Bunny Food List: Which Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs Are Safe?

When you think about what your rabbit is able to eat you most likely think that the majority of vegetables and fruits should be ok, right? Well, unfortunately there are some foods out there [even if they are natural and seem safe] that can potentially harm your rabbit and cause them to get sick or have an adverse reaction and should not be used as rabbit food. Keep reading on to find out the answer to "what do rabbits like to eat" and for a comprehensive bunny food list!

Just a note, it’s important that the majority, roughly 80 percent, of your rabbit’s diet is Timothy Hay, however, it’s healthy for them to have fruit and vegetables on the side as well.

A Couple Of Tips

When introducing a new food to your rabbit always do so gradually. Give them a small amount to see if it agrees with them and then see how they react over the next 24 hours. If you notice anything different with their health or stool that is bad then refrain from giving them that particular food. If there was no negative reaction, you can feed them more next time and gradually introduce it to their regular eating routine. Always wash your fruits, vegetables, and herbs that you are feeding your pet rabbit as there are so many pesticides and chemicals that are used in the growing process that can potentially be harmful to your rabbit. Rabbit's are curious creatures by nature, so they will often try anything even if it's harmful to them. Since they have no idea if it's safe or not it's up to you to monitor what they are putting into their cute little chompers. So, before you hand your sweet little fluffy friend that boysenberry or piece of asparagus, check out this bunny food list to see if it is in fact safe and healthy for them to eat. The list also includes foods that may be found in your backyard or garden such as herbs, natural plants and twigs.

Which Foods Are Safe For Your Pet Rabbit?

Posted by: Save a Fluff

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 Sweetcorns (but not full size ones)
Beetroot (careful 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
Brussel 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

[Read The Other 15 Vegetables That Rabbits Can Eat]

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, 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 - 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

[Read The Other 9 Fruits That Rabbits Can Eat]

Which Herbs Can Rabbits Eat?

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

Which Wild Garden Herbs, Weeds And Flowers Can Rabbits 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)
Goosegrass (cleavers) but may stick to coat!

[Read The Other 8 Wild Garden Hers, Weeds, And Flowers That Rabbits Can Eat]

If you are looking for a bunny food list of plants that are poisonous to your rabbit this is a good resource: Poisonous Plants And Food To Avoid

We hope this list is helpful for you and your furry bun friend as well as answered your questions of: "What's safe for my rabbit to eat?" and "Why my rabbit won't eat vegetables?" Be sure to keep it on hand or print it out so that next time you have questions as to what foods you can feed your rabbit, you can reference this list.

Your rabbit's diet should be at least 80% grass hay. To help you pick the best hay for your rabbit you can download our Hay is for Rabbits eBook. You'll learn all about the different types of hay, the best ones to feed your rabbit based on their age, and more!