Rabbits must have an adult-sized handful of safe, washed leafy green vegetables, herbs and weeds daily. Find out more in rabbit-safe plants, vegetables, herbs and fruits. Your vet can also advise about rabbit-safe plants.
No more than two cups daily of fresh vegetables should be given to adult rabbits. Dwarf breeds and rabbits under five pounds should get just one cup of fresh veggies per day. A variety of two or three vegetables is ideal.
Rabbits can consume as many vegetables as they want to each day as long as they do not get diarrhea and as long as the vegetables are not high in carbohydrates, as carrots and potatoes are.
What can rabbits not eat? These foods are poisonous for your rabbit and could make her ill: Potatoes, daffodils, tulips, rhubarb, lillies, mushrooms, avocado, broad beans, sweet peas, buttercup, kidney beans, jasmine, foxglove and iceberg lettuce.
Do not give broccoli to rabbits. It will give them painful gas. Never give your rabbit kale or spinach. Kale and spinach can cause health problems over time, due to the high amount of oxalates and goitrogens.
Yes, it is safe for rabbits to eat cucumber! Most rabbits will love the fresh taste. Rabbits can also eat cucumber leaves. Before feeding cucumber to your rabbit, wash it in cold water to remove pesticides.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower is a veggie, so it'd be a perfect, healthy snack for your rabbit, right? Surprisingly, no. Although vegetables are an ideal addition to the high-fiber hay that bunny diets require, cauliflower causes rabbits to bloat and become gassy.
“A small acorn-size amount of seedless tomato per day is perfectly fine for a rabbit older than 12 weeks of age,” Henson said. So in general, tomatoes are an OK fruit to share with your rabbit, just as long as it's a small amount and the flesh part of a seedless tomato only.
Meat, Eggs, Dairy
Though this likely will not come as a surprise, it is worth mentioning that rabbits, as herbivores, should never be offered meat, eggs, or dairy.
Myth #3 - Rabbits eat lettuce
Rabbits shouldn't eat some lettuces (such as iceberg), as they contain lactucarium, which can be harmful in large quantities. Some lettuce is 'worse' than others - light-coloured varieties are high in water and have very little nutritional value, so are not recommended.
Light green lettuce, like iceberg, contains lactucarium and that causes diarrhea for your rabbit. When giving your rabbit lettuce for the first time, introduce the veggie slowly and in small quantitates, large amounts of lettuce can hurt their tummy.
General feeding recommendations are around 1 cup of dark, leafy greens per 2 pounds of a rabbit's body weight daily.
The RSPCA Victoria states that rabbits should not be fed any pet cereals, breakfast cereals, grains, seeds, nuts, corn, bread, biscuits or beans. When given uncontrollably, such foods can be toxic to rabbits.
While it is largely assumed that rabbits need only carrots and lettuce to survive, this simply isn't true. As with any other animal, rabbits need a whole rounded diet that includes various nutrients, such as lettuce and carrots.
Rabbits should have hay or dried or fresh grass during the day and night. Green plants and a small amount of high quality specialist rabbit food such as extruded nuggets or high quality pellets should make up the rest of your rabbit's diet.
A typical rabbit day
Rabbits usually wake up with the dawn and stay active until about mid morning. They spend this time eating, grooming, digging, foraging and playing. They may investigate a new toy or digging box, follow you around to see what you are doing, or race around burning off energy.
Because rabbits require a high fiber diet with little fat, cheese is not suitable for them. Furthermore, cheese contains lactose, which rabbits cannot digest properly, and this can lead to diarrhea, stomach cramps, and gas buildup.
High in sugar, apples should only be fed to rabbits as a treat. Also high in sugar, it's safe for rabbits to eat bananas occasionally. Rabbits have a sweet tooth, so grapes are great as a treat.
You should never feed your rabbit dairy products. They are not built to consume or digest lactose, which is found in dairy products. Because of this, even a small amount in their diet can make them rather unwell, with problems such as bunny diarrhea and other gastrointestinal complications.
Carrots and apples are fine as occasional treats in small amounts, but don't feed any other treats, as these may harm your rabbit. Find out more about making feeding time fun for your rabbits.
So, can rabbits eat strawberries? Strawberries are non-toxic and fed in very small quantities are unlikely to cause harm. However, there are plenty of veggie treats that are a more suitable choice, so save the strawberries for yourself and reach for more bunny-friendly options for your pet's daily portion of fresh veg.
Rabbits can eat celery; in fact, it is a delicious snack and part of a balanced diet. In addition to grass or hay, rabbits also need access to fresh produce, such as leafy vegetables or root vegetables. Celery actually fits both of these categories.
Yes, rabbits can eat capsicum (also known as bell peppers) as part of their diet. Capsicums provide essential vitamins and minerals and can be offered raw or cooked.
Rabbits can eat cabbage, but it must be given to them in moderation, and avoided if you give your rabbit lots of other brassicas. A good handful of greenery each day is a crucial part of a rabbit's diet, and cabbage is a great addition to this.