Can Rabbits Eat Asparagus? Is it Safe?

At first glance, rabbits seem to have a pretty boring diet. In the wild, it is just grass, grass, grass, and the occasional shoot or other green tidbit. Domestic rabbits get hay non-stop along with some lettuce and other roughage.

Accordingly, you might be surprised to learn that rabbits can actually eat a huge variety of things and get good nutrition from them. You know they must appreciate the break from the usual menu!

However, not every nutritious veggie is safe or good for rabbits, so you’ve got to pick carefully and feed them on the right schedule for safety. How about asparagus? Is it safe for rabbits?

Yes, asparagus is safe for rabbits and is one of their favorite foods. It is highly nutritious and extremely low in sugar and calcium, making it a good, regular choice for supplementing their diet.

Asparagus is actually a really inspired choice for feeding rabbits. They don’t need tons of extra veggies in compared to their usual routine of hay and other greens, but asparagus has a unique nutritional profile. I’ll tell you everything you need to know about incorporating it into their diet below…

Do Rabbits Like Asparagus?

Yes, they really do! Domestic rabbits, at least all the ones I’ve ever known, love asparagus and even in the wild if they can find it, they will prioritize it over their usual diet of grass.

If you want to add asparagus to the diet of your rabbits as a supplement, or save it for giving to them as a treat, they are bound to love it either way.

Is Asparagus a Healthy Food for Rabbits?

Yes, it sure is. Asparagus has a well-deserved reputation as a highly nutritious veggie, and the unique combination of macro and micronutrients makes it especially well-suited for rabbits’ needs.

This plant has a few carbohydrates with roughly equal amounts of sugars and fiber, a little bit of fat, and a decent amount of protein. Virtually ideal!

Look at the vitamin content, we see an awful lot to like, with vitamin A and beta carotene, a good cross-section of the B complex vitamins including B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and folate, choline and vitamins C, E, and K, with vitamin K being especially abundant.

Mineral content is also similarly strong, and asparagus is a great source of iron and manganese backed up by calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc along with just a little bit of sodium.

Together, all of these nutrients will dramatically improve a rabbit’s health over time, including immune system function and circulation, organ function, skin and bone growth, healing, nervous system health, eyesight, and even the quality of their fur.

All great benefits, and all are great reasons to get asparagus into their diet one way or the other.

Can Rabbits Eat Asparagus Tips?

Yes, rabbits can eat asparagus tips, and this is their preferred part of the plant because it is so tender and packed with nutrition.

Can Rabbits Eat Asparagus Stalks?

Yes. Asparagus stalks are also appealing to rabbits, but note that as you get closer to the base it tends to get tougher and woodier- far less attractive to them!

Make it a point to harvest or purchase asparagus when it is very fresh and crisp but still tender, and snap off the woody ends of the stalks for best results.

Is Purple Asparagus Okay for Rabbits?

Yes, it is. Most folks are only familiar with the common grocery store-green variety of asparagus but there are other colors out there. Purple asparagus is one of them, and also totally fine for rabbits.

Is White Asparagus Okay for Rabbits?

Yes. Rarely seen in the United States, white asparagus is another variety that is just fine for rabbits, although if you aren’t growing it yourself you might find it pretty expensive when you can find it!

Should You Cook Asparagus for Rabbits?

No! Rabbits don’t need asparagus cooked in order to consume it and get good nutrition from it. Cooking it is only going to make it soft and mushy and less appealing to rabbits and also seriously degrade the vitamins and minerals it has on offer.

Your rabbits need fresh, raw, clean produce in their diet, not cooked stuff.

Is Canned Asparagus Okay for Rabbits?

No. Canned asparagus is obviously cooked and almost always packed in salty or sugary brine that is sometimes supplemented with various preservatives that are no good at all for rabbits.

Save the stuff for your own pantry, and only feed your bunnies fresh asparagus.

Can Asparagus Cause Problems for Rabbits?

Yes, it can. However, most problems are only likely to arise as a result of overfeeding it, either giving them too much at once or giving it to them too often to the exclusion or detriment of other foods that they need more.

So asparagus is definitely a healthy option for rabbits, but the issue is that it is not nutritionally complete or balanced for them.

As I said above, rabbits should subsist on a diet that is primarily hay and grass, with leafy greens and other vegetables making up a much smaller percentage of their diet.

So long as you give these foods to rabbits in the correct proportions, they’ll be healthy but if you give them too much asparagus and other veggies, they’re going to miss out on fiber and other things they desperately need.

Worse yet, such a diet might disrupt the delicate flora that lives in their gut. These bacteria and other microorganisms are absolutely necessary for rabbits to properly digest food and derive nutrition from it, and when they get out of whack a rabbit’s health will seriously suffer.

Minor upset will rarely result in anything worse than a temporary loss of appetite and loose stools or diarrhea, but severe cases can cause intense gas bloating and other complications which can be fatal, so take this seriously.

I don’t say all of this to scare you, but to remind you that you must stick to the plan when it comes to the diet of your rabbits.

How Often Should Rabbits Eat Asparagus?

When it comes to non-leafy vegetables like asparagus, rabbits can have them 3 to 4 times a week, and eat approximately one tablespoon worth for every 2 pounds of body weight.

To clarify, you should be switching out the veggies that you’re feeding your rabbits. Not just for boredom’s sake, but also to make sure they’re getting plenty of nutrition from different sources and also to prevent issues with their gut.

As an example, if you have a rabbit that weighs 5 pounds you’ll give them 2 ½ tablespoons of veggies. Sometimes that will be asparagus, other times that will be something else.

Or you can give them a mixture of asparagus and other veggies as long as you don’t exceed the recommended amount.

The Best Way to Serve Asparagus to Rabbits

Any asparagus that you give to your rabbits should be thoroughly washed and dried for starters.

After that, snap off the hard, woody parts of the stems and then chop the stem and the head into smaller bits that are easy for them to eat. This will also make it much easier for you to dial in the correct portions.

Then simply serve it to them in a shallow bowl or tray, or in any other feeder that they prefer.

Never Give Rabbits Spoiled Asparagus

Asparagus tends to go bad pretty quickly in storage, and if yours is starting to yellow or turn brown, get slimy or even worse show signs of mold, you musn’t feed it to your rabbits. This is a great way to make them extremely sick!

If you couldn’t tell by now, rabbits have incredibly delicate digestive systems that are very prone to getting disrupted by any number of factors.

Bad, spoiled, or toxic food is a “high probability” factor, so make sure you’re only giving your furry friend the freshest and cleanest produce you can.

Is Asparagus Safe for Bunnies, Too?

Yes, asparagus is safe for bunnies to eat as long as they are 3 months old or older.

It takes a long time for a young bunny’s digestive system to completely develop and stabilize, and they’re even more fragile and vulnerable to being harmed by inappropriate foods at the wrong time compared to adults.

Accordingly, if you’re going to give your bunny a little bit of asparagus, I recommend you only give them a couple of bites as a treat to try and then slowly increase the portions to the recommendation above as they further mature.

If you notice any signs of loose stools or diarrhea, back off or discontinue immediately.