Anyone know about rabbits?

[SarzWix]

I'm looking after a friend's rabbits while they're on holiday in the US, and can't text/ring them because of the cost, so I'm hoping someone on here can answer a few minor queries... The 'greens' that they left for them was basically a butterhead lettuce and it's all gone now. I was wondering if it would be okay to give them stuff I've grown instead which is Savoy cabbage and mixed leaves including rocket and spinach? Is there anything they shouldn't have?

Also, one of them was moved indoors not long before they went, because the one that was previously a house rabbit died and they missed having a rabbit indoors. However, this one isn't used to being indoors, and its in utter silence for about 23 hours a day at the moment and seems to be pining; not eating and going for me whenever I open the crate. I'm inclined to put it back outside in its former hutch, so at least it has bird noise etc for company, is there any reason not to do this?

[out in the cold]

If you don't get an answer, I will ask my neighbour for you, as she has bunnies

[Scarlet]

They can eat any greens, spinach lettuce, cauli, even Brussels sprouts. Dandelion leaves can cause diarrhoea if given too many.
As for putti g her back out. I would treat her like our plants- harden her off first. Put her out during the day and back in for the night.

[SarzWix]

Thanks Scarlet

[Nicos]

I've had bunnies for years.
Hmmm...I'd be tempted to put her outside during the day and in at night if you know for sure the other bunny wasn't killed by a fox or something. If in doubt- leave her indoors- that is what they had intended.

Food wise- any major change in diet will cause diarrhoea. ( In fact, you're not actually supposed to give bunnies lettuce at all!)
I'd be tempted to give her small amounts of any new stuff to allow her gut a chance to get used to it.
If she gets diarrhoea her gut bacteria will be knocked for 7..and bunnies need to eat their poo to do a second digestion.
As Scarlet says- they can eat most greens- and carrots- and grass. Generally they won't eat what they don't like.
If she shows signs of the runs give her hay- it's also a good boredom activity

[OverWyreGrower]

Don't give carrot...apparantly it's full of sugar and not all that nutritious - stick with leaves/cauli/broccoli, green beans are ok too

if you've got any apple branches/wood hanging around, that's good for them to chew - it's a very nice tasting wood!

[SarzWix]

The other rabbit was killed by old age, and then Wilf was brought indoors. He's used to being an outdoor bunny; he'd been a house rabbit for less than 2 weeks when they went away. Lavender and Elvis are outside in the hutch next door, and they're all used to having an hour or so out of the hutch in a wire pen on the lawn. Poor Wilf is not used to sitting indoors in complete silence.

[Two_Sheds]

Dandelion leaves can cause diarrhoea if given too many.

They're diuretic apparently (we call them wee-wee leaves). I haven't noticed they cause diarrhoea ~ I give them freely to my GPs

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...etc_64000.html

[Darwin.]

All I know about rabbits is that I like to see them hopping about the place but don't really like the taste. Neither of those bits of information are any good to you though.

[lettucegrow!]

I give dandelion too two sheds , and carrots. I think it's everything in moderation alongside the normal bunnie feed. Had rabbits for years and they will need some fresh stuff daily but no much, if any, lettuce.

[Scarlet]

I had a baby rabbit with back leg problems that took months to heal. I had to hand feed its mornings dropping back to her. Dandelion leaves caused very runny poo, lettuce could also be a problem but not as much as the dandy leaves! Though she loved the whole shampoo and hair dryer routine when she needed it!

[Tripmeup]

Ours gets mixture of grass, lettuce, spinach and some bought pellets....
In return we get free manure!!

[roitelet]

Mine get all the root veg peelings except potato, greens in moderation. As for the one inside if you introduce it to the others just make sure that they will accept it. They may fight and can be quite vicious towards each other so take care. Other than that just give them the normal rabbit food, hay and water and they should be fine.

[bearded bloke]

Could you take Wilf to your house & make a fuss of him ?

[SarzWix]

He's not going in the same hutch as the others, he has his own that he lived in full time until a couple of weeks ago. I've just lined it with cardboard and filled it with wood-shavings and a bundle of hay and put him in it, wearing gardening gloves to save being nipped (he tried!) and he's a much happier bunny already. After about ten minutes sniffing around, he settled down to eat, loved the spinach and corn salad leaves, and then laid out to bask in the sun I'm relieved, I don't think it's natural for an animal to be in absolute silence all day, with no fresh air, and I couldn't even find a radio to leave on for background noise.