Rabbits can eat watercress. It is safe and one of the vegetables that can form part of their leafy greens mix. All you need to do is to chop it and add to other safe veggies such as romaine lettuce, basil, kohlrabi, cilantro, broccoli, mustard greens, carrot tops, collard greens, dandelion greens, escarole, radicchio, endive, wheatgrass, and so on.
The second concern is going to be amounts. What mounts of watercress can my bunnies eat? Give them a mixture of about six leafy greens making this vegetable one of them. A full cup of this assortment is enough for a rabbit weighing two pounds.
Also, don’t forget to stick to the recommended diet proportions. While most bunnies may tend to like veggies, they should only account for 10-15% of their diet, with the leafy greens being at least 75% while fruits, non-leafy vegetables can be 25%, given as treats.
There should be unlimited grass hay, with timothy hay being the most often chosen. Hay is vital as is well-balanced nutritionally, and it is high in fiber. Fiber will help wear down your bunny’s ever-growing teeth and promote digestion.
Finally, pellets should only be 5% of the rabbit’s diet. However, growing, pregnant, skinny, or nursing bunnies may have a different dietary requirement, including more pellets and some alfalfa hay slightly.
More on watercress
Botanically, it is known as Nasturtium officinale, while yellowcress is its other name. This perennial aquatic vegetable rapidly proliferates and is native to Asia and Europe. It has hollow stems, a reason why it effortlessly floats on water, pinnate compound leaves, and small clusters of white or green flowers.
Humans consume both its leaves and sprout, and they are quite nutritious. However, in some places, watercress is a weed.
Finally, although some people assume that watercress and garden cress are the same, the latter is botanically known as Lepidium sativum. However, they are both members of the cabbage family (crucifers or mustards), the family Brassicaceae.
Is it nutritious?
Yes. Watercress is very nutritious and will benefit your rabbits in a great way. It is loaded with vitamin K and C while it has moderate to low amounts of vitamin A, vitamin B6 riboflavin, thiamine, vitamin E as well as calcium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, and pantothenic acid or vitamin B5.
Bottom line
Bunnies can have watercress. It is a safe vegetable and can be part of the leafy green mix you feed your rabbits. Besides being quite nutritious, most rabbits will love its taste. However, don’t overdo it as it may cause stomach upsets and diarrhea.