Can Rabbits Eat Carrots?
This page contains affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post through our independently chosen links, which earn us a commission. Learn More
You might think that carrots are the perfect food for rabbits but as it happens, cartoonists and pop culture have gotten it wrong!
Even though Bugs Bunny eats carrots by the bushel while playing tricks on Elmer Fudd, your rabbit shouldn’t eat many carrots at all.
So, are carrots safe for rabbits? If so, how much carrot can a rabbit eat? The quick answer to this last question is “not much.” Carrots aren’t technically bad for your bunny but you do want to be very careful about how much you offer, and how often.
Keep reading for all the facts about carrots for rabbits.
Carrot Nutrition Stats
Good news: Carrots are a great source of beta carotene and other important nutrients, and they are really good for you, even though your rabbit needs to eat them in careful moderation.
1 cup of raw, chopped carrots offers approximately:
- 52 calories
- 3 g carbohydrates
- 6 g fiber
- 2 g protein
Carrot Nutritional Facts
If you eat an entire cup of chopped carrots, you’ve just treated yourself to more than 400 percent of the recommended daily intake of vitamin A. Of course, rabbits can’t eat nearly so many carrots as you can, but if they did, that same one-cup serving of chopped carrots would provide about:
- 6 mg vitamin C
- 21383 iu vitamin A
- 410 mg potassium
- 42 mg calcium
- 4 mg magnesium
- 4 mg iron
- 3 mcg folate
- 8 mg vitamin E
- 9 mcg vitamin K
- 8 mg phosphorus
Can Rabbits Have Carrot?
Yes, but you’ll have to take a careful approach to feeding carrot to your bunny rabbit.
Is Carrot Good For Rabbits?
Just because we can eat something doesn’t mean that it’s good for us – particularly in large amounts, and the same logic applies to the conundrum of carrots for rabbits. Your bunny can certainly benefit from the vitamins carrots contain, but you definitely don’t want to offer too much carrot at once or feed it to your bunny too often.
Do rabbits like carrot?
Yes! Rabbits love carrots. They enjoy the texture and the flavor, and they tend to be fairly excited when you offer a bit of carrot as a special treat.
Don’t give in if your bunny begs for more carrot than the recommended amount though – too much can cause trouble.
How Much Carrot Can A Rabbit Eat?
Your rabbit is hoping for a generous serving of carrot but we’re about to rain on their parade.
Here’s how much carrot a to feed your rabbit:
| Age | Amount |
| Baby rabbit | None |
| Adult rabbit | 2 inch section of carrot |
Before you hop over to the fridge and fetch a delicious carrot for your bunny, stop to consider whether they’ve tried this treat before. If your rabbit is already accustomed to carrots and you’re simply here to learn more, feel free to give them the full amount.
If your rabbit has never had carrot, start by offering a smaller amount – about a one-inch section of carrot is plenty. Since the sugar and starch in carrot can lead to an upset tummy and cause diarrhea, it’s really important not to feed too much carrot to your rabbit.
After they’ve finished their treat, watch for signs of indigestion and diarrhea over the next 24 hours. So long as everything is normal, you can give them the full amount next time.
How Often Can A Rabbit Eat Carrot?
Because the starch and sugar in carrots can lead to trouble if overconsumed, it’s important to take a very conservative approach to giving a rabbit carrots. These yummy root veggies should be an occasional treat, offered no more than once or twice per week, and not on the same day that you offer other sweet treats such as strawberry or apple.
The Correct Diet Is Important
Grasses and other low-growing plants make up the majority of a wild rabbit’s diet and they’ll happily chew on root vegetables when they have the opportunity.
At the same time, carrots and other sweets aren’t a big part of a wild bunny’s menu – and this means that they shouldn’t be given to your rabbit too often, either. A pet rabbit’s diet should be as close to a wild rabbit’s natural diet as possible.
Here’s what to feed your rabbit every day for good health:
- Rabbit food – Choose a nutritionally complete rabbit food and check the package to make sure that you’re offering the correct serving size.
- Fresh hay – Even though your rabbit can survive on high-fiber rabbit pellets, they’ll appreciate fresh Timothy, oat, or orchard hay and it really should be available round the clock. Nibbling fresh hay keeps your rabbit’s digestive system running smoothly and it helps prevent overgrown teeth, too.
- Clean, fresh water – Your rabbit needs to stay hydrated so keep fresh water available at all times. Be sure to rinse and refill your bunny’s drinking bottle every day.
- About one cup of leafy green veggies per two pounds of body weight, plus a few crunchy veggies.
- Approximately one tablespoon of seeds unless your rabbit’s food already contains them. Pumpkin seeds, pepitas, and sunflower seeds (all without added salt) are good choices.
- All-natural treats including vegetables and just a little bit of fruit. Offer small amounts of fruit – no more than about a teaspoon of fruit per two pounds of your rabbit’s body weight.
Chewable rabbit toys, coconut shell, hay cubes, untreated softwood branches, and unbleached loofah can help keep your rabbit’s teeth from becoming overgrown. Your rabbit should always have something good to chew on.
What Are Other Healthy Alternatives To Carrot In A Rabbit’s Diet?
Even though your rabbit’s hopes of nibbling an endless amount of carrots have been dashed to the ground, there are still plenty of great snacks to enjoy on a regular basis.
Let your bunny try some of these rabbit-approved veggies on for size:
- basil
- beets
- beet tops
- romaine
- kale
- basil
- butter lettuce
- rocket
- spinach
- endive
- escarole
- swiss chard
- buttercrunch lettuce
- arugula
- celery
- cucumber
- parsnip
- tomato
- bibb lettuce
- green beans
- pumpkin
- summer squash
- winter squash
- zucchini
- watercress
- bell pepper
- broccoli
- broccolini
Rabbits love all kinds of vegetables and this list is just the tip of the iceberg. Since some foods are toxic to rabbits and many need to be enjoyed in moderation, it’s really important to spend a few minutes researching new foods before you give them to your bunny rabbit.
For now, giving your rabbit carrot (just a little and not all that often!) is a fun way to show affection while treating your furry friend to something extra-tasty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is carrot safe for rabbits?
Yes, but only in small amounts.
Can carrot make my rabbit sick?
Too much carrot can make your rabbit sick and if you offer your bunny carrot too often, there’s a risk of dental issues and obesity, not to mention painful digestive trouble.
Can my rabbit eat carrot tops?
Great news! If you buy carrots with their tops still attached, or if you happen to grow carrots in your garden, you can treat your bunny to a nice handful of carrot tops and allow them to nibble to their hearts’ content. Unlike carrots themselves, carrot leaves are a great snack for bunnies!
