Can Rabbits Eat Broccoli? What You Need To Know.

Last Updated on February 25, 2023 by Marjon Ramos

Broccoli can be safely given to rabbits that are at least 7 months old. While vegetables are normally introduced to rabbits at 12 weeks old, broccoli is only on the “okay” list of vegetables for rabbits because some rabbits can’t tolerate it.

Young rabbits are more susceptible to digestive problems, and giving them vegetables that are not on the recommended list is a gamble.

You should also limit the amount of broccoli you give your rabbits to 15 grams when starting out.

You should also monitor your rabbits when feeding broccoli because it could lead to gas.

If your rabbits can tolerate broccoli well, you can give it to them sparingly.

Now that I’ve given you the gist of the article, read on as I explain in more detail why rabbits can eat broccoli:

Do rabbits like eating broccoli?

In my case, both of my rabbits would gobble up the broccoli I give them whenever I have one available.

I’ve also asked several of my friends if they ever fed broccoli to their rabbits, and all of them reported giving some to their rabbits due to the fact that their rabbits love broccoli so much.

Is broccoli safe to be eaten by rabbits?

As long as your rabbit is at least 7 months old and you introduce it slowly, broccoli shouldn’t cause any digestive problems for your rabbit.

The amount of broccoli you give to your rabbits also plays a role in the safety of broccoli.

Generally, a rabbit’s diet should be 90% hay.

Feeding any other food in lieu of hay would eventually lead to digestive problems due to the lack of fiber.

What are the benefits of feeding broccoli to rabbits?

In order for you to properly understand the benefits of feeding broccoli to your rabbits, you can use the nutrient constrain calculator for rabbits.

This calculator will show you what nutrients your rabbits are getting whenever you feed them broccoli.

You can also click on the blue icon beside the nutrient to see its benefits and deficiency:

As you can see from the nutrient constrain calculator for rabbits above, 100 grams of broccoli has moderate amounts of nutrients like vitamin A and pantothenic acid.

Is broccoli good for rabbits?

Broccoli contains moderate amounts of vitamin A and pantothenic acid.

It also contains small amounts of vitamin E, B6, copper, niacin, choline, protein, fiber, lysine, methionine, cystine, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium.

All of which would benefit your rabbit’s health if fed in reasonable amounts.

How much broccoli can a rabbit eat?

The amount of broccoli you should feed your rabbits depends on your rabbit’s current weight and age.

You can use the diet portion calculator below to see how much broccoli (or other vegetables) you should feed your rabbits per day:

If you don’t have a weighing scale, here’s the estimated weight of rabbits based on their breed and how much broccoli to give per day:

When can rabbits start eating broccoli?

The table above assumes that your rabbit is old enough (1–5 years old) to regularly eat vegetables (broccoli).

Another important factor when deciding how much broccoli to give your rabbits is their weight:

Make sure you follow the table above and only feed your rabbits vegetables (broccoli) if they are old enough.

It’s also important to introduce any new food slowly and only in small quantities.

When should you not feed broccoli to rabbits?

Gist:

You should not feed broccoli to rabbits that are young or less than 7 months old.

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Rabbits that are young or growing should only eat hay. 

Young rabbits have a really sensitive stomach and they cannot digest starch that well.

That’s why experts suggest that young or growing rabbits should only be fed hay as their primary source of food.

Also, rabbits that have diarrhea should not be given any broccoli or other leafy greens.

You should remove any recent addition to their diet, and they should be fed primarily with hay and should be looked at by a veterinarian.

Risks of overfeeding broccoli to rabbits.

While broccoli is safe and nutritious for rabbits, there are still risks associated when a rabbit owner overfeeds their rabbits:

• Gastrointestinal Stasis: Overfeeding broccoli in lieu of hay to your rabbits could lead to GI stasis, which is caused by a lack of fiber in your rabbit’s diet. Broccoli could also cause gas, which in turn would make your rabbit eat less due to pain. The lack of fiber would eventually lead to GI stasis.
• Diarrhea: Diarrhea is also possible when rabbit owners overfeed large amounts of broccoli to their rabbits too fast. Always introduce any new diet to your rabbits slowly.
• Uneaten cecotropes: Soft uneaten cecotropes are also possible when rabbits are eating large amounts of broccoli instead of hay. This could lead to softer cecotropes due to the lack of fiber.

Great alternatives to broccoli.

Although broccoli is safe and nutritious for rabbits, rabbit owners should still give their rabbits a variety of foods in their diet to mimic what wild rabbits eat.

Here’s a list of vegetables and leafy greens that you can feed your rabbits as an alternative to broccoli:

• Spinach
• Celery
• Green peppers
• Basil
• Mint
• Alfalfa, radish & Clover sprouts
• Beet greens (tops)
• Parsley
• Peapods (the flat edible kind)
• Peppermint leaves
• Bok choy
• Escarole
• Clover
• Peppermint leaves
• Carrot & carrot tops
• Radicchio
• Raspberry leaves
• Wheatgrass
• Watercress
• Cilantro
• Dandelion greens and flowers (no pesticides)

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Can rabbits eat broccoli stems?

Commonly discarded parts of broccoli plants, like the stems, can be fed to rabbits and are safe.

But you should only feed them small amounts because your rabbit’s diet should primarily consist of hay.

Can rabbits eat broccoli rabe?

Yes, broccoli rabes are safe to be fed to rabbits just like any other part of the plant.

But you should only give them small amounts.

Can rabbits eat broccoli florets?

Yes, broccoli florets are safe to be given to rabbits in small amounts occasionally.

It contains a lot of vitamins and minerals that are a great addition to your rabbit’s diet.

Can rabbits eat broccoli flowers?

Yes, broccoli flowers are a great treat to give to your pet rabbit occasionally.

Just make sure you’re only giving them small amounts.

Can rabbits eat broccoli tops?

Yes, broccoli tops are safe to be fed to rabbits and are a great addition to their diet.

Just make sure that you only give it to them occasionally and only in small amounts.

Can rabbits eat broccoli plants?

Yes, rabbits can eat every part of a broccoli plant.

Just make sure that you only feed them small amounts occasionally.

Conclusion

Rabbits can eat broccoli, but only in small amounts occasionally. Also, other leafy greens should be prioritized over broccoli if possible.

Although broccoli contains vitamins and minerals that are a great addition to your pet rabbit’s diet, it also contains sugar, which could upset their stomach and cause diarrhea.