Can Rabbits Eat Corn? Complete Health Guide & Issues

can  rabbits eat corn?

Can Rabbits Eat Corn?

Can Rabbits Eat Corn? The answer is no for corn. We all love to eat corns. The problem is whether rabbits can eat corns. This is a huge topic that all rabbit owners are wondering to know. If you’re looking for a good healthy treat for your rabbits, corn is not one of them. Most of the time other pet animals like dogs and cats can eat this corn without any problem. But the thing is we need to consider our rabbit’s health. There is no toxic part contained in corn for rabbits. But they can’t digest grains like corn properly.

If you ask a venture about corn, they will also inform you not to feed corn for rabbits. Corn cobs have less amount of nutrition value for rabbits. Providing corn always causes health risks like choking hazards, digestive issues, and many other health issues. We will talk about all these things one by one. And we will also talk about all other parts like corn husks, and popcorn, etc. that are related to corn and whether they are safer to be eaten by rabbits.

Let’s start without any delay!!!!

do rabbits eat corns?

Extra Information About Corn

Corn is also called maize and is categorized as a member of the grass family Gramineae. This is technically called a grain crop. Corn stalks are covered with a cob of seeds which are commonly called kernels. The cob of the corn is actually the flower of the corn. There are lots of varieties of corn popular around the world. Yellow and white corn is the most popular corn varieties. There are other varieties like red, blue, pink, black kernel-type corns around the world. Yellow corn is popular as sweet corn. Single corn can have 400 kernels. Sweet corns are sweet and give a buttery flavor.

These corns are used for many commercial industries. Corn is used to making cereals, peanut butter, chips, popcorn, and cooking oil, etc. These corns are high in fiber content and a good source of vitamins. Unfortunately, this is not a healthy food for rabbits.

According to the USDA United States Department of Agriculture, 100g of raw yellow Sweetcorn has these nutrients.

Water75.96 g
Energy360 kJ
Carbohydrates18.7 g
Sugars6.26 g
Dietary fiber2 g
Fat1.35 g
Protein3.27 g

Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamin A 9 μg
Vitamin B60.093 mg
Folate (B9)42 μg
Vitamin C6.8 mg
Iron0.52 mg
Magnesium37 mg
Manganese0.163 mg
Phosphorus89 mg
Potassium270 mg

As you can see in the nutrition chart, corn does not provide any nutritional value to rabbits’ essential nutrients. It has high potassium content compared to other good nutrients.

Do Rabbits Like To Eat Corn

Corn is one of the most popular cereal grains in the world. Everyone loves to eat corn. It is difficult for rabbits to eat them if we offer them corns. Corn is unhealthy food for rabbits. There is no argument about that. We should not provide any corn kernels for rabbits.

do rabbits like to eat corns

Why Corn Is Bad For Rabbits?

There is plenty of reason that will directly apply why corns are bad for rabbits. The main thing is Rabbits are unable to digest the hulls of corn kernels. (These things apply to all kinds of seeds). Corn hulls are made with polysaccharide complex. Rabbit’s digestive system has no enzymes to digest these compounds. They will have a hard time digesting these corn hulls. These corn hulls can lead to intestinal blockage.

Corn is not a good supplier of nutrients for rabbits. Corns contain a smaller number of nutrients than rabbits need. But it contains a high amount of starch, potassium, and sugar. Even according to the nutritional side corn are bad for rabbits. 

According to the vets, these corn lead to many other health risks like obesity and gastrointestinal states. Due to the high amount of fat and sugar, there is always the risk of increasing weight, risk of diabetes, and dental problems for rabbits.

How Often Should We Feed Corn To Rabbits

If you are concern about your loving rabbit’s health, don’t ever feed this corn to rabbits. There are plenty of other good food snacks for your rabbits. Try out fruits like cherries, blueberries, bananas, and mangos, etc. They are healthier than these corns. Don’t take any risk of feeding corn to rabbits. All the other products made from corn are also bad for rabbits.

