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| Safe? | Flat pods yes; shelled peas not recommended |
| How much | 1 or 2 pods for a 2 kg (4.4 lb) rabbit |
| How often | Two or three times a week, as one of several vegetables |
| Best served | Raw, washed, whole flat pod |
| Watch out for | Plump pods full of peas, frozen or tinned peas, soft droppings |
Are peas safe for rabbits?
The young pods are. The Rabbit Welfare Association (RWAF) lists sugar snap peas and mangetout among its recommended non-leafy vegetables, and VetPartners lists sugar snap peas as a safe vegetable too. The House Rabbit Society (HRS) lists "Chinese pea pods (flat without large peas)", and that bracket is the key: it is the flat, green, crunchy pod that suits a rabbit, not the round peas inside.
The peas themselves are a different food. They are seeds, packed with starch and sugar, and the HRS article on greens names legumes (beans) and seeds among the foods not to feed. The same article warns that sugar and starch can upset a rabbit's gut bacteria, and no charity we read lists shelled peas as safe, so we say skip them. Our rabbit diet guide shows where vegetables like pea pods fit.
How many pea pods can a rabbit have?
One or two pods, two or three times a week, is plenty for a 2 kg (4.4 lb) rabbit. The HRS caps all non-leafy vegetables together at about 1 tablespoon per 900 g (2 lb) of body weight a day, and the RWAF says fresh vegetables should be only a small part of the diet, with hay making up most of it. So a pea pod is one item in a mixed handful, not a meal.
How to prepare pea pods
- Choose flat pods. Sugar snaps or mangetout with small peas inside, not fat pods that rattle.
- Wash well. Rinse under cold water and pat dry.
- Serve raw. Give the whole pod; cut it in half for a small rabbit.
- Start small. Try half a pod the first time and check droppings over the next day.
Shelled, frozen, dried and cooked peas
| Form | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Sugar snap peas, mangetout (snow peas), raw | Yes, small amounts |
| Pea plant leaves and shoots (pea shoots) | Not on the charity lists we read, so we would leave them out |
| Shelled garden peas, fresh or frozen | Not recommended: starchy legume seeds |
| Dried peas, split peas, pea flakes in muesli mixes | No |
| Tinned, mushy or cooked peas | No: soft, starchy, often salted |
Who should skip peas?
Leave pods out for rabbits under about 12 weeks, overweight rabbits and any rabbit with soft droppings or a sensitive stomach.
What to offer instead
Green bell pepper and a small floret of broccoli give the same crunch. Skip sweetcorn (corn), which is starchy in the same way as shelled peas. For the full list, see what rabbits can eat, and our rabbit care guide for the rest of their routine.
Peas and rabbits: questions
Can rabbits eat frozen peas?
We would not. Frozen peas are shelled garden peas, which are starchy seeds, and the House Rabbit Society says not to feed legumes. A rabbit that steals one or two will almost always be fine; just watch its droppings and appetite for a day and do not offer them again.
Can baby rabbits eat peas?
No. Young rabbits have delicate guts and should be on hay, their pellets and only very slowly introduced leafy greens. Wait until a rabbit is at least 12 weeks old and settled on greens before trying a flat pea pod, and start with half of one.
My rabbit ate a lot of peas. What should I do?
Take the rest away and give plenty of hay and water. Watch for soft droppings, fewer or smaller droppings, a bloated tummy or a quiet, hunched rabbit. PDSA says a rabbit that stops eating needs a vet urgently, so ring yours straight away if that happens.
