Food safety
Can Rabbits Eat Bell Peppers? Yes, a Small Slice at a Time
Yes, rabbits can eat bell peppers. VCA Animal Hospitals includes green peppers among good vegetables for rabbits, and the House Rabbit Society lists bell peppers as a safe non-leafy vegetable. The Society also flags them, with carrots, beets and squash, as higher in sugar than leafy greens, so they belong in the small non-leafy share of the bowl rather than the bulk of it. A thin strip or two, seeds and stem removed, a few times a week is a good serving for an adult rabbit.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 13, 20264 min read4 sources
Why bell peppers are safe for rabbits
The House Rabbit Society lists bell peppers among its safe non-leafy vegetables, and VCA's bunny care guide names green peppers with basil, kohlrabi, beet greens, broccoli and Brussels sprouts as good choices. Raw, washed pepper flesh is a crunchy addition most rabbits will try.
The base of the diet does not change. The House Rabbit Society puts hay at about 85% of an adult rabbit's diet, and VCA says grass hay such as timothy, orchard or brome should always be available.
The sugar note
The House Rabbit Society groups bell peppers with carrots, beets, parsnip and squash as vegetables high in sugars. That does not make them a problem in a small portion, but it does mean they work best as a minor part of the vegetables rather than a daily handful.
Sweeter red, orange and yellow peppers are riper than green ones. Since VCA names green peppers specifically, a green strip is a sensible default, with other colors offered now and then.
How to prepare bell pepper
Wash the pepper, cut off the stem, and remove the seed core and white pith. Slice the flesh into thin strips about the width of a pencil, which are easy for a rabbit to hold and chew. Serve it raw.
Skip hot peppers, pickled peppers, roasted peppers in oil and stuffed peppers, which are different foods entirely. The House Rabbit Society says never to serve spoiled vegetables, so use peppers that are firm and fresh.
Hiding a small piece of a safe food around a small animal playpen lets a rabbit forage, and an outdoor rabbit hutch needs the same daily check for uneaten fresh food.
How much bell pepper to give
The House Rabbit Society suggests about a tablespoon of non-leafy vegetables for every two pounds of rabbit each day, with leafy greens making up most of the bowl. For an average adult rabbit, one or two thin strips of pepper fits that share.
Rotate bell pepper with lower-sugar non-leafy vegetables such as broccoli and Brussels sprouts, rather than serving it every day, and skip it on days your rabbit has had fruit or carrot.
Bell pepper for baby rabbits
The House Rabbit Society advises starting vegetables only after about 12 weeks of age, one at a time and in amounts under half an ounce, waiting 24 hours before the next. A sweeter vegetable like pepper is better added once a young rabbit is eating several leafy greens.
Offer a sliver first and watch the droppings. The Merck Veterinary Manual warns that low-fiber diets raise the risk of severe digestive illness, especially in young rabbits, so unlimited hay always comes first.
Signs of upset and when to call a vet
Soft or sticky droppings, gas or a rabbit that eats less after a new vegetable are signs to stop it and return to hay and familiar greens. The House Rabbit Society advises dropping any vegetable that causes soft stools or gas.
The Merck Veterinary Manual says to seek veterinary care promptly if a rabbit stops eating or shows digestive upset, and warns GI stasis can become life-threatening without treatment. A hunched rabbit that refuses food or passes no droppings needs a vet who treats rabbits the same day.
Other vegetables to rotate with pepper
VCA lists romaine lettuce, bok choy, mustard greens, carrot tops, cilantro, watercress, endive, radicchio and squash among good vegetables for rabbits. The House Rabbit Society adds asparagus, celery and cauliflower to its safe non-leafy vegetables.
Keep potatoes, onions, garlic, chocolate and iceberg lettuce away from rabbits, as the House Rabbit Society advises, and ask your vet before making large changes to the diet.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.
Common questions
Can rabbits eat bell pepper seeds?
It is best to remove them along with the white core. The House Rabbit Society advises against seeds for rabbits because of their fat, and the flesh is the part worth feeding.
Can rabbits eat red bell peppers?
Yes. The House Rabbit Society lists bell peppers as safe, though high in sugar. Red peppers are riper and sweeter than green, so keep the strip thin and offer it now and then rather than daily.
Can rabbits eat bell peppers every day?
It is better to rotate them. The House Rabbit Society notes bell peppers are higher in sugar, so give a thin strip a few times a week and lean on leafy greens for the daily bowl.
Can rabbits eat the stem or leaves of a pepper plant?
Feed only the washed flesh of the pepper. Neither the House Rabbit Society nor VCA lists pepper stems or plant leaves as rabbit foods, so leave them out.
Can rabbits eat jalapeños or hot peppers?
No. Hot peppers are not bell peppers and are not on any rabbit food list from the House Rabbit Society or VCA. Stick to sweet bell peppers, washed and sliced thin.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
