Daisy, daisy… Can I eat you? Can my pet rabbit? Can rabbits even eat daisies in the first place? What’s for lunch today, mommy? If these questions have crossed your mind before, then this blog post is for you! In the following paragraphs we will discuss if it is safe to feed rabbits a diet of mostly or exclusively flowers. We’ll also go over some tips and concerns that might come up when feeding daisies to rabbits.
Food family of daisies.
Daisies are part of the Asteraceae family. Although not all daisies are edible, many are. This food family also includes lettuce, arugula, spinach, cilantro, carrots and parsley.
According to Mother Earth News , daisy petals have a high sugar content, which makes them appealing to rabbits who can only eat non- greens.
Can pet rabbits eat daisies?
Yes, rabbits can eat daisies. This is especially true if the daisies’ sugar content is high enough to be appealing to your rabbit. Your pet’s teeth are constantly growing and they need something hard to chew on in order to file them down. If you have a bunny who loves eating non- greens, then this may provide a good substitute to chewing on furniture or your stuff.
Daisy petals also have a high water content, which can be appealing to rabbits who normally rely on their owners for hydration.
How to prepare daisies for rabbits?
If you want your bunnies’ diet to consist of mostly or exclusively flowers, you will need to learn how to prepare them in a way that they can be eaten. Most edible flowers you buy from your local flower stand have been sprayed with insecticides which is dangerous for rabbits.
Do rabbits like daisies?
As mentioned earlier, daisy petals are very high in sugar and low in nutrients . This makes them taste sweet. Bunnies seem to like sweet things, so it’s probably safe to assume they would enjoy eating daisies or other similar edible flowers.
Some health benefits of daisies for rabbits.
Although not as nutritious as greens, flowers do contain some vitamins and minerals. The following list provides a good summary:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin K1
- Calcium
- Iron
A few Possible concerns when feeding daisies to rabbits.
Rabbits need a lot of fiber in their diet, so if you feed them mostly or exclusively flowers, this will be lacking. You can probably introduce some greens into their diet as well for extra fiber. Some flowers you can feed include dandelion greens, chamomile and catnip.
Daisy petals contain a lot of water which means they will not fill your rabbits up as much as regular rabbit food would. All the hydration is good though as it can prevent dehydration issues in your pet rabbit. You will need to take this into consideration when feeding your rabbit daisies and limit the amount you give it.
Some signs pet rabbits is sick from feeding daisies.
If you feed your bunnies a diet of mostly or exclusively flowers, most likely they will start losing weight since there aren’t enough nutrients in those green things. This can result in some serious problems including:
- Flop- eared bunny
- Constipation
What to do if your pet rabbits is sick from eating daisies?
Take your rabbit to a vet at once. The sooner it receives treatment, the higher its chances for survival. If you know anything about herbs and natural remedies, you can start giving your rabbit some of those to help it get through this.
Some signs of sickness include:
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Drooling
Is it safe to feed daisies to your pet rabbits?
Yes, you can feed your bunnies flowers and daisy petals. Just be careful when doing so because they contain a lot of water which means they won’t fill your pet up enough if their diet is mostly or exclusively made of flowers.
What is your experience feeding daisies to rabbits?
I have never fed my bunnies flowers at all, but I do give them dandelion greens sometimes instead. They enjoy it, but if you are looking for an alternative to regular rabbit food then maybe some flowers could be one.
Are daisies bad for rabbits?
If you don’t feed your rabbits a lot of other food sources , then yes, they probably can eat an excessive amount of daisies and get sick from doing so. This is because the petals are very high in water content and low in nutrients . The bottom line is this: don’t feed your rabbits daisies.
Some Tips before giving daisies to rabbits.
- Introduce them slowly
- Don’t just start feeding your rabbit flowers thinking it will eat the same amount of food than before, because it won’t. Be careful while transitioning and introduce new sources gradually so your bunnies can adjust to the changes in its diet.
- Always supervise rabbits when they are eating flowers to make sure they are safe for them.
What daisies are safe for rabbits?
Most types of daisy that you can buy from your local flower shop or supermarket should be ok for your bunnies to eat. However, some people say that some kinds of daisies can cause liver and kidney damage in rabbits. I think this only applies to the wild kind that you can buy at most places they sell flowers, so it is best to stick with something like Daisy Chains or Marguerite Daisies.
Where can I get daisies for my rabbits?
You can buy this kind of daisies at most supermarkets and flower shops.
How much daisies does rabbits eat a day?
Depends on how many rabbits you have, and how big they are.
How often should I give my rabbits daisies?
- Feed them only a few petals at a time to make sure they are safe for your bunnies.
- Start giving them some flowers when they get used to regular rabbit food . This way you will know if they are allergic to any of them.
- Don’t change the flowers you give your bunnies too often. Once they start eating certain flowers, it is best to stick with those.
- If you have a bunny that has health problems, be careful when giving him/her new food just in case there are some unknown allergies.
- You can also give them a small amount of dandelion greens or some parsley if they seem to eat a lot of flowers.
- Be careful not to feed your bunny any poisonous types of daisies as those could be very dangerous, so research before you buy any. Always supervise your pets when introducing new food and make sure there are no allergies at all.
Is it safe to give rabbits milk?
Yes, you can feed your bunnies milk from a bottle or wet cat food. What not to do is make them drink a lot of water at once because it can give them diarrhea and that could cause problems if they don’t have a place to go in their cage that is easy to clean and that’s not the case for most people.
What can rabbits drink besides water?
Rabbits do like drinking a lot, usually out of bowls or bottles which you can find at any pet store. However, make sure you don’t give them too much food or liquids (especially without any supervision) because it could cause problems with digestion. Be careful while introducing new foods or liquids because some rabbits can have allergies to them, so it is best to be safe than sorry.
By And By
I hope these tips have been helpful and that you were able to learn a few things. Do you have any thoughts or questions about feeding daisies to rabbits? Comment below!
