Leafy Greens and Bunnies: What Kind Of Vegetables Can Rabbits Eat?

Rabbits benefit significantly from having dietary balance, just as humans do. They are not particularly high-maintenance when it comes to feeding, but at the same time, it is a good idea to be conscious about what exactly you choose to nourish them with.

Foods To Feed Your Bunny

Because rabbits have voracious appetites, the question of what you can feed them can be effectively substituted for what to feed them and how much.

Rabbits can eat any variety of vegetables, fruits, and pellets. However, they're best off being given enough time to acclimate to moderate amounts of any new food provided to them. They have evolved to digest various energy sources from multiple leafy greens, fruits, and grains.

The following are some of the best ideas for feeding your rabbit to keep it healthy, happy, and strong throughout its life.

What Vegetables Can Rabbits Eat?

Rabbits can eat a vast array of different vegetables, but to ensure that your rabbit has the best degree of balance in its diet, you will want to ensure that the vegetables are varied.

No matter what kind of vegetables you feed your rabbit, you want to ensure the vegetables are free of any pesticide treatment. You can inquire directly about how certain vegetables have been grown before investing in them for your rabbit.

The more confidence you can have in the lack of pesticide treatment in the vegetables you feed your rabbit, the less chance your rabbit has of becoming sick from chemical contamination.

Not All Leafy Greens Are Safe

Just as it is essential to ensure that no vegetables you purchase have a history of pesticide treatment, you also want to refrain from feeding your rabbit any houseplants.

Even if the houseplants are not poisonous by nature, many domestic houseplants are treated with pesticides before they are put on the market. Because of this, you certainly don't want to have them in your rabbit's dietary system.

Tolerance For Fresh Greens

One of the best things you can do to test your rabbit's tolerance for any vegetable you have never fed before is to start with tiny quantities. By starting small, you will give your rabbit the best possible chance to acclimate to a new source of sustenance on a biological level.

Some of the best fresh vegetables for rabbits of any variety include broccoli leaves, bok choy, basil, celery, and cilantro. It is important to note that while broccoli leaves are a delicious and nutritious addition to any rabbit's diet, giving rabbits the stems or the tops is not advisable.

More Veggies For Rabbits

Regarding the leafy green vegetables you feed your rabbit, it is crucial to ensure that you do not feed rabbits iceberg lettuce or cabbage. Darken lush variations like Romanian are acceptable, but iceberg lettuce and habits can give rabbits digestion problems.

In addition to romaine lettuce, rabbits can also benefit from moderate amounts of kale in their diet.

Generally speaking, you will want a more conservative amount of kale compared to romaine lettuce and other dark leafy green. Rabbits can benefit from other green vegetables, including parsley, mustard greens, mint, and watercress.

Rabbits benefit significantly from consciously measured servings of dark leafy greens such as romaine lettuce, mustard greens, broccoli leaves, bok choy, basil, celery, and cilantro.

Fruits As Rabbit Food

Rabbits can also be fed a great variety of fruits. Since fruits have a higher sugar content level than most vegetables, it's advisable to be more conservative about how much fruit you feed them comparatively.

Rabbits can eat just about any fruit but should not be fed the pits or stones. Though fruit flesh is generally excellent for rabbits to digest, the stones and pits can be highly poisonous and should be kept out of their diet.

The best fruits you can feed your rabbits include apples, bananas, blackberries, cherries, kiwifruit, mangoes, and melon.

More Safe Fruits To Feed Your Rabbit

Rabbits can also eat tomatoes, but you must ensure you do not feed them the leaves from tomatoes. While they can easily digest tomato flesh, the leaves may cause problems for the digestive system of your pet rabbit.

Rabbits will very enthusiastically eat many of the sugary fruits you feed them without much of a limit. It's up to you to regulate their diet and ensure you only give them small amounts of dietary sugar.

Fruits have a high sugary density compared to vegetables. A limit of about two tablespoons daily is advisable for any fruit in your rabbit's diet.

Avoid leaving excess fruit lying around the rabbits living quarters if they aren't directly fed at the time.

What Kind of Pellets Should I Feed My Bunny?

In addition to appropriate vegetables and fruits, you can also feed your rabbit pellets.

Pellets may be among the easiest and lowest-maintenance food choices for your rabbits. However, you still want to exercise the same quality control in pellet choices as in fruit and vegetable choices.

Any pellets you feed your rabbits should have an ideal high fiber and low protein ratio. High-fiber, low-protein pellets will assist rabbits by improving their digestive function quality and lowering the risk of obesity.

Pellets have an expiration date just like fruits and vegetables, and your rabbits will benefit the best from making sure that you always feed them pellets that are "younger" for the best chance of total nutrient density.

Regarding the specific nutrient density you should aim for in the pellets you feed your rabbits, the best variety is high fiber and low protein.

As rabbits get older, the level of assistance they need from their diets to regulate digestion increases. Because of this, high-fiber pellets are very beneficial to aging or adult rabbits.

In addition to the fibrous pellets being very helpful for rabbits that need assistance with digesting food at that age, low-protein pellets can minimize the chance that adult rabbits have issues with weight regulation.

What Kind Of Hay Should I Feed My Rabbits?

In addition to fruits, leafy greens, and pellets. Fresh hay can also keep your bunny friends healthy by keeping their guts moving and preventing blockages. 

Hay comes in a wide variety. The most well-known types are meadow, Timothy, alfalfa, and orchard hay. Grass hay is high in fiber, which is vital for keeping a rabbit's healthy digestive tract healthy.

Young rabbits can be fed alfalfa hay and, as they age, can be given grass hay. Remember that alfalfa hay is not recommended for adult rabbits as it is too rich in protein and calcium.

Rabbit Diet FAQs

Can rabbits be fed alfalfa pellets?

Alfalfa pellets can be fed to rabbits younger than a year old. Good alfalfa pellets will help young bunnies develop strong muscles and bones. However, they aren't recommended for adult rabbits due to having too much calcium and protein. 

Is grass hay good for rabbits?

Yes! Grass hay is rich in Vitamins A & D, protein, calcium, and other nutrients. It also has a lot of fiber and is suitable for rabbits.

How many vegetables can I give my bunny?

A good rule of thumb is to provide no less than 1 cup of veggies per 4 lbs of body weight daily.

Are carrots good for my bunny?

Contrary to popular belief, carrots should only be given to rabbits in small quantities. According to veterinarians, carrots are high in sugar and should only be given to your bunny as an occasional treat.