Is there anything cuter than watching your best bunny pal chomp away at his food bowl and who knew there were so many things that rabbits can eat? It goes without saying that they’ll be relishing their meal if you’ve invested in some of the best food for rabbits for them to enjoy.
But did you know that rabbits get huge nutritional gains from fresh fruits, herbs and veggies, too? In fact, a bunny’s diet goes beyond the nuggets in their bowl and should also include a supply of fibrous roughage, such as grass or the best hay for rabbits, a handful of fresh foods like greens, and a constantly available clean, fresh water source.
Rabbits are grazers and their digestive system works by moving perpetually, so they need access to food 24/7. If you’re worried about how long rabbits can go without food, you don’t need to worry if you see your bun having a break from chomping every now and then, but extended periods where you don’t notice them eating could be cause for concern. With one of the best pet cameras, you can keep an eye on your rabbit’s feeding habits wherever you are.
So, why do rabbits need such variety? One big factor is tooth length, and a diet high in fiber will help your bunny wear them down with chewing. Fiber is also important in keeping their gut active.
Fresh foods are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to keep your bunny healthy. Plus, their high water content promotes hydration.
While rabbits don’t need a high volume of fresh food per day - a handful or so comprising mostly greens is fine - these foods play a vital role in overall health, enrichment and can even be great motivators in case you’re wondering how to house train a rabbit.
It’s recommended that rabbits are fed up to six different kinds of fresh food within their portion daily and feeding in moderation is the best rule of thumb to avoid upset tummies. So, if you’re looking for new things to vary up your bunny’s diet, here’s a list of safe foods to try today.
32 surprising things rabbits can eat
1. Mint
It goes nice in cool iced tea or lemonade, but also in your rabbit’s food bowl! Mint is a great option for fussy feeders and is rich in iron, potassium, and vitamin A. Bunnies can eat the mint leaves and the stalks, too.
2. Dandelions
These bright yellow flowers are extremely tasty to rabbits and your bunny can enjoy the bloom and its stalk. Dandelions are a diuretic and a gut-accelerating food, so shouldn’t be fed to rabbits with known kidney or digestive issues. As to their benefits, they contain vitamin C, iron, and calcium among other nutrients.
3. Apples
Crunchy and sweet, apples are a super treat for rabbits. However, there are two things to be mindful of.
The first is the high sugar content of an apple. This means that if your bunny is an easy keeper, or isn’t accustomed to eating fruit, they should only eat very small quantities - or just the skin for starters, which is full of antioxidants.
Secondly, be sure not to feed the pips because they contain toxins that could harm your rabbit.
4. Cucumber
Composed of more than 90% water, cucumber is a super hydrator, so a couple of slices in hot weather is great for keeping a bunny’s water levels up.
Cucumbers are not high in fiber, so they should not be fed in place of hay or grass, but small amounts are perfectly fine.
5. Parsely
This herb is rich in vitamins A and C as well as fiber, and has an alluring smell too. It should not be fed to pregnant does, though, because it can suppress lactation.
6. Sunflowers
This pretty flower looks fabulous in the garden, and your bunny might be watching on with jealousy! Sunflower petals are a tasty treat containing magnesium, selenium, and vitamin E.
Some owners feed their bunnies sunflower seeds, too. They are high in protein and can contribute to weight gain, though, so just a couple of seeds is enough for a bunny at a healthy weight.
It’s prudent to note that bunnies need play and an active lifestyle alongside a balanced diet. If you think your rabbit could stand to move more, you might try taking him for backyard walks with one of the best rabbit harnesses. Or, kit him out with some of the best rabbit toys.
7. Squash
Rabbits can eat all the kinds of squash that people can, and they like the skin and a couple of seeds here and there, too. You don’t need to cook the squash, as your bunny will happily chow down in it straight from the fridge.
Squash is a high-fiber food that makes it good for rabbits and it also contains zinc, sodium, and beta-carotene, which is linked to promoting eye health.
8. Fresh fennel
Rabbits can happily eat fennel bulbs and stalks. It has a naturally sweet, licorice-like taste that makes it so appealing. It is high in fiber as well as vitamin C-, potassium- and manganese-rich.
9. Kale
This fashionable green can be found in salads, smoothies, and juices but it’s also a super addition to your rabbit’s menu. Kale contains a vast and varied program of vitamins and minerals and is rich in fiber and calcium.
Its calcium content, though, is why kale should be fed to buns in moderation. Feeding too much calcium can lead to its accumulation in a rabbit’s system, which risks kidney stones.
10. Chamomile
Fresh chamomile flowers have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties and anecdotal evidence suggests it helps promote healthy gut function in bunnies. Some owners even apply chamomile tea topically to wounds or irritation on their bunnies’ bodies.
11. Banana
With their high potassium content, feeding bananas is a great way to promote your rabbit’s healthy muscle function and bodily health. They can even eat the peel, which provides high levels of antioxidants, vitamin B6 and vitamin C.
This delicious fruit is high in sugar, though, and should only be fed in small quantities as an occasional treat.
12. Willow
The branches and leaves of a willow tree are wonderful for helping manage your bunny’s tooth length - they can gnaw away on it till the cows come home all while getting a healthy dose of all-important, gut-mobilizing fiber.
While feeding tough, stalky foods that take some chewing will help manage tooth length, regular checkups with your veterinarian are best practice for keeping your bunny’s chompers in check. Dental issues can be expensive to remedy, so it’s all the more reason to have a comprehensive insurance plan in place. Ensuring you have the best pet insurance will give you peace of mind.
