Can Rabbits Eat Peas, Its Leaves, and Pods?

Green peas are healthy and nutritious. They have nutrients including carbs, sugars, proteins, vitamin A, K, C, thiamine, manganese, iron, phosphorous, and polyphenol antioxidants.

With all these nutrients, it is obvious they have many benefits which include their support for blood sugar control, they are a good source of antioxidants, they may protect you from some chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes among others.

While preparing them, you might be tempted to give a few to your bunnies to nibble or even their pods. Are they safe or not?

Do rabbits eat peas?

Yes. Rabbits can eat peas, but they must be fresh and still green. They are safe for your furry friend. However, avoid giving them dried ones as the latter can cause intestinal blockages.

Before you start feeding them with a lot of peas, their leaves, and pods, let us investigate their effects in detail.

To begin with, Rabbit.org, notes that these grains are one possible cause of GI problems, i.e., “foods that are notorious for causing rabbit GI problems when fed improperly are grains of any kind and legumes (beans, peas, etc.).” Therefore, you must ensure you feed them in small quantities.

Also, they have a high amount of starch and sugars, and they are likely to affect the cecum pH and throwing it off balance.

With this insight, it is wise to conclude that bunnies should be given green peas sparingly as occasional treats. Do not provide them with a lot of these legumes. We recommend not more than a teaspoon per two pounds of your bunny weight occasionally.

You can also give them as Wabbitwiki.com states “Chinese pea pods (the flat kind without large peas).” However, do not forget that bunnies are naturally herbivorous grazers, which depend on high fiber hay such as Small Pet Select 2nd Cutting "Perfect Blend" Timothy Hay Pet Food. Too much protein may not do them a lot of good.  

Can rabbits eat pea plant (leaves and pods)?

As already hinted, the answer is Yes. They can eat them. Garderners.com notes that you should protect your garden from “crop that you know rabbits can't resist such as peas and beans.” Therefore, it goes without saying that bunnies will love to nibble some pea leaves, shoot or even their pods.

You can feed your bunnies on legume hay of which peas is one of them with the others being peanuts, clovers, and alfalfa. Being high in proteins and calcium content, they will be beneficial to growing, underweight and lactating bunnies.

However, as vetwes.com.au warns, “alfalfa (and clover, peas, beans or peanut) is not recommended” unless your bunnies are growing, underweight or nursing. Instead, grassy hays are recommended as it has lower proteins and calcium.  

Note that, as in the case of any other fresh food, these legumes should be introduced in small amounts as you watch how the tummy of your bunnies is going to react to them. Check their dropping after a day to be sure they are not causing any adverse effects.

Conclusion

Give your furry friends these grains as an occasional treat. To ensure optimum health and a healthy gut, stick to the recommended diets for bunnies.

Also, do not forget to give your rabbits an unlimited amount of clean, freshwater. Using bunny water bottles or automated rabbit waterers is an excellent way of ensuring they have a constant supply of water.