Rabbits love their food and enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables as part of a balanced diet. The main part of a rabbit’s diet should be unlimited amounts of fresh hay (preferably Timothy or Meadow Hay), grass, and always have plenty of clean water available.
When introducing any new food, always do so slowly over a few weeks to avoid digestive upsets. Rabbits, like humans are all different and as such some may be unable to tolerate certain foods. Only give a small amount and wait for 24 hours, if your rabbit produces soft poo, withdraw the food and try with something else after everything has settled back to normal. Allow 5 - 7 days before making any other additions. Always wash food first and don't feed plants from roadsides or that contain pesticides.
The first rule of feeding bunnies and their delicate tummies is: if in doubt - don't let them eat it! Rabbits have strong taste buds and will try anything even if it's poisonous - it's up to you to protect them!
Which vegetables can rabbits eat?
A good guideline is to feed a minimum of 1 cup of vegetables for each 4 lbs of body weight per day.
·Artichoke leaves
· Asparagus
· Baby Sweet corns (but not full size ones)
· Beetroot(care with leafy tops as high levels of oxalic acid) - can cause gas so limit
· Broccoli (and its leaves, including purple sprouting varieties) - can cause gas so limit
· Brussels Sprouts (leaves and sprouts) - can cause gas so limit
· Cabbage (can sometimes cause digestive upsets) - can cause gas so limit
Carrots (& carrot tops) – not the roots as they are high in sugars. Carrots should be limited due to high sugar content.
· Cauliflower (and the leaves)
· Celeriac
· Celery leaves
· Chicory
· Courgette (and flowers)
· Cucumber
· Curly Kale
· Fennel
· Green beans
· Kohl rabi
· Peas (including the leaves and pods)
· Peppers (red, green and yellow)
· Pumpkin
· Radish Tops - can cause gas so limit
· Rocket
· Romaine lettuce (not Iceberg or light colored leaf)
· Spinach (only occasional)
· Spring Greens
· Squash (e.g. Butternut)
· Swede
· Turnip (only occasional)
· Watercress
Which fruits can rabbits eat?
Fruits should be fed in moderation due to sugar content (up to 2 tablespoons worth per day).
Do not feed the pips (seeds), stones, plants etc of fruits unless otherwise stated, as most of the time they are poisonous! Rabbits love sugary fruit and will eat too much of it, which is bad for them. Therefore it's up to you to limit it!
· Apple (not the pips (seeds) - they are poisonous!)
· Apricot
· Banana (high in potassium)
· Blackberries (and leaves – excellent astringent properties)
· Blueberries
· Cherries (not the pits and plant - they contain cyanide and are therefore poisonous!)
· Grapes
· Kiwi Fruit
· Mango
· Melon
· Nectarines
· Papaya
· Peaches
· Pears
· Pineapple
· Plums
· Raspberries (and leaves – excellent astringent properties)
· Strawberries (and leaves)
Safe herbs for bunnies.
They can taste very strong so offer a little to start with to get your bunnies used to them.
· Basil
· Coriander
· Dill
· Mint (peppermint)
· Parsley - not too much as high in calcium
· Oregano
· Rosemary
· Sage
· Thyme
Wild garden herbs, weeds and flowers that rabbits can eat.
Double-check which plants are in your garden before letting your bunnies loose!
· Borage
· Calendula
· Chamomile
· Chickweed (astringent)
· Clover (leaves and flowers)
· Coltsfoot
· Comfrey
· Dandelion (diuretic properties)
· Goose grass (cleavers) but may stick to coat!
· Lavender
· Mallow
· Nettle
· Nasturtium (leaves and flowers)
· Shepherd’s purse
· Sow Thistle
· Plantain
· Yarrow
Poisonous plants and food to avoid;
The first rule of feeding bunnies and their delicate tummies is: if in doubt - don't let them eat it! Rabbits have strong taste buds and will try anything even if it's poisonous - it's up to you to protect them!
Foods to avoid
Avoid giving your rabbits any 'human' food or treats such as bread, rice, potatoes, biscuits, chocolate, sweets, chips and so on. Rabbits have a sweet tooth and will readily take this food from you, but it's VERY BAD for them and their sensitive digestive systems. Contrary to popular belief,rabbits shouldn't be given lettuce as it gives them diarrhea, and carrots are too high in sugar but can be given every so often as treats. A lot of shop-bought 'rabbit treats' have added sugar and dairy in, which they shouldn't be eating, or are too high in carbohydrates; try sticking to the natural ranges and check labels. To find out what your rabbits SHOULD be eating, please see 'What do rabbits eat?' and 'Food treats' for delicious food they can be given every so often.
Poisonous plants to avoid
If you’re feeding wild plants or your rabbit has access to a garden, make sure you can reliably identify the plants – you don’t want to poison your bunnies! This list of poisonous plants is taken from the RWAF Guide: Going green - healthy eating for your rabbit. It does not list all poisonous plants, so if a plant does not feature on this list it doesn't mean it's safe to eat. If you think your rabbit is ill you must seek veterinary advice immediately.
· All plants that grow from bulbs
· Amaryllis
· Arum lily (cuckoo point)
· Bindweed
· Bracken
· Bryony
· Buttercup (small quantities dried within hay is ok)
· Convolvulus (bindweed)
· Deadly nightshade (belladonna)
· Delphinium (larkspur)
· Elder
· Fools parsley
· Foxglove
· Hellebores (Christmas rose)
· Hemlock
· Henbane
· Lily of the valley
· Lupin
· Laburnum
· Most evergreens
· Oak leaves
· Poppies
· Potato tops
· Privet
· Ragwort
· Rhubarb leaves
· Scarlet runnertoadflax
· Woody nightshade
· Yew
When introducing any new food, always do so slowly over a few weeks to avoid digestive upsets. Rabbits, like humans are all different and as such some may be unable to tolerate certain foods. Only give a small amount and wait for 24 hours, if your rabbit produces soft poo, withdraw the food and try with something else after everything has settled back to normal. Allow 5 - 7 days before making any other additions. Always wash food first and don't feed plants from roadsides or that contain pesticides.
