Can Rabbits eat Endive?

Endive is part of the chicory family and is a relative of the frisee, escarole, radicchio and the curly endive. Endive has a texture that is crisp, sweet and nutty flavour and a mild bitterness. It is often served either raw or cooked.

For the sake of this post, we are concerned with the curly endive or frisee. Curly endive has narrow green and curly outer leaves and is also called endive lettuce, chicory or chicoree frisee.

image flickr

So can rabbits eat endive at all?

Let’s take a look at their nutritional data and find out more about them. In particular their sugar, fat, phosphorous, acidic, protein and calcium content is of particularly of interest.

Endive, raw
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 71 kJ (17 kcal)
Carbohydrates 3.35 g
– Dietary fiber 3.1 g
Fat 0.2 g
Protein 1.25 g
Vitamin A equiv. 108 μg (14%)
– beta-carotene 1300 μg (12%)
Thiamine (vit. B1) 0.08 mg (7%)
Riboflavin (vit. B2) 0.075 mg (6%)
Niacin (vit. B3) 0.4 mg (3%)
Pantothenic acid (B5) 0.9 mg (18%)
Folate (vit. B9) 142 μg (36%)
Vitamin C 6.5 mg (8%)
Vitamin E 0.44 mg (3%)
Vitamin K 231 μg (220%)
Calcium 52 mg (5%)
Iron 0.83 mg (6%)
Magnesium 15 mg (4%)
Manganese 0.42 mg (20%)
Phosphorus 28 mg (4%)
Potassium 314 mg (7%)
Zinc 0.79 mg (8%)
Link to USDA Database entry
Percentages are roughly approximated
using US recommendations for adults.
Source: USDA Nutrient Database

source wikipedia

As you can see endive contains a little calcium, phosphorus, but is very acidic. So rabbits can eat endive but only a little of it. Once a week in small pieces will suffice, as part of the vegetable intake. But nothing more than this.

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