Can Rabbits Eat Popcorn?

Popcorn is also one of the unhealthy snacks made from corn. Rabbits have a hard time digesting this popcorn too. Another thing is Popcorns include salts, sugar, and other ingredients that are not suitable for rabbits. In the article, we talk about these Popcorns and all the things you should know before feeding your rabbits.

Can Rabbits Eat Corn Husks?

Not all the parts are bad for rabbits. Rabbits can eat these corn husks. This leafy part of the corn is healthier than the corn kernels. But these corn husks are not 100% safer for rabbits. Corn husks contain a high amount of fiber. We can provide a limited amount of Corn husks for rabbits in moderation. When buying corns, make sure to wash them carefully before giving corn husk to them. Most of the time these leafy parts contain chemicals and pesticides that will harm your rabbits.

can rabbits eat corn leaves and husks?

Can Rabbits Eat Corn Leaves And Stalks

Yes, rabbits can eat Corn leaves and stalks. They also contain high fiber amounts that are good for rabbits. Corns are seasonal crop plants. You can simply provide a small amount of leafy part to your rabbits during the corn season. Most of the time rabbits don’t like to eat mature leaves of corn and stalks. Make sure to wash these before feeding your rabbits. If your rabbits love to eat those provide them a small number of corn leaves.

Can Rabbits Eat Sweet Corn?

Don’t try to provide any kind of corn to your rabbits. As you know how these things are unhealthy for rabbits. Even these sweet corns contain a high amount of sugar more than other varieties. We must avoid feeding these things to rabbits. They are off the book.

Healthy Alternatives To Corn

Rabbits should have a daily diet of mostly hay, a smaller amount of fresh vegetables, and a limited number of pellets. Hay is the most important part of a rabbit’s daily intake. Unlimited, high-quality grass hay, such as Timothy, orchard, or brome, should make up the bulk of a rabbit’s diet

VCA HOSpital

VegetablesFruits
Bell peppersApple
Bok choyBanna
Brussels sproutsBerries
BasilMelon
CilantroPeach
EndivePear
Green leafPlum
Red leafWatermelon
ParsleyGrapes
FennelPapaya
Pineapple
Orange

Best Common Healthy Diet To Feed Your Rabbit

We need to feed our rabbits according to the correct diet plan This is the most important part as rabbit owners should feed rabbits in a correct and time-scheduled plan. We need to carefully pick the right food for rabbits. Some rabbits have different kinds of flavors. It’s up to us to find them and look after them. 

This will help you to make a good diet plan for rabbits.

  • Good Quality Grass Hay – I recommend Timothy hay is the most popular/good all-around unlimited offering to your rabbits. Orchardgrass, meadow fescues are also good for rabbits. Hay is the main food supply. Hay will help your rabbits to stay healthy and strong and maintain a healthy digestive system.
  • Fresh Water – Ensure rabbits can have clean, freshwater 24/7. Water bows are most commonly used to supply water for rabbits.
  • Provide Good Quality Leafy Greens – Provide them with 5-6 varieties of safe washed green vegetables, weeds, herbs daily (arugula, basil, kale, cabbage, etc). Try to introduce new greens with small potions.
  • Treats & Fresh Fruits – For the safety of rabbits only provide 1 -2 tablespoons per day. Feed carrots, apples, blueberries, etc.
  • Provide Good Quality Pellets – Is good to have a small number of healthy pellets daily. There are so many products out there, keep in your mind to supply quality and healthy foods for rabbits.

(source -.https://www.rspca.org.uk/)

why corns are bad for rabbits

Summary

As you know now corn is not the best snack for rabbits. There is plenty of health risks of corn that we can’t ignore. We should never feed rabbits with corn in any circumstances. All the corn products like popcorn are unhealthy foods for rabbits.

When we are looking for any kind of food, first and foremost we must consider rabbit’s health. Why do we even take a risk of feeding unhealthy food to rabbits?

Thank you for reading today !!!! Stay safe

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