Can Bunnies Eat Oranges?

Are Oranges Safe for Bunnies?

Rabbits need vitamins and minerals, just as humans do. Oranges provide a great source of fiber and vitamins for all–and most all rabbits love the bright citrus flavor as well.

Can Rabbits Eat Oranges?

Yes, rabbits can eat oranges and they are very safe for them. They have a list of vitamins and minerals that are naturally occurring in oranges. They give your bunny vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, folate, iron, phosphorus, and potassium.

Can Rabbits Eat Orange Peels?

Orange peels, on the other hand, shouldn’t be given to your furry friend though. They taste bitter and can also be toxic to rabbits because most often they have been sprayed by pesticides when they were grown in an orchard. If you grow your own oranges and don’t use harmful pesticides, your rabbit will not likely want the peelings anyway because of the bitter taste. Rabbits prefer sweet fruits instead.

Can Rabbits Eat Parts of An Orange Tree Or Seeds?

If you grow your own oranges and don’t use pesticides, you can feed your bunny the leaves and branches of an orange tree. Just make sure and look at them closely first to make certain that there are no parasites on them.

Rabbits can’t eat orange seeds. They are very small and are not able to digest correctly for a rabbit, so they can lead to painful blockages. They can also cause your rabbit to choke.

How Many Oranges Can A Rabbit Eat?

This all depends on the age and weight of your furry friend. Small rabbits that weigh 3.6 pounds and under can have one orange at a time. Medium rabbits weighing 6 to 10 pounds can have 1 or 2 oranges and large rabbits over 10 pounds can have a maximum of 2 oranges.

As always when introducing a portion of new food to your bunny, start with just a few tiny pieces at a time until you know he won’t have any adverse reactions to it.

It’s best not to feed your pet rabbit oranges every day though, because they are high in sugar content and can lead to an overweight pet that will face more challenges because of its weight.

Are Oranges Safe for Rabbits?

Yes, they are absolutely safe as long as you don’t feed them too many oranges. Once a week feeding of oranges is plenty for any rabbit. Otherwise, they can become obese, have kidney problems, diarrhea from acid, or tooth decay.

Can Rabbits Eat Clementines?

Clementines are in the orange family and they are a hybrid between a mandarin orange and a standard-sized orange. They are usually seedless too, so it’s easier to peel them with their loose skins and give your bunny a section or two for a sweet treat occasionally.

The fiber in clementines helps to alleviate constipation in rabbits as it softens the stool.

Can Rabbits Eat Tangerines?

Yes, they can, but again only in small amounts. Tangerines are in the orange family but they are smaller and sweeter than a regular orange. Tangerines have sugar, acid, fiber, sodium, and phosphorus in them.

Too much of any of these nutrients can have adverse effects on your bunny, so it’s best to only allow 1 or 2 segments a week to an adult bunny. They may only have the segments without the peeling and without seeds.

Can Rabbits Eat Nectarines?

Yes, but in moderation only. Nectarines have naturally occurring sugar and they are sweet but also acidic. You can feed your rabbit one section occasionally as a super special treat, but it shouldn’t be in their weekly diet.

Your bunny will most likely consider this a high-value treat and you can cut tiny bits of a section and use it when you are training your bunny to do certain activities or tricks.

How Old Do Bunnies Need to Be To Eat Fruit?

Baby bunnies rely on their mother’s milk for all of their nutritional needs until they are weaned. Weaning occurs somewhere between 2 and 3 months in most cases.

Don’t feed a bunny fruit until he is older than 3 months. Their sensitive digestive system is not mature enough to process sweet items until this age. You can slowly introduce fruits and vegetables into his diet in very small portions to start.

What Other Fruits are Safe for Rabbits to Eat?

Your rabbit enjoys mealtimes with a bit of fresh fruit in his pellets or in his hay so he can forage for the sweet treats. Make certain it’s only in very small amounts and not on a daily basis because he needs lots of fiber from his hay for his digestive system to work properly.

Other fruits besides oranges that are safe for your bunny are apple slices, grapes, pears, peaches, cherries, watermelon, kiwi, papayas, mangoes, any type of berries, pineapple plums, bananas, all types of melons, currants, and apricots as well as star fruit.

Remember to always feed fresh fruit so there is no sugar added to their already sweet treat. You should wash the fruit and peel it, then remove any type of seeds or pits in the fruit. Cut very small pieces and give them to your beautiful bunny occasionally for treats.

Can Rabbits Eat Dried Fruits?

Dried fruits are not as good for your lovely bunny as they are exponentially higher in sugar content from the dehydration process. It’s best not to feed your pet rabbit any dried fruit at all.

In fact, dried fruits of all types can lead to several different illnesses in your furry friend. They can cause gastrointestinal distress and severe bloating in bunnies, which is very painful for your pets. They may cause diarrhea and lethargy as well as malnutrition. Your rabbit can experience quick weight gain and become obese and it can affect the blood sugar levels because of the sugar content. High sugar intake can actually cause your rabbit to be dizzy and have headaches and lead to diabetes.

What Are the Advantages of Fresh Fruits Over Dried Fruits?

Fresh fruits are much better for rabbits because they have a higher water content that is removed in the freeze-drying process from dried fruits.

Fresh fruits have a higher fiber content that your rabbit relies on to keep his digestive system working in tip-top condition. Fresh fruits also have an increased nutrient value over dried fruits.

Fresh fruits are better for those ever-growing bunny teeth because they are crunchy to chew and your pet needs this to keep his teeth trimmed down.

Fresh fruits are better for bonding and teaching your rabbit new things because they are regarded as a high-quality treat by rabbits.

Fresh fruits are much lower in sugar content because when the water is removed from dried fruits it concentrates the sugar levels. Fresh fruits also have higher amounts of items your pet needs, such as potassium, antioxidants, and fiber for their overall health.

Final Thoughts

When you are adding any type of new fruit to your rabbit’s diet, make sure it’s in moderation and a very tiny bit to start. If you are feeding it to a mother rabbit who still has babies in her enclosure with you, it may be best not to offer fruit at all, because just a few nibbles can upset a young and underdeveloped digestive system.