What Vegetables Can My Rabbits Eat?

Rabbits thrive on a diet that is rich in fibre, low in sugar, and full of fresh, leafy greens. While hay should make up around 85–90% of a rabbit’s daily intake, vegetables play a crucial role in supplying essential vitamins, minerals, hydration, and variety.

This guide covers which vegetables rabbits can eat, how to prepare them, how often to feed them, and which vegetables should be avoided entirely.

Essential Guidelines Before Feeding Vegetables to Rabbits

• Introduce vegetables slowly to avoid digestive upset.
• Feed a variety of greens daily, not just one type.
• Wash all vegetables thoroughly to remove pesticides.
• Avoid high-sugar and high-starch vegetables, offering only small amounts.
• Feed mostly leafy greens, with other vegetables as occasional extras.
• Stop feeding immediately if soft stools or diarrhoea occur.

Safe Vegetables for Rabbits

Romaine Lettuce

Benefits: Hydrating, nutritious, low-calorie.
How to serve: Washed leaves, torn or whole.
Note: Safer and more nutritious than iceberg lettuce.

Spring Greens

Benefits: Full of fibre and vitamins A and K.
How to serve: Fresh, chopped or whole.
Ideal for: Daily feeding.

Kale

Benefits: High in vitamin A and antioxidants.
How to serve: Raw, chopped.
Caution: High in calcium so feed several times per week, not daily.

Spinach

Benefits: Vitamin-rich leafy green.
How to serve: Raw leaves only.
Caution: High in oxalates, feed sparingly.

Coriander

Benefits: Mild, aromatic, usually well tolerated.
How to serve: Washed stems and leaves.
Tip: Great for selective eaters.

Parsley

Benefits: Good vitamin C source.
How to serve: Leaves and stems, fresh.
Caution: High in calcium, give moderately.

Mint (All Varieties)

Benefits: Soothes digestion and freshens breath.
How to serve: Fresh leaves.
Note: Avoid very strong varieties if your rabbit dislikes intense smells.

Basil

Benefits: Antioxidants, mild flavour.
How to serve: Fresh leaves sparingly.

Rocket

Benefits: Great fibre and low sugar.
How to serve: Fresh leaves several times per week.
Note: Peppery flavour loved by many rabbits.

Watercress

Benefits: Vitamin-rich, hydrating.
How to serve: Fresh bunches, chopped or whole.

Celery

Benefits: Hydrating, crunchy, great for enrichment.
How to serve: Chop into small slices to avoid stringy choking hazards.
Tip: Leaves are also safe and nutritious.

Bell Peppers (All Colours)

Benefits: Vitamin C, antioxidants, low sugar.
How to serve: Seeds and core removed; slice or dice.
Note: Green peppers are least sweet.

Carrots (Treat Only)

Benefits: High in beta-carotene.
How to serve: Thin slices or small chunks.
Caution: Very high in sugar so offer only 1–2 times per week.

Carrot Tops

Benefits: High in fibre and nutrients.
How to serve: Fresh and washed.
Tip: Healthier than the carrot root itself.

Broccoli

Benefits: Fibre, vitamins and minerals.
How to serve: Florets and leaves, raw or steamed.
Caution: Can cause gas so offer small portions only.

Cauliflower

Benefits: Good fibre source.
How to serve: Leaves and stems preferred; florets sparingly as they cause gas.

Cabbage

Benefits: Nutritious and cheap.
How to serve: Raw leaves in moderation.
Caution: Large amounts can cause gas.

Brussels Sprouts

Benefits: Vitamin-rich.
How to serve: Raw or lightly steamed.
Warning: Can cause bloating; offer tiny amounts.

Courgette

Benefits: Gentle on digestion and hydrating.
How to serve: Raw slices or chunks; skin can be left on.

Cucumber

Benefits: Hydrating, low-calorie.
How to serve: With skin; cut into sticks or slices.
Caution: Limited nutritional value.

Green Beans

Benefits: Fibre and hydration.
How to serve: Raw, chopped.
Note: Small quantities only due to starch content.

Peas and Pea Pods

Benefits: Sweet and appealing.
How to serve: Fresh pods only.
Caution: High in sugar and starch; occasional treat.

Beetroot Leaves

Benefits: Highly nutritious leafy greens.
How to serve: Washed and chopped.
Note: Feed sparingly; high in oxalates.

Radish Tops

Benefits: Nutritious and fibrous.
How to serve: Fresh leaves; roots can be given occasionally.
Caution: Peppery roots may not be tolerated by all rabbits.

Turnip Greens

Benefits: Packed with vitamins.
How to serve: Wash thoroughly; feed fresh.
Avoid: Turnip root too often. It is high in starch.

Dandelion Greens

Benefits: Fantastic for digestion and rich in nutrients.
How to serve: Pick from clean, chemical-free areas only.
Caution: High in calcium, rotate with other greens.

Vegetables Rabbits Can Eat Only With Caution

Tomatoes (Flesh Only)

Safe: Red ripe tomato flesh.
Avoid: Leaves, stems, and unripe tomatoes (toxic).
Caution: High sugar, offer only as a treat.

Sweetcorn

Avoid regular feeding: High in starch and sugar.
Safe: A few kernels as a rare treat.

Aubergine

Safe: Fully ripe flesh only.
Avoid: Leaves and unripe parts due to solanine.

Vegetables Rabbits Should Avoid

Potato

Unsafe: Raw or cooked due to starch and solanine.
Avoid completely.

Onions, Garlic, Leeks, Shallots

Toxic to rabbits.
Avoid in all forms; raw, cooked, powdered.

Mushrooms

Unsafe: Wild mushrooms and most varieties may cause digestive upset.
Avoid completely.

How Much Vegetable Should a Rabbit Eat?

• Adult Rabbits: 1–2 cups of mixed leafy greens per day.
• Young Rabbits (Under 12 Weeks): No vegetables until digestive system matures.
• Add variety: A mix of 4–6 different greens is ideal each day.
• Treat vegetables (carrot, pepper, pea pods): A few teaspoons, a few times per week.

Vegetables should supplement:

• Unlimited quality hay (timothy, orchard, meadow)
• Fresh water
• A small amount of pellets (roughly 1 tablespoon per kg of body weight)

Vegetables Beneficial for Digestive Issues

For Constipation or Slow Gut (GI Stasis Prevention)

• Dandelion greens
• Romaine lettuce
• Herbs (basil, coriander, mint)
• Watercress

For Soft Stools

Avoid watery vegetables like cucumber and excessive cabbage.

Fun and Enriching Ways to Serve Vegetables

• Scatter feeding to encourage natural foraging.
• Stuff vegetables into hay for enrichment.
• Hang leafy greens using safe clips in the enclosure.
• Grow rabbit-safe herbs at home for fresh supply.
• Create leafy “bouquets” with mixed greens for stimulation.

Conclusion

A varied, vegetable-rich diet helps support healthy digestion, strong immunity, and overall wellbeing in rabbits. By offering a wide mix of leafy greens and safe vegetables, and avoiding high-sugar, high-starch, and toxic options, you can ensure your rabbit enjoys a natural, balanced diet that mimics their wild feeding habits.

If your rabbit has a sensitive stomach or chronic digestive issues, always speak to a rabbit specialist vet before making changes to their diet.