🥕 What Can Rabbits Eat? The Complete Rabbit Diet Guide

Team Nibbles
14 minutes ago
7 min read

If you’ve ever wondered what rabbits can and can’t eat, you’re not alone.

There’s a lot of confusing information online — and unfortunately, much of it still comes from outdated pet shop advice and misleading packaging. At Nibbles Rabbit & Rodent Rescue, we’ve cared for hundreds of rabbits over the years, and one of the most common welfare problems we see stems from poor diet.

This guide explains exactly what rabbits should eat for a healthy, natural diet — and what foods can cause harm. It’s based on experience, evidence, and a deep understanding of what these incredible animals truly need to thrive.

Rabbit eating fresh herbs – natural healthy diet example for the “What Can Rabbits Eat” guide by Nibbles Rabbit & Rodent Rescue — *At Nibbles Rabbit & Rodent Rescue, rabbits enjoy daily fresh herbs and forage as part of a balanced, natural diet.*

🌾 Understanding a Rabbit’s Natural Diet

Rabbits are strict herbivores designed to eat a high-fibre diet made up mostly of grasses and other fibrous plants. Their digestive system is built for constant grazing — and it relies on constant movement through the gut to stay healthy.

Fibre isn’t just important for digestion; it’s also essential for tooth wear, preventing painful dental problems that can quickly become serious. Without enough fibrous food to chew, teeth overgrow and lead to long-term suffering.

Wild rabbits grazing on grass – showing the natural diet rabbits are designed to eat — *In the wild, rabbits spend most of their time grazing on grass and other fibrous plants — the diet their bodies are built for.*

🥬 The Perfect Daily Diet – What Can Rabbits Eat Each Day?

A healthy rabbit diet should look roughly like this:

85% Hay or grass – unlimited access, refreshed daily
10% Fresh forage, wild plants, or herbs
5% High-quality pellets – measured portion, once per day
Fresh water – always available

At Nibbles, this is exactly how we feed our rabbits. It keeps their digestive systems healthy, their teeth worn down, and their minds active.

Rabbit at Nibbles sitting beside hay, fresh forage and herbs, dried forage and a small portion of pellets – example of a balanced daily diet for rabbits — *A healthy rabbit diet is simple — mostly hay, some forage (fresh & dried) or herbs, and a small daily portion of pellets.*

🌾 Hay and Grass – The Foundation of Health

Hay should make up the majority of a rabbit’s diet.

Offer a constant supply of good-quality feeding hay such as timothy, meadow, or oat hay.
Avoid dusty hay, which can irritate the respiratory system, and pre-packed hay that has been double or triple-cut, as this shortens the stem length and reduces chewing time, leading to poorer molar wear.
Grass (freshly picked or grazed) can be given freely in safe, untreated areas.

Two rabbits eating hay – demonstrating healthy natural feeding behaviour and good dental health — *Hay should make up around 85% of a rabbit’s diet — it keeps their teeth worn, digestion healthy, and minds active.*

🐰 When Rabbits Don’t Eat Enough Hay – Why It Happens and How to Fix It

Getting rabbits to eat enough hay is one of the most common challenges owners face. Once dental problems have been ruled out or treated, the issue usually comes down to how and when other foods are offered.

Hay is the most important part of a rabbit’s diet — but if they fill up on tastier foods first, they’ll naturally eat less of it. Many owners feed pellets or vegetables twice a day, which unintentionally reduces hay intake. Rabbits that always have easy access to their favourite foods often graze less on hay throughout the day.

Rabbits eating hay in a litter tray – example of how to encourage rabbits to eat more hay and improve gut health — *Providing hay in litter trays encourages rabbits to graze more often — many love to eat while they poop!*

At Nibbles, we’ve found that the simplest way to encourage better hay intake is to feed everything other than hay once a day. We provide fresh hay every morning, and all of our rabbits tuck straight in. Throughout the day, they return regularly to graze — just as they would in the wild. Then, in the afternoon, they receive their measured portion of pellets and a handful of fresh forage or herbs.

This routine encourages natural foraging behaviour and ensures hay remains their main food source.

A few more simple tricks can make a big difference:

Offer hay on the ground – grazing from floor level is a natural eating position and often encourages rabbits to eat more.
Provide hay in at least two locations – rabbits love to eat while they use their litter tray, so always include hay as part of the toilet areas.
Refresh hay daily – rabbits prefer clean, dry hay; offering a fresh pile each morning keeps it interesting and appetising.

We can’t watch our rabbits graze all day, but their droppings tell us a lot about what they’re eating. Rabbits that eat plenty of hay produce large, dry, round droppings that are plentiful and easy to crumble. The colour is less important — while many owners believe droppings should be golden brown, healthy droppings can range from pale golden to dark brown. This variation depends on what else they’re eating; for example, fresh grass or dried forage such as plantain will naturally darken the colour.

Regularly checking droppings during cleaning is one of the easiest ways to monitor your rabbits’ health and diet — their litter trays offer a quick, daily insight into how well they’re doing.

Healthy rabbit droppings in a litter tray – example of normal rabbit poo showing good hay intake and digestion — *Checking litter trays daily helps monitor health — plentiful, round droppings show rabbits are eating enough hay.*

🌿 Fresh Forage and Herbs – Natural Variety

Instead of relying on supermarket vegetables, rabbits benefit most from fresh forage and herbs. This mimics the plants they’d naturally eat in the wild and supports better gut health.

