Rabbits eat mostly hay, but they also enjoy a variety of vegetables supplementing their diets, including leafy greens. Bok choy is a great choice to add to your rabbit’s diet, as it can bring in lots of nutrients and vitamins without introducing anything harmful. But bok choy (and all leafy greens) shouldn’t be a big part of your rabbit’s diet.
Keeping the portion sizes right is key to a happy, healthy rabbit.
What Is Bok Choy?
Bok choy is a leafy green that can look a little bit like spinach. It has thick, white stems that end in a small bulb. It is from China and is sometimes called pak choy or pok choy. You’ll also hear it called Chinese cabbage, although other greens can also be called this. It’s a delicious, healthy food for humans in many Chinese dishes and markets.
Bok Choy Benefits
Bok choy has a lot of benefits for rabbits. One of the biggest benefits is its high water content. Bok choy is 95% water, meaning it’s great for rabbits who don’t drink enough on their own. This high water content also means it is low in calories and nutrients like calcium, which many rabbits get too much.
Bok choy is also a great source of vitamins. Some of the most important nutrients in bok choy are vitamins A and K, magnesium, and potassium. It’s also high in antioxidants including vitamin C. These nutrients will help keep your rabbit’s diet healthy and balanced.
Finally, bok choy is tasty! Many rabbits like crunchy and leafy vegetables, and bok choy has crunchy stems and soft leaves that rabbits love. Many rabbits also seem to enjoy the mild, slightly peppery flavor of bok choy. This makes it ideal for adding into your rabbit’s diet as an occasional snack.
Bok Choy Drawbacks
Although bok choy has many good qualities, it shouldn’t be a major staple food for rabbits. It is a healthy snack, but it can’t replace the hay that should be your bunny’s main food. It is too low in calories to feed your rabbit properly. It’s also way too low in protein. It only has about 10% of the protein per serving as rabbit feed, so it won’t keep your rabbit full and healthy as a replacement for hay or feed.
The other big nutritional shortcoming is that it’s very low in fiber. Rabbits need a lot of fiber to stay healthy, so eating too much bok choy and not enough other foods can cause digestive problems. Some rabbits may experience gas, especially if bok choy is not gradually introduced or if it is overfed. If your rabbit gets loose stools after eating bok choy, it’s probably because it didn’t have enough fiber that day.
How Much Bok Choy Should I Feed?
Leafy greens like bok choy should make up 10% of your rabbit’s daily diet or less. Greens are great for rabbits in moderation, but too much of it will fill up their stomachs without providing real nutrition. Bok choy also shouldn’t be the only green in your rabbit’s meals. Adding a handful of it here and there as part of a varied salad including other bunny-friendly leafy greens and veggies is healthier than making it the main green on a daily basis. Variety will help your rabbit get more of the nutrients they need and be happier and healthier than relying on only one green food, no matter how healthy.
Final Thoughts
Overall, bok choy is a great addition to your rabbit’s diet. It’s high in nutritional value, and most rabbits find it delicious. However, bok choy should always be only a supplement to your rabbit’s hay and pellets, not the main course, and in fact, as only one of several leafy greens to offer your rabbit as part of a tasty and varied salad. Feeding your rabbit too much bok choy and not enough other foods will cause a nutritional deficiency.
Featured Image Credit: laker, Pexels
