Homestead rabbits love a good, refreshing treat.
Most people think of fresh grass as a treat; however, this is a standard meal for pastured and naturally raised rabbits.
Carrots and clover are two popular treats as well.
What about bananas though??
Can Rabbits Eat Bananas?
If you’re tending to your rabbits with a banana in hand, you might be tempted to give your favorite rabbits a small nibble of your fruit.
Most animals love bananas, as they have a sweet, tropical flavor. Fortunately, rabbits can eat bananas!
You may find that they will gobble it up very quickly, so be mindful of how you feed it to them; if you simply stick a whole banana out for the rabbit to take a bite, you shouldn’t be surprised if they run quickly with the whole banana!
How Much Banana Can a Rabbit Eat Safely?
If you choose to feed bananas to your rabbits, it should be an occasional treat at most.
You should only feed between 1 and 2 tablespoons at a time, with the latter being for larger rabbits.
Avoid feeding this treat more than 2 or 3 times per week.
I would also recommend withholding these treats fro++m younger bunnies, as their digestive systems may have a harder time with the introduction of this sweet, delicious fruit.
This natural rabbit food treat is still better than many of the treat recipes sold in pet stores, so while bananas aren’t exactly part of a natural diet, they are still a better treat option for your homestead rabbits (especially if you are raising them naturally).
Can Rabbits Eat Banana Peels?
Banana peels are another fun treat for rabbits!
They do not contain quite as much sugar as the banana fruit that they protect, which is a good thing for our rabbits.
However, you should still treat this like an occasional treat.
Rabbits are not designed to eat fruits as meals, and you don’t want to upset your bunny’s stomach with too much fruit.
Try introducing banana peels a few times before introducing the banana itself. This will help the rabbit to ease into trying the fruit successfully.
Will A Rabbit Get Sick After Eating Bananas? Are Bananas Toxic to Bunnies?
If you feed your rabbit very limited treats of bananas, they are safe to eat. However, you should watch for any signs of gastrointestinal upset.
Bananas can be very problematic in large amounts due to their high sugar content and low fiber content.
Rabbits are designed to eat large quantities of fibrous grasses and foliage, not high quantities of sugar.
When lots of sugar is ingested, it can upset the animal’s digestive tract and reduce overall gut health. This can cause issues with nutrient absorption, waste elimination, weight, and cecotrope formation.
If a rabbit is allowed unlimited access to a banana, you might find the animal in an alarming state as the excessive sugars put the animal’s body under stress.
If your rabbit is a pet and hasn’t eaten or eliminated for 12 to 24 hours, try reaching out to a vet for help.
As you can see below, rabbits love their bananas! However, again, the banana must be portioned. The rabbit below is eating quite a bit more than is recommended, but seems to walk away when it has had enough; pay close attention to the cues that the rabbits give.