetables have per pound. When your rabbit eats microgreens, their consumption of amino acids, folate, vitamins, protein, minerals, and other nutrients increases.
2. Microgreens are tender and easier to digest. Microgreens contain more water than full-grown microgreens, which help bunnies process and digest microgreens better than full-grown vegetables.
3. Microgreens contain fewer compounds that inhibit the rabbit's ability to absorb and use nutrients. These anti-nutrients reduce the nutritional value of a full-grown vegetable, and thus reduce the health of a rabbit.

Final Thoughts

Microgreens can improve your rabbit's health; however, there are certain microgreens that should be avoided, particularly those that have intense flavors or those that contain high levels of carbohydrates. Before feeding your rabbit microgreens, inspect the microgreens carefully to ensure there is no mold present. Once you have verified that the microgreens are safe for rabbit consumption, you can begin feeding your rabbit microgreens to improve their health.