Great options include:

Dandelion leaves and flowers
Plantain (broad and narrow leaf)
Cleavers
Herb Robert
Bramble and raspberry leaves
Apple tree leaves and twigs
Willow leaves and twigs (unless on drugs like metacam)
Safe garden herbs: parsley, mint, dill, basil, rosemary, thyme, coriander
Rocket
Lambs lettuce

If you’re picking fresh forage, make sure you can confidently identify each plant before offering it, and avoid collecting from roadsides or areas that may have been sprayed with pesticides. Always rinse forage thoroughly and allow it to drip-dry before feeding.

Rabbit nibbling fresh mint – example of feeding safe herbs and natural forage as part of a healthy rabbit diet — *Fresh herbs like mint, parsley, and dill are healthy, natural foods that add variety to a rabbit’s diet.*

🌼 Why We Avoid Brassicas (and Most Supermarket Veg)

Many common vegetables — such as kale, cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli — are brassicas, which are known to cause gas and digestive discomfort in rabbits.

While these foods are often promoted as “rabbit-friendly,” they’re not ideal for regular feeding. Fresh herbs and forage provide more natural nutrients without the risk of bloating or gut upset.

Another frequent misunderstanding is around sweet vegetables and fruits. Foods such as carrots, apples, bananas, and strawberries are all high in sugar. In the wild, rabbits would never consume these in large amounts — their natural diet simply doesn’t contain high levels of sugar. These foods should be treated as an occasional treat only, offered no more than once or twice a week, and in very small portions — roughly the size of a 2-pence piece.

If fresh forage is difficult to source, dried forage is an excellent and affordable alternative. It’s natural, healthy, and available from many online shops that specialise in rabbit-safe products.

Rabbit tucking into dried forage mix – example of safe natural foods rabbits can eat instead of supermarket vegetables — *Dried forage and flowers are a natural, healthy alternative to supermarket vegetables — full of flavour and fibre.*

🌰 Pellets – A Small but Important Part

Choose a high-quality pellet rather than a muesli mix. Pellets ensure balanced nutrition without allowing selective feeding.

Offer about 15g per kilo of body weight per day
Look for brands like Science Selective, Burgess Excel, or similar high-fibre formulas.
Avoid treats that contain whole grains or seeds, which are often marketed as “rabbit snacks.” These ingredients are high in fats and sugars, difficult for rabbits to digest, and can slow gut movement — increasing the risk of digestive problems and blockages.

Two rabbits eating a small bowl of pellets – example of feeding measured portions as part of a balanced diet — *Pellets should be fed in small, measured portions — they’re only a tiny part of a healthy rabbit diet.*

🚫 What Rabbits Should NOT Eat (Toxic or Unsafe Foods)

Some foods are dangerous or even toxic for rabbits.

Avoid anything sugary, starchy, or processed — and never feed human foods.

The list below highlights some of the most common foods that are unsafe or unsuitable, but it isn’t exhaustive — there are many other plants and household foods that can cause harm. When in doubt, always double-check before offering something new.

❌ Unsafe Foods	⚠️ Why They’re Harmful
Bread, biscuits, cereal	Cause gut imbalance and obesity
Potatoes, onion, garlic, leeks	Toxic and damage red blood cells
Iceberg lettuce	High water, low fibre, can cause diarrhoea
Cabbage, kale, broccoli	Gas and digestive upset
Fruit seeds/pips (apple, cherry, etc.)	Contain cyanide compounds
Avocado, rhubarb	Toxic – can be fatal
Chocolate or sweets	Toxic and dangerous

Two rabbits sitting together in a litter tray – healthy rabbits cared for with a safe, natural diet free from harmful foods — *A safe, natural diet keeps rabbits healthy and prevents many of the problems caused by feeding the wrong foods.*

🧮 How Much Should Rabbits Eat?

Rabbits should have constant access to hay, small daily portions of pellets, and a handful or two of forage and herbs.

Use weight and body condition as a guide — rabbits should feel firm but not bony, with no bulging fat along the spine or hips.

Fresh water must always be available, ideally in a heavy ceramic bowl rather than a bottle.

Rabbit holding a plastic cup in its mouth – playful reminder about portion control and feeding rabbits the right amount — *Even when they ask for refills, rabbits only need a small portion of pellets each day — the rest should be hay and forage!*

⚠️ Common Diet Mistakes to Avoid

Feeding muesli-style food or excessive pellets
Offering too many sugary fruits or treats
Underestimating hay and fibre needs
Making sudden diet changes – always transition gradually
Relying solely on supermarket veg instead of herbs and forage

Good diet management prevents many of the welfare problems we see at the rescue, including dental disease, obesity, and digestive stasis.

Healthy rabbit approaching the camera with another rabbit eating hay in the background – showing confident behaviour and good diet — *A balanced diet supports healthy behaviour and confidence — avoiding common feeding mistakes keeps rabbits happy inside and out.*

💚 What We Feed at Nibbles

Every rabbit at Nibbles enjoys unlimited meadow hay, a daily handful of herbs and dried or fresh forage, and a small portion of Science Selective pellets.

When new arrivals like Edgar & Ethel or Dorothy & Florence come to us overweight or struggling with poor diets, this simple but natural feeding routine helps restore their health and energy.

Your support makes that possible — by pledging or donating, you help us provide the right diet and veterinary care for every rabbit that comes through our doors.

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