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| Safe? | Yes, a normal daily green |
| How much | A share of an adult handful of greens, twice a day |
| How often | Most days, in rotation |
| Best served | Raw, washed, leaves and stalks |
| Watch out for | Wind, soft droppings, spoiled leaves |
Is pak choi safe for rabbits?
Yes. Pak choi (bok choy in the US) sits in the Rabbit Welfare Association's leafy greens group, next to spring greens, rocket and romaine. Woodgreen lists it as a safe vegetable too. Like all greens it is a side to the main meal: PDSA says hay and grass should be about 85% of a rabbit's diet, with fresh greens making up most of the rest. Pak choi earns its place because it is leafy, low in sugar and easy to find in UK supermarkets all year. Our rabbit diet guide shows how the day fits together.
How much pak choi should a rabbit eat?
PDSA suggests an adult-sized handful of greens, vegetables and herbs twice a day, using five or six different types. Pak choi can be one of those. For an average 2 kg (4.4 lb) rabbit, two or three leaves with stalks in a meal is a fair share. The Rabbit Welfare Association says brassicas can ferment and cause gas in some rabbits, so rotate them rather than feeding large amounts every day: if pak choi was in the morning bowl, use something else in the evening.
How to add pak choi to your rabbit's greens
- Wash it. Separate the leaves and rinse out any grit at the base.
- Offer one leaf first. Add it to greens your rabbit already eats well.
- Look at the droppings. Firm, round and plentiful the next day means you can carry on.
- Build up slowly. Over a week, work up to two or three leaves in a meal.
Parts and forms of pak choi
| Part or form | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Raw green leaves | Yes |
| Raw white stalks | Yes, start small as they are watery |
| Baby pak choi | Yes |
| Cooked or stir-fried, with sauce or garlic | No |
| Yellow, slimy or spoiled leaves | No |
Who should go carefully?
Rabbits that are prone to wind or soft droppings, and young rabbits just starting on fresh food, should have pak choi in small amounts and with plenty of hay.
What else to feed with it
Good partners on our list include spring greens, broccoli and kale, though those are brassicas too. Our bok choy page covers the US side of the same plant. See the rabbit safe food list and the rabbit care guide for the rest.
Pak choi and rabbits: questions
Can baby rabbits eat pak choi?
Go slowly. Young rabbits should be eating mostly hay, with fresh greens added one at a time in small amounts so their gut can adjust. Once your rabbit is happily eating a few other greens, add a small piece of pak choi leaf and check droppings over the next day before giving more.
Can rabbits eat the white stems of pak choi?
Yes. The crunchy white or pale green stalks are as safe as the leaves and give your rabbit something to chew. They are watery, so if your rabbit is new to pak choi, start with mostly leaf and add the stalk as their gut gets used to it.
Is pak choi better than lettuce for rabbits?
It is better than iceberg, which Burgess says to avoid because light-coloured lettuce can give rabbits the runs. Dark lettuces such as romaine are fine too, and the Rabbit Welfare Association lists both romaine and pak choi as leafy greens. Feed both in rotation rather than choosing one.
Can rabbits eat pak choi that has gone limp?
Slightly limp leaves are fine if they are still green and smell fresh. Anything yellow, slimy, brown or starting to go off should go in the compost. PDSA warns that cut grass spoils quickly and can make rabbits unwell, and old greens are no different.
