Basics
As herbivores, wild rabbits consume foods high in fibre but low in nutrients. Because of this, rabbits' digestive systems have evolved to process plant fibre and extract the additional nutrients. This also means feeding the right foods is essential to keeping rabbits' digestive systems functioning effectively.Approximately 80% of a rabbit's diet should be grass or hay, with the rest comprising fresh foods such as vegetables and plants and commercial dry food such as pellets (Herd, n.d.-a).
- Hay – Fresh hay should be available 24 hours a day. Rabbits younger than seven months old may have lucerne or alfalfa hay mixed with hay, but older rabbits should only have timothy or meadow hay. Hay is vital for rabbit's dental and gut health and helps reduce hairballs and other blockages. Read more about the types of hay here (Herd, n.d.-a).
- Pellets - Pellets should be high in fibre (18% minimum) and nutritionally balanced. In younger rabbits, pellets are most important because they are highly concentrated in nutrients, helping with weight gain. However, as a rabbit matures, pellets should make up less of the diet and be replaced with higher quantities of greens and hay, or obesity or other medical conditions may result. Read more about the types of pellet and selecting the right one here (Herd, n.d.-a).
- Water - Fresh water must be available 24 hours a day and changed daily. A heavy, tip-proof bowl should also be provided if a bottle is used (Herd, n.d.-a)
Plants
Fruit & Vegetables
Table 1
Safe and Unsafe Fruits and Vegetables for Rabbits
| Fruit - Safe |
Fruit - Do not feed |
Vegetables - Safe |
Vegetables - Do not feed |
| Apple |
Avocado |
Cabbage |
Asparagus |
| Banana |
Watermelon plant |
Carrot tops |
Beetroot bulb/root/leaves |
| Berries - Boysenberry, blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, etc. |
|
Cauliflower & broccoli |
Bok choy |
| Capsicum |
|
Celery & celeriac |
Brussel sprouts |
| Cucumber |
|
Chicory/endive & radicchio |
Capsicum fruit/plant |
| Grape |
|
Collard greens |
Carrot root |
| Pear |
|
Corn salad/lamb's lettuce |
Cauliflower & broccoli heads |
| Persimmon |
|
Kale |
Courgette flower/fruit |
| Pineapple |
|
Miner's lettuce |
Courgette, cucumber & pumpkin leaves |
| Pumpkin |
|
NZ spinach |
Cucumber |
| Stone fruit - Peach, plum, nectarine, cherry (no stone) |
|
Pea shot tips |
Green beans & bean vines |
| Tomato |
|
Radish tops |
Jerusalem artichoke |
| Watermelon fruitrind |
|
Rocket |
Lettuce |
|
|
Romaine lettuce |
Mustard greens |
|
|
Silverbeet |
Parsnip |
|
|
Spinach |
Peas/pea pods |
|
|
Sweetcorn |
Potatp & tomato plants/roots/fruit |
|
|
Watercress |
Pumpkin |
|
|
|
Sorrel |
|
|
|
Sprouts |
|
|
|
Swede & turnip tops/roots |
Note. Table showing safe and toxic fruit and vegetables. Adapted/Reprinted from https://www.westleysworld.com/thefiles/veg-amp-fruit-proceed-with-caution. Copyright 2019 by Jen Herd/Westley's World.
Read more about the how often to feed these foods and how much to feed here.
Toxic, Poisonous & Unsafe Plants
- Prunus Species - Cherry, Plum, Apricot, Peach Trees, Flowering Cherries - Contain Amygdalin which is classified as a cyanogenic glycoside.
- Coniferous Trees - Conifers contain tannins, resins, oils and acrid irritant substances, so they are best to avoid.
- Citrus Trees - Although not ‘toxic’, citrus trees are high in aromatic oils which can upset the gut.
- Ferns and Lilies - Toxic to rabbits.
(Herd, n.d.-b)
There are many other plants that should not be fed. Read more about them here.
Weeds
There are many weeds which are both safe and unsafe to feed to rabbits. More detailed lists of these weeds have been compiled by Westley's World, covering both safe and unsafe species. If the species cannot be identified, it is safer not to risk feeding it.
References
Herd, J. (n.d.-a). Diet and nutrition. Westley’s World. https://www.westleysworld.com/thefiles/diet-and-nutrition
Herd, J. (n.d.-b). Unsafe, toxic & poisonous plants. Westley’s World. https://www.westleysworld.com/thefiles/trees-amp-shrubs-unsafe
Herd, J. (n.d.). Veg & fruit - Proceed with caution. Westley’s World. https://www.westleysworld.com/thefiles/veg-amp-fruit-proceed-with-caution