Blue Cross blog

Rabbits love fresh fruit and vegetables but sometimes it’s tricky to know which ones and how much you should give them. Our advice is here to help…

The main part of a rabbit’s diet should be an unlimited amount of fresh hay but they enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables and ideally they should be fed some as part of a balanced diet.

Fruit should be fed in moderation because it’s high in sugar – so no more than two tablespoons worth per day.

Like humans, rabbits are individuals and some may not be able to tolerate certain foods.

When introducing any new food, do it gradually to avoid digestive upsets. It’s a good idea to introduce one new food at a time so if it does upset your rabbit you know what’s caused it.

Here are some fresh fruits and veggies that are generally safe for your rabbit. If you’re not sure, always check first before giving them something new and don’t forget to wash them thoroughly first.

Fruit

• Apple
• Apricot
• Banana (high in potassium)
• Blackberries (and leaves – excellent astringent properties)
• Blueberries
• Cherries
• Grapes
• Kiwi
• Mango
• Melon
• Nectarines
• Oranges (not the peel)
• Papaya
• Peaches
• Pears
• Pineapple
• Plums
• Raspberries (and leaves – excellent astringent properties)
• Strawberries (and leaves)
• Tomatoes (not the leaves)

Vegetables

• Artichoke leaves
• Asparagus
• Baby sweetcorn (but not full-sized ones)
• Beetroot (take care with leafy tops due to high levels of oxalic acid)
• Broccoli (and its leaves, including purple-sprouting varieties)
• Brussels sprouts (leaves and sprouts)
• Cabbage (can sometimes cause digestive upsets)
• Carrots and carrot tops (the roots should be limited as they are high in sugar) 
• Cauliflower (and the leaves)
• Celeriac
• Celery (and its leaves)
• Chicory
• Courgette (and flowers)
• Cucumber
• Curly kale
• Fennel
• Green beans
• Kohlrabi
• Parsnip
• Peas (including the leaves and pods)
• Peppers (red, green and yellow)
• Pumpkin
• Radish tops
• Rocket
• Spring greens
• Squash
• Swede
• Watercress

THINGS TO AVOID

• Grass clippings (picked by hand) can cause serious health problems
• Wet or frozen food 
• Beans, rhubarb, tomato leaves and potato sprouts

If you’re a pet owner and you’d like some more advice, visit our free factsheets here.

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