Which Vegetables Can Rabbits Eat? Complete Safe and Unsafe List

Most dark leafy greens and herbs are safe for rabbits and should be offered daily as part of a hay-first diet. However, some vegetables that are healthy for humans are toxic or harmful to rabbits. This guide covers what is safe, what to limit, and what to avoid entirely.

## Safe Vegetables to Feed Daily (in Rotation)

Offer 1–2 large handfuls of leafy greens per kg of body weight, rotating variety:

Excellent choices (feed freely):
- Romaine lettuce, green leaf lettuce, red leaf lettuce (NOT iceberg)
- Rocket (arugula)
- Bok choy / pak choi
- Fresh herbs: parsley, cilantro (coriander), basil, dill, mint (small amounts)
- Kale — safe in moderate quantities; high calcium so limit to 2–3 times per week
- Watercress
- Endive and chicory

Good in moderation (2–4 times per week):
- Spinach — high in oxalates; safe occasionally
- Swiss chard — oxalate content; rotate with other greens
- Broccoli leaves and stems (florets can cause gas)
- Celery (remove strings; cut into short pieces)
- Bell pepper (all colours — remove seeds and core)
- Fennel fronds and stalks

## Safe Root Vegetables (Treat Quantities Only)

High in starch and sugar — feed sparingly, as you would fruit:
- Carrot (one 2 cm slice, 2–3 times per week — not daily)
- Carrot tops (the leafy green tops are fine in larger amounts)

## Vegetables to AVOID

Iceberg lettuce — very high water content with almost no nutrition; the lactucarium can cause digestive upset and diarrhoea in excess.

Onions, leeks, shallots, chives, garlic — cause haemolytic anaemia (destruction of red blood cells). Toxic even in small amounts.

Rhubarb — very high oxalic acid; toxic to rabbits.

Potatoes, sweet potatoes — high starch, not suitable for rabbits.

Avocado — all parts toxic to rabbits.

Raw dried beans/legumes — toxic raw.

## Introducing New Vegetables

Introduce one new vegetable at a time. Give a small amount (a few grams) and monitor droppings for 24 hours. Loose or soft droppings? Wait a week before trying again. Gut upset from too many new foods introduced too quickly is a common cause of digestive problems in rabbits.

Track your rabbit's food rotation in Flovvi to ensure dietary variety and catch any reactions.