13. Kiwi fruit
Like other fruits on this list, kiwi comes with a sugar content warning and it should be off-limits to rabbits with known gastrointestinal issues. That said, it’s great to feed from time to time as a reward and has high levels of vitamin C. Both the fleshy inside and the fuzzy skin of the kiwi are fine for bunnies to eat.
14. Cilantro
Sprinkling cilantro into your rabbit’s hay portion will help stimulate their brain as well as their appetite as they snuffle through to find it. It’s a great choice for rabbits for its anti-inflammatory properties as well as its high levels of antioxidants and vitamins A, C, and K.
15. Cauliflower leaves
Don’t throw out your cauliflower bottoms - your rabbit would love to feast on the leaves and stalky base. Another great option for dental health, cauliflower leaves are packed with fiber and vitamins A and K.
16. Melon
A refreshing fruit, melon is a great hydrator for humans and bunnies through the summer. Be mindful of how much you feed owing to sugar levels, though, and stick to feeding just the flesh part, omitting the rind and seeds.
17. Zucchini
High in water and minerals, zucchini is a worthy and hydrating supplement in your rabbit’s diet. Zucchini contains potassium and calcium for body and bone health.
18. Dill
This green herb has a feathery appearance and is used by humans to add tang to dishes, in particular fish. For your bunny, dill is nutrient-rich, with vitamins A, C and K present. It also contains magnesium, calcium, and iron.
19. Pears
We might like a poached pear for dessert, but rabbits like them just fine as they come, raw and freshly picked. While pears do come with the same sugar worries that accompany other fruits, they are high in fiber and provide a source of vitamins A and C.
20. Peaches
Provided they are pitted first, peaches are a tasty treat for bunnies in moderation - you don’t want to give your rabbit a sugar rush and an upset tummy. A source of fiber and vitamin C, peach is great to feed as an occasional treat.
21. Bell peppers
All colors of bell pepper are safe to feed rabbits. They’re hydrating and rich in vitamin C, and your bunny will love to crunch their way through a couple of slices at a time.
22. Plums
Another fruit to stone before feeding, plums are lovely and juicy. As well as a high volume of water, they contain vitamin C and antioxidants, too. Keep the amount you feed small and irregular to go easy on your rabbit’s gut and digestive system.
23. Arugula
This leafy green with a peppery flavor offers rabbits a hydration boost as well as vitamins A, C, and K. It’s also rich in calcium, which is great in moderation but can be problematic if over-consumed.
24. Jerusalem artichoke
This winter tuber is high in water and low in calcium, so is great for regular feeding. It are also high in fiber, which is key for healthy bunny digestion.
25. Brussel sprouts
Sprouts - you love ‘em or hate ‘em, right? Overindulgence in Brussels sprouts can have a similar effect on rabbits as on humans - namely the stomach ache and additional trips to the restroom.
That aside, sprouts are a brilliant gnawing food and are high in fiber as well as vitamins A, C and K. They contain oxalic acid, which can affect calcium absorption.
26. Strawberries
A ripe strawberry is an enticing treat for anyone, and your rabbit will agree! High in water, vitamin C, and manganese and low in calcium, these fruits are a pretty solid option to treat your bunny to every once in a while.
27. Collard greens
These leafy greens come in a few varieties, from purple-stemmed to baby-leaf, and make a super addition to your bunny’s menu for their high levels of vitamins A and K. They also contain calcium and manganese, but perhaps most notably they are packed with the fiber that’s so important to a rabbit’s digestive health.
28. Cabbage
Packed with water, fiber and vitamins A, C and K, cabbage is a great supplementary vegetable for rabbits. All varieties of cabbage are safe to feed bunnies – green, red, savoy, and napa – and it will all come down to the flavor your bunny prefers.
29. Bok Choy
This Asian green is composed of 95% water and contains antioxidants alongside vitamins A, K, magnesium, and potassium. It offers your bun a variety of textures, from the crunch of the stem to the soft leafy top, offering experiential as well as dietary enrichment.
30. Papaya
Bunnies cannot vomit, so everything they eat has to be dealt with by the digestive tract. A condition sometimes referred to as wool block occurs when hair is ingested while a rabbit grooms themselves causes a blockage called a gastric trichobezoar, or hairball. This can mean food cannot pass through the digestive system. Bunnies with wool block may become lethargic, stop eating, pass fewer than normal, or have no droppings at all and you may even notice hair in their dung. Suspected cases of wool block should be reported to your veterinarian.
This is where fresh papaya, when fed in small amounts on a regular basis, could act as a digestive aid. Not only is papaya a delicious sweet treat, but it also reportedly has the benefit of helping break down hair that might have collected in your bunny’s system. This is due to the powerful enzymes that are part of papaya’s composition.
It’s sugary, so shouldn’t be fed excessively, but is a tasty treat with an unusual additional benefit. While papaya shouldn’t be used to treat suspected wool block, it may help support your rabbit’s healthy digestive function.
31. Pineapple
Sugary and juicy, this treat (best fed sparingly) has similar properties to papaya in that its enzymes can reportedly break down hair in the digestive tract. Fresh pineapple without its skin is better than canned or dried options as gram for gram it has higher nutritional value and less sugar.
32. Their own droppings
Not exactly a treat but if you do spot your rabbit nibbling on their own poop, rest assured it’s perfectly natural! This is because although bunnies require a high-fiber diet, it isn’t easy to digest and often their droppings still contain many of the valuable nutrients they need. As such, ingesting their poop means rabbits unlock all the nutritional benefits the second time around!
