Top Microgreens for Raising Healthy Rabbits, Hamsters & Guinea Pigs

We tend to focus mainly on the health benefits of microgreens for humans (there are a lot!) but there are so many other creatures that can benefit from microgreens too, including our smallest furry friends! 

Introducing microgreens to your rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs can be easy and affordable with Hamama! By taking a look at what a regular diet for these furry pets consists of, you can easily start to incorporate microgreens into their meals. 

As always, we suggest talking to your veterinarian to ensure what you are feeding your pets aligns with their current needs!

A large portion of a rabbit's diet consists of grass or hay and leafy vegetables. It’s essential for rabbit’s to maintain low levels of calcium and protein in their diets and hay is a great source for this. Some temporary alternatives to hay can include pellet mixes which contain seeds, dehydrated veggies, dried corn, and other grains. Normally these mixes are only suggested for adult rabbits and not as a consistent diet as they can lead to digestive issues. 

In general, microgreens are a good addition to your rabbit’s diet as they are packed with valuable vitamins and minerals! When introducing microgreens to your rabbit’s diet, you should choose greens that are low in sugar, starch and protein such as radish, cress, wheatgrass, clover, cilantro, carrot, broccoli and celery. 

Some microgreens to avoid include peas and kale. Peas contain high levels of phosphorus, sugar and fiber, which make it more dangerous for rabbits and can cause serious digestive problems [If your rabbit eats a pea or pea greens by mistake, it will not cause a problem - only if given as a part of their regular diet]. Kale is okay as an occasional treat for an adult rabbit, but it can cause some bloating and gas. 

Hamsters enjoy munching on veggies, fruits, corn, nuts, seeds and grains. These furry friends also require lower levels of protein and fat in their diets.

Because hamsters' teeth are constantly growing, it’s also important for them to have something solid to chew on such as wood or twigs to help keep the teeth short. Most manufactured food supplements for hamsters provide the essential nutrients that they require to maintain good health, however, providing some fresh veggies is always a beneficial supplemental treat! We recommend wheatgrass, clover and carrots as a good starting point. Some microgreens to avoid in larger quantities include kale, radish, arugula, and lettuce as they can cause some gas and diarrhea.

Guinea pigs enjoy a mix of hay, leafy greens, and fruits. Much of their diet consists of low-calcium and fibrous foods that can help with their digestion. Much like hamsters, many manufacturers of guinea pig pellets provide the basic nutrients they need; however, it is suggested that a diet of additional fruits and vegetables can keep them in peak health!

If adding microgreens to your guinea pig’s diet, we recommend starting with lettuces, broccoli, kale and cilantro or other greens that contain a good amount of vitamin C and are low in sugar. 

Because of the high content of calcium in dill, it is not safe to feed it to your guinea pigs in large quantities because it can cause digestive problems for them.

Most furry friends are either omnivores or herbivores, so including microgreens in their diet can really suit them well. Hamama can make it easy for you to start introducing these healthy and delicious superfoods to help improve the health of your guinea pigs, rabbits and hamsters!