what do bunnies eat

Bunnies eat a high-fiber, plant-based diet built mainly around grass hay, with smaller amounts of leafy greens, a tiny portion of pellets, and only occasional fruit or sugary veggies as treats. Carrots and fruit are “sometimes foods,” not the main course, even though cartoons make it look that way.

Core bunny diet

A healthy rabbit diet is designed to keep their gut moving and their teeth worn down. The rough breakdown most vets and welfare groups suggest is:

• About 80–90% hay or fresh grass (timothy, orchard grass, meadow, oat).

• Around 10% leafy greens and vegetables (safe herbs and salad-type greens).

• About 5% or less high‑fiber rabbit pellets , plain and timothy‑based.

Safe hay and greens

Hay is the main thing bunnies “should always be eating.” Good options include:

• Grass hays: timothy, orchard grass, brome, meadow, oat hay.

• Daily leafy greens in small portions: romaine, green/red leaf lettuce (not iceberg), bok choy, endive, escarole, fennel, coriander, basil, dill, mint, parsley, cilantro, carrot tops, dandelion greens, watercress, zucchini, celery, and similar.

Some “heavier” greens like kale, spinach, chard, and certain brassicas are usually given in rotation or smaller amounts due to calcium or gas issues.

Treats: carrots, fruit, and extras

Many classic “bunny foods” are really treats because of sugar or starch. These should be tiny amounts, a few times a week at most:

• Sugary veg: carrots, sweet potato, other root veg.

• Fruit (1–2 tablespoons per 2.5–3 kg body weight, once or twice a week): apple (no seeds), banana, berries, melon, pear, peach, plum, papaya, pineapple, grapes, etc.

Pellet “treat mixes” with dried fruit, seeds, or colored bits should be avoided; plain high‑fiber nuggets are safer.

Foods to avoid

Some foods can seriously upset a rabbit’s digestive system or are outright dangerous. Common no‑go items include:

• Potatoes, beans, peas, corn, nuts, seeds, cereal, pasta, bread, crackers.

• Iceberg lettuce, beet greens, large amounts of cabbage or cauliflower, rhubarb, chocolate, sugary human snacks, and yogurt drops.

If a food is very sugary, salty, fatty, or processed, it is usually not appropriate for a bunny.

Wild bunnies vs pet bunnies

Wild rabbits spend their time grazing on tough, fibrous plants. Their natural menu is mostly:

• Grasses and weeds, plus clover, flowers, tender shoots, some bark and twigs when plants are scarce.

Pet bunnies mimic this with hay and greens, while pellets and carefully measured treats “fill the gaps” in a controlled way.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.