Properly tending to your pet or homestead rabbits means knowing what they can and can’t ingest.
With an almost never ending list of suggested treats and primary foods we know that it can be hard to distinguish just what are safe and unsafe foods for bunnies.
Rabbits should not eat bread. And fortunately, we at Hobby Farm Heaven are here to help explain why food like bread is unsafe for rabbits.
Can Bunnies Eat Bread
Bread is a food made by combining and baking flour, yeast, and water (among other ingredients). As such, and as Healthline states, it is a great source of carbs and calories yet a poor source of fibers, proteins, fats, and other vitamins and minerals.
So, can rabbits eat bread?
Technically your adult rabbit can ingest a bit or bread without grave consciences. However, you should not offer your pet or farmstead rabbits bread as a treat, snack, or primary food item.
Due to their sensitive digestive system and particular symbiotic relationship with gut bacteria, rabbits require a primary diet of plant materials high in fibers and lower in sugars, fats, and proteins.
Is Bread Safe For Rabbits
Bread is not a toxic food for rabbits. This means that a rabbit who accidentally eats a bit of bread will most likely be able to pass it without issues.
However, it is not safe to offer bread regularly to your rabbits!
The high carb nature of bread will quickly cause gut bacteria imbalances and bloating which will lead to serious digestive issues and can even result in deadly GI Stasis.
Rabbits have also evolved to eat raw plant materials, NOT cooked or baked foods. The chemical changes that occur naturally in heated foods make them extremely difficult to digest and therefore dangerous for your rabbits.
This is why oatmeal is not a rabbit-safe food either.
Can Rabbits Have Bread
Some rabbit owners wonder if the type of bread will change the rabbits’ negative reaction to it and/or their ability to digest it.
Can Rabbits Eat Bread Crusts
Bread crusts are simply the outermost surface of the loaf of bread and are usually browned and crunchy.
Bunnies should not eat bread crusts.
Old or stale bread is also never a healthy option for your bunnies.
Many rabbit owners think stale bread may help wear their rabbits’ teeth (which never stop growing!) but a high fiber diet is a much more effective, safe, and natural way to keep your rabbits’ teeth healthy.
For our best guidelines and breakdown of safe and unsafe foods for rabbits, check out What Can Rabbits Eat.
Can Rabbits Eat Wheat Bread
Wheat bread is made with the entire grain fruit of the wheat plant.
For human consumption, this makes it a more nutrient rich bread option higher in fibers and minerals. But for rabbits, wheat bread is still a big no.
Wheat bread’s carb dense and cooked characteristics rule it out as a good bunny food or treat option.
Can Rabbits Eat White Bread
White bread is made with only a part of the wheat grain fruit and is often made with flour that is bleached with chemicals such as benzoyl peroxide or nitrogen peroxide.
It is much lower in fiber, minerals, and nutrients than wheat bread.
We never recommend offering your rabbits white bread as the bleaching and cooking process of white bread can really wreak havoc on your rabbit’s system!
No Bread For Rabbits
But if not bread, what?
Well, if you are looking for a healthy treat option for your rabbit, think of fresh fruits, veggies, and green herbs like parsley for rabbits (remembering that the main diet of your rabbits should consist of high quality hay!).
These treat options are much healthier, support the long term happiness of your bunny, and are most often well within rabbits’ natural diet.
What Happens If A Bunny Eats Bread
If you feed your rabbit bread the following can happen:
- Weight gain
- Stomach blockages
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Bad eating habits
- Weakened immune system
Can Baby Rabbits Eat Bread
Immature rabbits’ digestive systems are even more sensitive than an adult rabbit’s so ingesting just a bit of bread can be very dangerous for them.
Baby rabbits should only be eating mother’s milk and immature rabbits that are weaned can be offered only hay and a few rabbit pellets until they reach 7 months old.
At 7 months, it is safe to start introducing raw plant-based treats and dietary supplements to your newly mature/adult rabbits.
Baby rabbits are more likely to die due to eating bread than a mature rabbit so we highly recommend keeping all bread items far away from baby bunnies!
Frequently Asked Questions Related To Can Bunnies Eat Bread
What Foods Are Poisonous To Rabbit?
There are a number of foods that are poisonous to rabbits including lilies and other plants. To learn more, read our article on poisonous lilies.
Can I Give My Rabbit Toast?
We never recommend offering your rabbit toast or other forms of bread. Any cooked or high carb food is not healthy for rabbits and will quickly cause a number of health issues.
This video covers some other food items that you should never feed your rabbit!
Final Thoughts on Can Rabbits Eat Bread
- Bread is never a good food option for bunnies.
- Rabbits require raw plant materials that are high in fibers (like high quality hay and rabbit pellets).
- Carb and calorie high baked foods such as bread will quickly cause serious stomach upset, weight gain, and other health issues for your bunnies.
- Healthy natural treats like fruits or veggies are okay to incorporate into the diet of your adult rabbit but should never be a main part of their diet.
- Bread is especially dangerous to baby and immature rabbits and should never be given to your bunnies.