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| Safe? | Yes for bell peppers; no for chillies |
| How much | About 1 tablespoon per 2 lb (900 g) of body weight: 1 or 2 thin strips |
| How often | Once or twice a week |
| Best served | Raw, washed, flesh only, in strips |
| Watch out for | Soft droppings, seeds left in |
Are peppers safe for rabbits?
Sweet bell peppers are. PDSA names red, yellow and green bell peppers among safe vegetables, and VetPartners and Woodgreen list peppers too. The RWAF adds two sensible limits: small, occasional amounts that never become a regular part of the diet, and flesh only. Peppers are a crunchy, watery vegetable rather than a leafy green, so they are a side dish to hay and greens. Our rabbit diet guide shows how that balance works.
Chilli peppers are not safe. The RSPCA and RWAF both list them as foods to avoid. Their heat comes from a compound that irritates the mouth and gut, which no rabbit needs.
How much pepper can a rabbit have?
A little. Rabbit.org lists bell peppers among higher-sugar vegetables to feed sparingly, and the House Rabbit Society suggests no more than about 1 tablespoon of non-leafy vegetables per 2 lb (900 g) of body weight a day. For an average 2 kg (4.4 lb) rabbit, that is one or two thin strips of pepper, about the length of your finger. Because the RWAF says bell pepper should be occasional rather than regular, we would offer it once or twice a week, in place of other vegetables that day rather than in addition to them.
Which colour is best?
| Pepper | Verdict | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Green bell pepper | Yes, best choice | Least sweet; preferred by the RWAF |
| Red, yellow, orange bell pepper | Yes, smaller portions | Riper and sweeter |
| Sweet pointed (romano) pepper | Yes, as bell pepper | A sweet pepper, treat it the same way |
| Chilli, jalapeño, scotch bonnet | No | On RSPCA and RWAF avoid lists |
| Cooked, roasted, stuffed, pickled | No | Oil, salt, vinegar or other fillings |
How to prepare peppers
- Wash the pepper. Rinse under cold water to remove any spray.
- Remove the stalk, seeds and pith. Cut it open and scrape out the seeds and white ribs, as the RWAF advises.
- Slice into strips. Cut one or two thin strips and keep the rest in the fridge for later in the week.
- Start with one strip. PDSA advises bringing in new foods gradually. Check droppings the next day.
Who should skip peppers?
Babies under 12 weeks should not have vegetables yet. For rabbits with soft droppings or a sensitive stomach, leave peppers out until droppings are normal, and stick to hay and a few leafy greens.
Other crunchy vegetables to rotate
Swap between peppers, cucumber and courgette (zucchini). Ripe tomato flesh is an occasional extra. Our rabbit safe food list has the full range, and our rabbit care guide covers the rest.
Peppers and rabbits: questions
Can rabbits eat pepper seeds?
No. The Rabbit Welfare Association says to feed only the flesh of bell peppers, with the stalk, seeds and white pith removed. The seeds are easy to scrape out with a teaspoon before you cut the pepper into strips.
Can rabbits eat red, yellow and orange peppers?
Yes, all colours of sweet bell pepper are safe, and PDSA lists red, yellow and green. The RWAF prefers green because riper red, yellow and orange peppers are sweeter. Rabbit.org lists bell peppers among the higher-sugar vegetables to feed sparingly, so keep portions small whatever the colour.
Can rabbits eat chillies or jalapeños?
No. The RSPCA and the Rabbit Welfare Association both list chilli peppers as a food to avoid. Jalapeños, scotch bonnets and other hot peppers are all chillies. If your rabbit ate some, offer hay and water and ring your vet if it stops eating, drools or seems in pain.
Can rabbits eat pepper leaves or the plant?
We would not. Peppers belong to the nightshade family, and the RWAF lists the leaves and stems of tomato and potato, close relatives, as foods to avoid. No good source clears pepper plant leaves, so keep rabbits away from the plants and feed only the flesh of the pepper itself.
