Can Rabbits Eat Green Beans? Here’s Why.

Last Updated on March 7, 2023 by Marjon Ramos

Green beans are perfectly safe for rabbits. Just make sure that your rabbit is at least 12 weeks old and you’re only giving them limited amounts based on their current age and weight.

If it’s the first time you’re giving green beans to your rabbits, it’s important that you introduce them SLOWLY. Doing so would allow their gut flora to get accustomed to the new food.

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

Do rabbits like eating green beans?

As far as veggies go, green beans are definitely a contender as the best veggie according to Tyr and Freya (my babies). Well, they’re in luck because my family actually has a whole farm of green beans in our country.

So whenever it’s harvest time, I make sure to tell my mom to bring my babies and me some tasty green beans.

Are green beans safe to be eaten by rabbits?

Green beans are perfectly safe for rabbits. Just make sure that your rabbit is old enough (12 weeks old) to eat them.

You should also make sure that the amount you give is within the recommended limit (see diet portion calculator below).

The most common way green beans harm rabbits is when rabbit owners overfeed their rabbit’s green beans in lieu of hay.

The lack of fiber would eventually lead to digestive problems because rabbits rely on fiber to induce gut movement.

Another reason is when the rabbit is still young. Young rabbits have sensitive gut flora and should only eat hay until 12 weeks old.

What are the benefits of feeding green beans to rabbits?

Gist:

Green beans have moderate amounts of vitamin A and other essential nutrients.

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In order to know the benefits of green beans for your rabbit’s health, you should first understand the required vitamins and minerals that a rabbit needs per day.

You can use the nutrient constrain calculator for rabbits. This calculator would tell you what nutrients your rabbit is getting whenever you feed them green beans.

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 green beans contain moderate amounts of vitamin A.

Are green beans good for rabbits?

Green beans contain moderate amounts of vitamin A. It also contains trace amounts of vitamin E, B6, copper, niacin, pantothenic acid, protein, choline, fiber, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium.

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

How much green beans can a rabbit eat?

The amount of green beans 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 green beans (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 green beans to give per day:

When can rabbits start eating green beans?

The table above assumes that your rabbit is old enough (1–5 years old) to regularly eat vegetables (green beans). Another important factor when deciding how much green beans to give your rabbits is their age.

Here’s a table that shows how much green beans you can give your rabbits as they get older:

Make sure you follow the table above and only feed your rabbits vegetables (green beans) 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 green beans to rabbits?

Gist:

You should not feed green beans to rabbits that have any digestive problems or when you notice any changes in their stool.

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If your rabbit is already having digestive issues like uneaten caecotrophs or watery stool, then you should immediately remove any other food you’re giving to your rabbits except hay.

Your rabbit might not be getting enough fiber because you got the portion of their diet wrong. Remember that your rabbit should be eating 80–90% hay, 10% vegetables, 5% pellets, and occasional treats.

Finally, bring your rabbit to a veterinarian just to be safe. Most of the time, rabbit owners misdiagnose their rabbits with just softer stool, which can be corrected by feeding more hay. When in fact it’s diarrhea, which is fatal to rabbits.

Risk of overfeeding green beans to rabbits.

• Uneaten caecotrophs: Uneaten caecotrophs are usually caused by a diet that is low in fiber or overfeeding foods that are high in water content. Green beans alone could not meet the daily fiber requirement of rabbits. Therefore, green beans should only be fed in small amounts as a supplement to a hay-based diet.
• Diarrhea: Overfeeding green beans to rabbits could also lead to diarrhea because of the lack of fiber in them. Your rabbit’s diet should mainly consist of hay and pellets. Vegetables like green beans should only be fed in small amounts because rabbits cannot get enough fiber from them. If your rabbit is suffering from diarrhea, bring your rabbit to a veterinarian immediately because diarrhea is fatal to rabbits extremely fast.
• Gastrointestinal stasis:  Gastrointestinal stasis is also caused by a diet that is low in fiber and too many carbohydrates. When your rabbit is overfed with the wrong kind of food, like green beans, it could lead to an imbalance in your rabbit’s gut flora and slow down the passage of food through the GI tract. If you suspect that your rabbit might be suffering from GI stasis, immediately bring your rabbit to a veterinarian because GI stasis could lead to organ failure and death if not treated.

Great alternatives to green beans.

Your rabbit would love you if you provided them with different kinds of food.

Rabbits in the wild have an abundance of food available to them. This is why rabbit experts suggest giving your rabbits a variety of choices when it comes to food, because they believe that it’s the key to a healthy diet.

Here’s a list of vegetables and leafy greens that are a great alternative to green beans:

• 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)

Conclusion

To answer the main question of whether rabbits can eat green beans, yes, rabbits can eat green beans as long as it’s in moderation.

Also, your rabbit’s age is important when you’re planning on giving green beans. Rabbits that are less than 12 weeks old should not be eating green beans and instead focus on eating hay.

Your rabbit’s weight is also a factor when determining the amount of green beans you should give.

Small breeds of rabbits that weigh 1.1–3.5 pounds are allowed to eat up to 128 grams of green beans.

While medium breeds or rabbits that are 6-10 pounds can eat between 384 and 640 grams of green beans per day.

For large breeds like the Flemish giant or rabbits that are 9–12 pounds, they’re allowed to consume between 384 and 760 grams of green beans.