Rabbits are curious animals by birth. When they are wild, they try to find out new foods and places. When they are pets, they try this behavior on their owner.
As they do not have any knowledge about their stomach capability and health issues, they do not stop eating when they find new foods. So it is up to us to care for them in a correct way.
However, if you are having grapes and your rabbits are around, then they must try to taste those grapes. But can rabbits eat grapes?
Can Rabbits Eat Grapes?
Grapes can be an awesome treat for your rabbits. You can feed your rabbits grapes once or twice a week. By following some correct steps, we can feed rabbits grapes safely.
Let’s try a closer look at this article to understand how to feed rabbits grapes.
Are Grapes Safe for Rabbits?
Grapes are juicy fruits that contain minerals and vitamins. Let’s see what a grape contains first, then we can realize if it is safe for rabbits or not.
- Vitamin A 0.08mg
- Vitamin D 0.09mg
- Vitamin E 0.19mg
- Vitamin B1, B2
- Copper 0.13mg
- Fat 0.16g
- Potassium 0.191g
- Phosphorus 0.02g
- Zinc
- Polyphenols
If we look at the list then we can understand that grapes do not carry any kind of toxic ingredients that can be harmful to rabbit’s health.
Moreover, Polyphenols is a kind of antioxidant that can help your rabbits to prevent any kind of heart disease or cancer. It also helps cells from free radicals.
Though grapes taste sweet when they are riped but sugar in grapes is not much harmful to rabbit’s health. Because the sugar in grapes works slowly to get absorbed into rabbit’s blood.
There are many fruits that are confusing to feed the rabbits. Cause some fruits to remain toxic after washing again and again and there are some fruits whose pants, leaves, or seeds are totally unsafe for rabbits.
But grapes are not that kind of fruit. Rabbits can eat any part of a grape plant.
Can Rabbits Eat Grape Skin?
There are some of us who think to feed our rabbits grape skin. Well, grape skin can be a good option to feed. But you must make sure that grape skin is well cleaned and not containing any kind of pesticides.
As, grape plants do not need many chemicals or pesticides to grow up, so there is a low chance of having pesticides on grape skin. But precaution must be taken!
Can Rabbits Eat Grape Seeds?
Actually, rabbits should not eat any kind of seeds. You can give them pellets or other dried foods, but seeds might not be okay for them.
Grapes seeds can be sometimes hard and large, they can create a choking issue on rabbits. It is better if you feed your rabbits seedless grapes.
So, try to keep away grape seeds or any kind of seeds away from your rabbits. If you have read the article from the very first then you know why I am telling this. Yes, just because they are super curious about whichever comes their way.
Can Rabbits Eat Grape Leaves?
Yes, grapes leaves are safe for rabbits. They can eat the leaves of the grape plant. But the amount should be lower. Those leaves also need to be washed and fresh.
Can Rabbits Eat Grape Stems?
Grape stalks or stems are not much hard. They are safe to feed if you want. But if there is any hard or sharp stem, then you should remove it.
Stems are good for chewing. However, there are some other foods you can give your rabbits for chewing. We will talk about it at the last of the article.
Can Rabbits Eat Grape Juice?
Grape juice is also safe for rabbits but you should give them a very small amount of juice. Because grape juice contains some other ingredients which make it sweeter than the original fruit.
If you ever notice any bloating issue after feeding them grape juice. Immediately cut off grape juice from their diet chart.
Can Rabbits Eat Raisins?
Raisins mean dried grapes or canned grapes. Well, some dried foods are okay for rabbits though you must try your best to feed rabbits raw and fresh fruits or vegetables.
Still, if there is an issue to find fresh or raw fruits then you can give them some dried fruits. Raisins can be one of them. But make sure those raisins or dried grapes are totally fresh or well processed.
Can Baby Rabbits Eat Grapes?
Baby rabbits should stick with their mother’s milk from the beginning to the age of 10 or 11 weeks. After passing 12 weeks, they are able to eat other fruits and vegetables.
Sugar in grapes is quite tough for them to digest. So you should just wait for them to be grown up to feed grapes. However, feeding grown-up rabbits grapes also need to follow some steps.
How to Feed Rabbits Grapes?
Now you are being informed when and how much grapes rabbits should eat and how to feed them in a correct way.
Firstly, the feeding steps:
- Take fresh and medium size grapes for feeding.
- Rinse grapes well to make sure they are not carrying any pesticides or chemicals.
- Cut the grapes into pieces.
- If there is any large or hard seed into it, throw the seeds away.
- Smell the grapes and make sure they don’t have any bad smell.
- The grapes must not be overripened.
- Gradually introduce grapes with rabbits.
Here is a table to understand at what age rabbits can eat grapes and how much grapes should be given to them.
| Rabbit’s Age | Allowed Grapes |
|---|---|
| 7 weeks to 8 weeks | —— |
| 8 weeks to 1 year | 1-2 grapes per week |
| 1 year to 5 years | Not more than 2 or 3 tablespoon |
Can Grapes be Harmful to Rabbits?
Rabbits must follow a diet chart that is consists of 80-90% grass and hay. This type of hay is suitable for rabbits.
Other 10-20% should be filled with fruits or vegetables. If you feed your rabbits grapes in a small amount, there won’t be any problem. But if your rabbits eat too many grapes, then there may be some problems.
Let’s see the cons of overfeeding grapes to your rabbits.
- Fatness: Grapes have a lot of starch and sugar. If you overfeed your rabbits’ grapes, then they may start gaining weight. And this type of obesity is harmful to rabbits. Fat can block their blood flow or jam their stomach’s natural system.
- Acidity: Grapes can create acidity in a rabbit’s body. Sometimes they can’t digest eaten grapes but do not stop eating showing interest when you feed them grapes. And that leads them to have acidity.
- GI issue: GI means gastrointestinal stasis happens when your rabbits are not having enough fiber. If you feed your rabbits grapes way more than enough then this could have happened.
- Diarrhea: Overfeeding grapes can create diarrhea in your rabbit’s body if grapes are not digested. Because of being rich in sugar and starch, grapes can break up the natural system of rabbits’ gut flora. Remember, diarrhea is much harmful and can lead rabbits to death.
Alternative Fruits to Grapes for Rabbits
Well, there are some other fruits you can feed your rabbits if possible. These fruits are easy to feed than grapes. Because you don’t need to think that much to feed rabbits these fruits as you do before feeding rabbits grapes.
Those fruits are:
- Melons
- Apples
- Bananas
- Peaches
- Oranges
- Cherries
- Raspberries
- Blueberries
- Guavas and so on.
These fruits are not hard to find and ready to feed without any doubt.
Things to Consider
Your rabbits live on grass and hay. If they do not ever feed with any other foods, then there won’t be any problem actually.
Still, if you introduce your rabbits’ new fruits and vegetables then it can be awesome for them and they will start liking you more than usual. Grape gardens are mostly available and this fruit is easy to find in any market.
But before feeding rabbits grapes we need to know some facts about grapes and some feeding steps to follow. In this article, both are well described. You should follow this before you feed rabbits grapes.
Conclusion
There are some fruits that need to be examined before giving to rabbits. Following this, a question like can rabbits eat grapes should be risen. Grapes can be fed by following some simple steps. We hope this article can help you.