Food check · Rabbits

Can rabbits eat broccoli?

Yes, in moderation: a small raw floret or some leaves a few times a week. The leaves are the best part; too much can cause gas.

Checked against Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund: Recommended vegetables and herbs, Woodgreen Pets Charity: What to feed your rabbits, PDSA: Your rabbit's diet and 4 more on

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Can other pets eat broccoli?

Yes, rabbits can eat broccoli in moderation. The florets, stalks and leaves are all safe raw, according to Woodgreen and the Rabbit Welfare Association. PDSA warns it can cause gas, so offer a small floret or a few leaves two or three times a week, as part of a mixed handful of greens, not as a big daily pile.
Safe? Yes, in moderation
How much One small floret or a few leaves for a 2 kg (4.4 lb) rabbit
How often Two or three times a week, rotated
Best served Raw, washed; leaves first, then a little stalk or floret
Watch out for Gas and bloating, rabbits with past tummy trouble

Is broccoli safe for rabbits?

Yes. The Rabbit Welfare Association lists broccoli and broccoli leaves as brassicas that are safe for healthy rabbits in moderation, and says broccoli is "as tasty to a rabbit as dandelions from the garden". The House Rabbit Society lists broccoli leaves and stems, and Burgess names broccoli among ideal vegetables. Woodgreen puts it plainly: "Both the florets and stalks are safe, but should only be fed in moderation as it can cause gas and bloating."

That gas warning comes from almost every source. PDSA lists broccoli as "in moderation (can cause gas)", and the House Rabbit Society advises caution with all of the cabbage family, as some rabbits get painful gas from them.

How much broccoli can a rabbit have?

For a 2 kg (4.4 lb) rabbit, one small floret about the size of your thumb, or a few broccoli leaves, is a sensible portion. PDSA suggests an adult-sized handful of greens, veg and herbs twice a day, with five or six different plants daily. Broccoli can be one of them two or three days a week. On other days, swap in non-brassica greens so the cabbage family does not dominate.

How to introduce broccoli

  1. Wash it. Rinse florets and leaves under the tap.
  2. Start with leaves. They are the gentlest part. Add a little stalk or floret later.
  3. Give a small piece. Half a small floret the first time, with greens your rabbit already eats.
  4. Watch for 24 hours. Look for normal eating and plenty of round droppings, with no hunching.
A rabbit that sits hunched, presses its tummy to the floor, stops eating or passes few droppings may have painful gas or gut stasis. PDSA says to contact your vet immediately if your rabbit stops eating.

Which parts are best?

Part or form Verdict
Leaves Yes, the best part
Stalk Yes, sliced thinly
Florets Yes, one small floret
Tenderstem, broccolini, purple sprouting Yes, same rules
Cooked, frozen or in sauces No, fresh and raw only

Who should skip broccoli?

Woodgreen advises that rabbits with past digestive issues avoid brassicas. Young rabbits should try it last, after milder greens.

What to offer instead

Spring greens, cabbage and cauliflower are brassica cousins, so count them together. Our safe food list for rabbits, rabbit diet guide and rabbit care guide have non-brassica greens for the other days.

Broccoli and rabbits: questions

Can rabbits eat broccoli leaves?

Yes. The Rabbit Welfare Association lists broccoli leaves with broccoli as a safe brassica, and the House Rabbit Society lists broccoli leaves and stems. The leaves are leafier and less dense than the florets, so they are the best part to offer, as one of the day's mixed greens.

Can rabbits eat broccoli stalks?

Yes. Woodgreen says both the florets and the stalks are safe in moderation. The stalk is firm and gives good chewing. Cut it into thin slices or small sticks and count it in the same portion as the florets.

Can rabbits eat tenderstem broccoli or broccolini?

Yes. The House Rabbit Society lists broccolini among non-leafy vegetables. It follows the same brassica rules: a stem or two, raw and washed, a few times a week, rotated with other greens.

Can rabbits eat cooked or frozen broccoli?

Not cooked: it is soft and often buttered or salted. Frozen broccoli is usually blanched (part-cooked) before freezing, so it is softer too. Fresh, raw broccoli is the best choice.

Sources

Read next

What can rabbits eat? The safe food list

Rabbits eat mostly hay and grass, plus daily leafy greens and herbs; fruit and carrots are treats, and onions, potato, avocado and bread are off the list.

Rabbit diet: what to feed every day

Rabbits eat about 85% hay or grass, 10% leafy greens and 5% high-fibre pellets, with fresh water always and fruit only as a tiny treat.

Sometimes

Can rabbits eat cabbage?

Yes: a leaf or two of raw cabbage a few times a week, rotated with other greens. Too much at once can cause gas.

Yes

Can rabbits eat spring greens?

Yes: spring greens are a great leafy green for rabbits. A few leaves several times a week, mixed and rotated with other greens.

Sometimes

Can rabbits eat cauliflower?

Yes, in moderation. The leaves are the best part, florets are fine in small pieces. Rotate it with other greens as brassicas can cause gas.

Rabbit care: the complete guide

Keep rabbits in pairs, give them at least 3 x 2 x 1 m (10 x 6 x 3 ft) of space, unlimited hay, daily greens, yearly vaccines and daily checks.