Daily Fresh Leafy Greens

Fresh greens help house rabbits stay hydrated and provide fiber and essential nutrients. Many people find it helpful to split their rabbit’s salad into two meals: breakfast and dinner. This helps you keep better track of whether they are eating regularly or may be experiencing digestive problems. Note, too, that if you decide not to incorporate pellets into your rabbit’s diet, it can be a good idea to raise their greens intake, so consult your vet periodically about their dietary needs.

Feed a minimum of 1-2 cups of fresh leafy greens for each 4 lbs. of body weight, or as directed by your rabbit’s vet. Select at least three types of greens daily to obtain a variety of nutrients. Add one new leafy green to the diet at a time. Eliminate a green if it causes soft stools or diarrhea and try something else. Build your rabbit’s daily salads from a selection of rabbit-safe veggies listed below.

Rabbit-Safe Veggies

• Alfalfa and clover sprouts

• Basil (sweet, lemon, or purple)

• Beet greens (tops)

• Bok choy

• Brussel sprouts*

• Carrot** and carrot tops

• Celery leaves

• Cilantro

• Clover

• Collard greens*

• Dandelion greens

• Endive (esp. the curly kind)

• Escarole

• Green leaf lettuce

• Kale*

• Mint

• Mustard greens

• Parsley

• Pea pods (the flat edible kind)*

• Radicchio

• Radish tops

• Raspberry leaves

• Red leaf lettuce

• Romaine lettuce (no iceberg)

• Spinach* (no more than twice a week)

• Watercress

• Wheat grass

*Limit quantities. If your rabbit has a delicate GI system, do not give.

**Limit carrots to tiny pieces daily or as a small weekly treat. Carrots are sweet and contain natural sugars.