Fortifying diet for lactating doe

Question
QUESTION: Firstly may I say how impressed I am with this site!  It's my first visit and I'm hooked!!
I am looking for advice on how to help my Dwarf Lop Ear Doe regain condition after her first litter.  
She is not a big rabbit, and is doing a great job of mothering three beautiful, fluffy, hungry, energetic bunnies (she had 4 but the runt sadly did not survive )  They are 4weeks 4days old now.  Mom is 'fine' but just much thinner than I would like, and her coat is lack-lustre.
She is eating well (like a horse!!) and loves her hay, pellets (Excel junior and dwarf) greens (spring greens, baby spinach, kale, broccoli, cauliflower leaves, dandelions, cabbage, carrot greens and the occasional slice of apple, half carrot or 1 grape. She also likes oats.  Her favourite food is probably the dandelions, including the stalk and flower)
I can feel her ribs, vertebrae etc when I cuddle her, and am concerned for her well-being.  Can I offer her e.g. Avocado pear, or olive oil in any form, or the Lactol formula used for hand-rearing small orphaned mammals? If so, what quantity and strength would you recommend?  I would greatly appreciate any advice which will help build her up and bring her back to her healthy, happy, binky-ing self again.  Thanks for your time and in anticipation of your reply.
Kind regards, Denise
ANSWER: Hi Denise

You are giving your mother rabbit the perfect diet.  She really doesn't need any supplements.  You might consider going to the rabbit medicine chest and getting a natural herb supplement called SYSTEMAJUV I love it to use for my show rabbits.  They also sell something called CALM SUPPLEMENT that is excellent to give to mothers who have stress from birthing and weaning.

The other thing you want to remember about lactating doe's is that they should have unlimited pellets.  Make sure her pellet dish is always full.  The other thing to keep in mind is that all her greens and veggies need to be kept where the babies can't get to them.  The babies should not be fed greens or veggies until their digestive systems are mature.  They should only have access to pellets and unlimited grass hay.  Since they are 4 weeks old they are probably eating whatever they can reach so you might want to give the mother her grown up food outside of the cage.  It is ok to take her out for a while to play and the babies will be fine until she gets back.

I am attaching 2 sites.  The first is the site I told you about that sells natural supplements.  The 2nd is just a list of rabbit safe food, which you obviously have a pretty good handle on anyway.

Good luck and she should be back to herself after her babies are weaned.

Thank you

Pam

http://www.petmedicinechest.com/rabbit/showrabbits.asp

http://earthhome.tripod.com/rabsafe.html

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Pam,
Thanks for your reply and advice.  I am looking forward to visiting those two sites you sent, and am pleased that I am feeding Noodge an ok diet. BUT, (you probably guessed this, right?) I am HORRIFIED that I did not know at all to keep the babies away from greens... and they have had free access.  Have I damaged them?  I started limiting their access immediately I read a similar comment browsing this site last night, and have been holding my breath to ask you how to proceed now.
I was raised on farms in Zimbabwe in southern Africa, and we always had rabbits about (both meat and pet)... and the babies always had access to the same diet as the Does.  So it is something I didn't even think to question, and now I feel so bad that I did not research and find out.  I have had and loved bunnies as long as I can remember (as evidenced by many a black and white baby&bunny photo :)
Please tell me what kind of damage I may have unwittingly caused, and if there are any particularly dangerous green foods, or any safe ones, and if stopping their greens now (gradually) can help limit any potential future damage?
 
They are adorable, seemingly healthy little bunnies with bright eyes, glossy coats, quite an 'intelligent' look about them, loads of energy and character, normal poo, and - yes - an appetite for green leaves, particularly baby spinach and dandelion leaves.  :(  Sad me.
Ignorance is inexcusable... I am so ashamed!
Thanks for your help, I look forward to further instruction.
Sincerely,
Denise

Answer
The biggest problem is that the greens can cause gas and upset their tummies.  There is nothing wrong with just taking it away.  If they were going to be sick from it they would probably already have diarrhea so I wouldn't fret much.  I just wouldn't give them anymore.  They have all the nutrients they need from their mother, the pellets and the hay.

Don't fret like I say they will probably be ok.  Its not like you were feeding them poison it is just that they can get sick from it and it is just something you should be aware of.  We have people all the time that say their rabbits have eaten greens since they were little but I just say its better to be safe than sorry.

If it were me I would stop all greens at once.  Making sure they still have tons of hay available.  Then if you are going to keep them you can start them back around 5 months old.  Like I said before if they were going to be damaged it would probably already be done and its not going to affect their future health, it would be more of an immediate thing.

If you need anything else please let me know.  It is so nice to know someone that appreciates all aspects of rabbits.  

Good luck

Pam