Can Bunnies Eat Mango Skin: Benefits and How to Feed?

Yes, bunnies can eat mango skins, and they pretty much enjoy it. The skin is also a good source of nutrients for them. It offers fiber, vitamin C, antioxidants, phenolic compounds, and carotenoids. Feeding your rabbits a healthy amount of mango skin can improve their health.

Peel the fruit and give the skin to your bunnies. The skin of ripe mangoes is more suitable for them because of their softness and juiciness. Nonetheless, you should wash their skins properly before giving them to the bunnies. 

You can also feed them mango and mango seeds along with the skin. Offering them other foods, including fruits and vegetables, is also essential for proper diet and nutrition maintenance.  

Benefits of Mango Skin for Bunnies 

Mango skin is rich in nutrients. Some studies claim the skin often contains more nutrition than the fruit itself. Here are the benefits of feeding mango skin to your rabbits.  

1. Mango Skin Is Rich in Fiber 

Mango skin is a champion of fiber, containing up to 45-78% of its total weight. Rabbits need a high amount of fiber as they are herbivores.  Their teeth can grow bigger than comfortable size if they do not get enough fiber.  It keeps the growth of the teeth in check by wearing them down.  

Additionally, the presence of fiber in the body helps the intestines function properly. It keeps them active and prevents boredom. Mango skin is rich in fiber content. It can meet the requirement of fiber content alone for bunnies.  You can save your bunnies from obesity, gut stasis, and dental disease by feeding them mango skins.   

2. Vitamin C and Other Vitamins  

Mango skin has up to 10 times more vitamin C than the flesh. Vitamin C plays a crucial role to keep your rabbit healthy and active. Some studies showed that rabbits can die from the deficiency of the nutrient. T hey can lose weight, lose interest in eating, and feel more stressed. Mango skin contains a good amount of vitamin C that can save your rabbit from its deficiency.  

Mango skin also contains vitamin B6 in small amounts.  This vitamin contributes to glucose generation, nervous system function, and immune response. It makes mango peels not only safe for rabbits but highly beneficial.  

3. Bunnies Get Antioxidants 

Mango skin is high in vitamins A, C, E and carotenoids. These are all-natural antioxidants and crucial for bunnies’ health.  The normal cellular activities in animal bodies can produce free radicals that are harmful to their health. Antioxidants remove these free radicals and protect the body.  

Vitamin E is also important for the optimal growth of your pet. You should give your rabbits some mango skin to reduce the risk of antioxidant deficiency.  

4. The Presence of Phenolic Compounds 

Mango skin contains different phenolic compounds that combine with vitamins and serve as antioxidants.  It aids in protecting various tissues in the rabbit body from oxidative stress. Regular ingestion of phenolic compounds can reduce inflammation and pain. Feed some mango peel to your rabbits if they recently got hurt by any accidents.  

Do Rabbits Like Mango Peels? 

Mango peels are not only healthy for rabbits, but they also like them. You may not like the taste of the skin of the fruit, but they do.  Rabbits like to chew their food, and the peels are more chewable than the fruit.  

Mango skin has a slightly bitter taste than the fruit. Rabbits may find the taste similar to other grass and leaves they eat. Besides, the fibrous texture of the skin is an enjoyable treat for the rabbits. They may show good interest in eating mango skins. You must be aware of the consumed amount.  Do not overfeed them as it can lead to some digestive issues.   

Can Rabbits Eat Mango Seeds? 

No, you must not feed mango seeds to your rabbits. It is not safe for them. Though they have strong teeth and like to gnaw at strong objects, mango seeds are not ideal for them.  The seed is not digestible, and they may suffer from eating it.  

Mango seeds contain cyanide compounds, which can be harmful to rabbits.  Cyanide leads to toxicity and may negatively affect their health. You have to remove the seed from the middle while feeding mango to your bunnies. The flesh is safe for them, and so is the peel.  

How to Feed Mango Skin to Bunnies? 

Feeding your bunnies mango skin is beneficial, and you should give it in a proper way. Follow these instructions to give mango peel to your bunny friends.  

• Choose ripe mangoes that have gone yellow. The peel of such mangoes is soft, edible, and more easily digestible. 
• Wash the fruit thoroughly with fresh water. The skin can often contain pesticides and other chemicals.   
• Peel the mango and remove the skin.  You do not need to cut the skin into small pieces.  
• Keep some flesh of the fruit on the skin so that bunnies find it more appetizing.  
• Do not force your bunny to eat the peels.  They will eat it on their own. You can remove the peels if they do not show interest.  
• Try to avoid overfeeding your bunnies, as mango is high in sugar and causes digestion issues.  
• Give mango peels as an occasional treat in moderation. It should not be their primary food. Their healthy diet includes different types of foods.  

Do Rabbits Like Mango? 

Yes, rabbits can eat mango peels, and they also like the fruit.  Your furry friend will enjoy the sweetness of the juicy fruit.  However, since the fruit is sugary, you had better feed your rabbit small amounts of flesh.  Mango with and without the peels is a healthy treat.  

When feeding mango to your rabbit, you must wash it properly to ensure no pesticide remains. Washing the peels alone is not safe. Wash the fruit, too, after peeling. A significant portion of mangoes, around 40%, ends up as waste.  The skin of the fruit is a major contributor to it. Feeding the skin to bunnies will reduce the amount of waste.  

You can cut the mango into small pieces. Do not give the whole fruit as they may spoil it. They may also eat a small amount of the fruit seed, which is not safe for your bunnies. You can give this tasty treat with or without peels on it. For this, cut the fruit without peeling the skin. Bunnies find it more tasty this way.  

FAQ 

Can I Feed My Rabbit Too Much Mango Skin? 

No, you should not feed too much mango skin to your bunnies as it can cause issues in the digestive system. Besides, rabbits require to eat different kinds of foods to meet the necessary nutrition requirement. Feeding only mango skin may not provide them with all the necessary nutrients. 

Are mango leaves safe for rabbits? 

Yes, mango leaves are safe for rabbits. The leaves are high in minerals, especially potassium. Bunnies need these minerals for strong bones, teeth, and proper body functioning. Feeding rabbit mango leaves can help them gain the necessary minerals. 

Are mango seeds poisonous to rabbits? 

Yes, the mango pits or seeds are mildly poisonous for rabbits because of cyanide. You should avoid feeding the pits to your bunnies as they can get ill. They cannot digest the seed and suffer from different complications.  

What are the best fruits for bunnies? 

Bunnies can eat a wide variety of foods, including pears, watermelons, blackberries, peaches, strawberries, plums, etc. You can also give them pineapples, cherries, oranges, grapes, bananas, and papaya. They like eating juicy, sweet fruits.  

Are any fruits toxic to rabbits? 

No, fruits are mostly safe for bunnies. However, you need to be careful about the seeds. Apple seeds, mango seeds, plums, apricots, and peach seeds are not safe for them. Your bunnies can become ill and suffer from digestive issues because of the seeds.  

Can mango be the primary food for bunnies? 

No, mango or any other fruit should not be made their primary fruit. Fruits cannot meet the necessary nutrition of bunnies. You also need to give them hay and vegetables like kale, broccoli, bell peppers, brussels sprouts, etc.  

Conclusion 

Bunnies can have mango skin, and you should let them eat some occasionally. It will help you maintain a good diet for them. Since your furry friend loves the food, make sure you are not overfeeding them. You must wash the fruit properly and be careful while choosing them. Adding mango and its skin will be a good addition to your bunnies’ diet.