The first rule of feeding bunnies and their delicate tummies is: if in doubt - don't let them eat it! Rabbits have strong taste buds and will try anything even if it's poisonous - it's up to you to protect them!
Which vegetables can rabbits eat?
A good guideline is to feed a minimum of 1 cup of vegetables for each 4 lbs of body weight per day.
·Artichoke leaves
· Asparagus
· Baby Sweet corns (but not full size ones)
· Beetroot(care with leafy tops as high levels of oxalic acid) - can cause gas so limit
· Broccoli (and its leaves, including purple sprouting varieties) - can cause gas so limit
· Brussels Sprouts (leaves and sprouts) - can cause gas so limit
· Cabbage (can sometimes cause digestive upsets) - can cause gas so limit
Carrots (& carrot tops) – not the roots as they are high in sugars. Carrots should be limited due to high sugar content.
· Cauliflower (and the leaves)
· Celeriac
· Celery leaves
· Chicory
· Courgette (and flowers)
· Cucumber
· Curly Kale
· Fennel
· Green beans
· Kohl rabi
· Peas (including the leaves and pods)
· Peppers (red, green and yellow)
· Pumpkin
· Radish Tops - can cause gas so limit
· Rocket
· Romaine lettuce (not Iceberg or light colored leaf)
· Spinach (only occasional)
· Spring Greens
· Squash (e.g. Butternut)
· Swede
· Turnip (only occasional)
· Watercress
Which fruits can rabbits eat?
Fruits should be fed in moderation due to sugar content (up to 2 tablespoons worth per day).
Do not feed the pips (seeds), stones, plants etc of fruits unless otherwise stated, as most of the time they are poisonous! Rabbits love sugary fruit and will eat too much of it, which is bad for them. Therefore it's up to you to limit it!
· Apple (not the pips (seeds) - they are poisonous!)
· Apricot
· Banana (high in potassium)
· Blackberries (and leaves – excellent astringent properties)
· Blueberries
· Cherries (not the pits and plant - they contain cyanide and are therefore poisonous!)
· Grapes
· Kiwi Fruit
· Mango
· Melon
· Nectarines
· Papaya
· Peaches
· Pears
· Pineapple
· Plums
· Raspberries (and leaves – excellent astringent properties)
· Strawberries (and leaves)
Safe herbs for bunnies.
They can taste very strong so offer a little to start with to get your bunnies used to them.
· Basil
· Coriander
· Dill
· Mint (peppermint)
· Parsley - not too much as high in calcium
· Oregano
· Rosemary
· Sage
· Thyme
Wild garden herbs, weeds and flowers that rabbits can eat.
Double-check which plants are in your garden before letting your bunnies loose!
· Borage
· Calendula
· Chamomile
· Chickweed (astringent)
· Clover (leaves and flowers)
· Coltsfoot
· Comfrey
· Dandelion (diuretic properties)
· Goose grass (cleavers) but may stick to coat!
· Lavender
· Mallow
· Nettle
· Nasturtium (leaves and flowers)
· Shepherd’s purse
· Sow Thistle
· Plantain
· Yarrow
Poisonous plants and food to avoid;
The first rule of feeding bunnies and their delicate tummies is: if in doubt - don't let them eat it! Rabbits have strong taste buds and will try anything even if it's poisonous - it's up to you to protect them!
Foods to avoid
Avoid giving your rabbits any 'human' food or treats such as bread, rice, potatoes, biscuits, chocolate, sweets, chips and so on. Rabbits have a sweet tooth and will readily take this food from you, but it's VERY BAD for them and their sensitive digestive systems. Contrary to popular belief,rabbits shouldn't be given lettuce as it gives them diarrhea, and carrots are too high in sugar but can be given every so often as treats. A lot of shop-bought 'rabbit treats' have added sugar and dairy in, which they shouldn't be eating, or are too high in carbohydrates; try sticking to the natural ranges and check labels. To find out what your rabbits SHOULD be eating, please see 'What do rabbits eat?' and 'Food treats' for delicious food they can be given every so often.
Poisonous plants to avoid
If you’re feeding wild plants or your rabbit has access to a garden, make sure you can reliably identify the plants – you don’t want to poison your bunnies! This list of poisonous plants is taken from the RWAF Guide: Going green - healthy eating for your rabbit. It does not list all poisonous plants, so if a plant does not feature on this list it doesn't mean it's safe to eat. If you think your rabbit is ill you must seek veterinary advice immediately.
· All plants that grow from bulbs
· Amaryllis
· Arum lily (cuckoo point)
· Bindweed
· Bracken
· Bryony
· Buttercup (small quantities dried within hay is ok)
· Convolvulus (bindweed)
· Deadly nightshade (belladonna)
· Delphinium (larkspur)
· Elder
· Fools parsley
· Foxglove
· Hellebores (Christmas rose)
· Hemlock
· Henbane
· Lily of the valley
· Lupin
· Laburnum
· Most evergreens
· Oak leaves
· Poppies
· Potato tops
· Privet
· Ragwort
· Rhubarb leaves
· Scarlet runnertoadflax
· Woody nightshade
· Yew