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What can rabbits eat and not eat? Safe foods, vegetables, fruits, and toxic plants

Rabbits can do a lot of damage to your garden. As they need plenty of space to run around, letting them roam freely around your garden is probably something that you are keen to do. You need to ensure that not only are you keeping your rabbit safe, but you are also looking after your garden.

In this guide, we’ll cover:

What should rabbits eat daily?

The majority of a rabbit’s diet should be made up of high-quality hay. It keeps their teeth worn down and their digestive system moving.

A healthy rabbit diet includes:

  • 80–85% Hay: Meadow Hay, Timothy Hay, or Ryegrass Hay are ideal.
  • 10–15% Fresh leafy greens and herbs such as kale, romaine lettuce, and parsley.
  • 5% Healthy pellets and occasional treats – just an egg cup’s worth per day.
  • Fresh water available at all times.

 

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Safe vegetables rabbits can eat

Rabbits thrive on a variety of leafy greens and fibrous vegetables. The best vegetables for rabbits are rich in fibre and low in sugar or starch.

Regularly

Feed these daily in small handfuls.

Occasionally

2 to 3 times a week in small portions

  • Romaine lettuce
  • Kale (in moderation)
  • Spring greens
  • Bok choy
  • Parsley
  • Coriander
  • Mint
  • Basil
  • Dandelion leaves
  • Chicory
  • Broccoli leaves and stems
  • Courgette (zucchini)
  • Cabbage
  • Celery
  • Carrot tops
  • Spinach
  • Swiss chard
  • Radish tops or small radish pieces
  • Parsnip
  • Peas 

Can rabbits eat cucumber?

Yes, cucumber is safe in small portions and helps with hydration.

Can rabbits eat courgette (zucchini)?

Yes, it’s a great low-calorie option for variety.

Should rabbits eat cabbage?

Yes, but sparingly. Too much can cause gas.

Can rabbits eat iceberg lettuce?

No, iceberg lettuce contains lactucarium, which can cause illness and offers no nutrition.

Do rabbits eat leeks or onions?

No, both are toxic and can cause blood disorders.

Safe fruits for rabbits

Fruits are natural treats for rabbits but they’re high in sugar, so they should only be given in moderation (a small slice, 2–3 times per week).

  • Apple (remove seeds)
  • Banana (very small amounts)
  • Strawberries
  • Blueberries
  • Raspberries
  • Watermelon (flesh only, no seeds)
  • Pear (seedless)
  • Mango
  • Papaya
  • Orange (peeled and seedless, rarely)
  • Cherries (no pits)

Unsafe fruits for rabbits

  • Avocado: contains persin, which is toxic to rabbits
  • Grapes and raisins: high sugar and risk of kidney damage
  • Stone fruit pits (cherries, plums, peaches): contain cyanide
  • Tomato leaves and stems: toxic even though ripe tomatoes are safe in small amounts

Foods rabbits should never eat

Some human foods and plants can cause severe poisoning or digestive distress.

  • Bread, crackers, biscuits, or cereal
  • Chocolate, sweets, or sugary snacks
  • Nuts and seeds (including sunflower seeds)
  • Potatoes (including peelings and sprouts)
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Onions, garlic, and leeks
  • Rhubarb (leaves and stalks)
  • Corn (hard to digest)
  • Processed rabbit treats with added sugar

Poisonous plants for rabbits

Rabbits can be very curious creatures, and so they will be tempted to chew anything in their way. But not everything that they eat outside will be safe. You should really have an idea of what plants might be harmful.

Not all plants are toxic to rabbits, some are perfectly safe, and some may cause a mild upset stomach. However, many are life-threatening if ingested by a bunny. So, it is important that you can recognise the symptoms of plant poisoning as well as know which plants are more likely to be harmful.

Take a look below at some more plants that are poisonous. This is not a complete list however and should be used as a guideline.

  • Acacia twigs and flowers
  • Anemone
  • Antirrhinum
  • Apricot twigs and seed kernels
  • Arum
  • Azalea – twigs and all parts
  • Beans – any type
  • Bluebell
  • Brugmansia (aka Angel Trumpet)
  • Bryony
  • Buttercup
  • Celandine
  • Convolvulus (aka Morning Glory)
  • Daffodil
  • Dahlia
  • Delphinium (aka Larkspur)
  • Evergreens
  • Feverfew
  • Flowering Elder
  • Foxglove
  • Hemlock
  • Holly twigs
  • Hyacinth
  • Iris
  • Ivy-any part
  • Lilly of the Valley
  • Lupine
  • Mistle Toe
  • Monkshood flowers
  • Oleander-all parts
  • Peach seed kernels and twigs
  • Periwinkle
  • Plum twigs, seeds, and leaves (fruit flesh is fine)
  • Poppy
  • Primrose
  • Rhubarb
  • Roseweed
  • Snowberry
  • Snowdrop
  • Spindleberry
  • Sprouts-potato
  • Tomato-leaves
  • Tulip
  • Wax plant
  • Wisteria

Signs of food or plant poisoning in rabbits

If your rabbit has eaten something unsafe, contact your vet immediately.

Symptoms may include:

  • Loss of appetite
  • Diarrhoea or blood in stool
  • Weakness or lethargy
  • Drooling
  • Tremors or seizures
  • Difficulty breathing

Keep your vet’s emergency number handy and act fast. Early treatment can save lives.

What Do Wild Rabbits Eat?

Our garden visitors have their own natural buffet that changes with the seasons. Wild rabbits are expert foragers, enjoying:

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Spring
  • Fresh grass shoots
  • Young tree bark
  • Early spring flowers
  • Tender plant shoots
  • Wild herbs
Summer
  • Abundant grasses
  • Wild flowers
  • Leafy weeds
  • Garden vegetables (much to gardeners’ dismay!)
  • Clover and plantain
Autumn
  • Fallen fruit
  • Dry grasses
  • Hardy weeds
  • Remaining garden produce
  • Tree bark
Winter
  • Twigs and bark
  • Dried grass and plants
  • Any remaining vegetation
  • Tree buds and needles

Creating the Perfect Feeding Schedule

For pet rabbits, establishing a regular feeding routine helps maintain optimal health:

Morning Afternoon Evening
Fresh hay top-up

Small portion of pellets

Fresh water change

Fresh vegetables

Hay check and refresh if needed

Water check

Another hay refresh

Small portion of pellets

Final water check

Special Treats and Enrichment

While maintaining a healthy diet is crucial, the occasional treat can make your bunny’s day extra special. Safe rabbit treats include:

  • Small pieces of apple (without seeds)
  • Tiny carrot portions
  • Fresh herbs
  • Natural dried fruit (in very small amounts)

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Remember, treats should make up no more than 10% of your rabbit’s daily diet – think of them as rabbit-sized desserts!

The Importance of Fresh Water

Whether wild or domestic, all rabbits need constant access to fresh, clean water. For pet rabbits, check and refresh water at least twice daily, and ensure outdoor water sources don’t freeze during winter months.

By understanding what rabbits eat and providing the right nutrition, we can help ensure these delightful creatures stay healthy and happy. Whether you’re caring for a domestic bunny or appreciating the wild rabbits in your garden, remember that a natural, hay-based diet is always best. After all, a well-fed rabbit is a happy rabbit!

Want to give your bunny the very best? Check out our selection of bunny hay and natural treats – because every bunny deserves the finest nature has to offer!

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