Are you giving your rabbit herbs? Did you know that herbs fit so perfectly into a rabbit’s diet that they can be given every day? They have many vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and even some anti-inflammatory compounds. They also have strong unique flavors that rabbits love.
Herbs are the fresh version of spices and a nice mix of herbs makes an excellent recipe for a rabbit’s salad! Dried herbs and Herbal Blends are great for sprinkling on their hay pile and encouraging foraging.
Today we’ll lay out the best herbs for rabbits and how to introduce them to your bun. But first, let’s talk about why herbs should not be forgotten!
The Benefits Of Herbs For Rabbits
We know rabbits should have leafy greens every day. About a cup for every two pounds of body weight is recommended. Romaine, kale, carrot tops, etc. are great foods for rabbits (in addition to their unlimited supply of hay).
Herbs contain aromatic oils that are filled with additional nutrients and health benefits that other leafy greens don’t have. Herbs are the spices of the rabbit world and they bring a lot of antioxidants with them!
Digestive Health
Herbs have a lot of phytochemicals that help stabilize digestion. They’re very low in sugar and high in fiber which as we rabbit parents know, is exactly what our pet’s stomachs love.
Immune Support
Phytochemicals are compounds created by plants to help them ward off illness; they are essentially the plant’s immune system. These compounds help boost your rabbit’s (and your) immune system as well.
This helps them fight illness and keep away infections. All things we love for a long binkie-filled life.
Stress Reduction
The various essential oils found in herbs can also help calm the nervous system. Chamomile, lavender, and lemon balm are three calming herbs, all of which can be found in this Herbal Blend. We will talk more about dried herbs and their uses soon!
Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Anything that is good for the gut and digestive system will be anti-inflammatory. Some herbs help soothe the digestive system when it’s inflamed.
Antispasmodic means something helps with muscle spasms and many herbs do just this. Basil, dill, and tarragon are all good at calming the digestive system and reducing inflammation.
Antioxidant Effects
Herbs are loaded with antioxidants. Antioxidants work to eliminate free radicals and reduce oxidants. This means they help stop/reverse damage in the body.
An antioxidant is a molecule that can give an electron to a free radical and neutralize it. This reduces its ability to cause damage! Antioxidants delay cellular damage by searching the body for free radicals.
Consuming herbs is like sending little soldiers into your body to knock out the bad guys! The more antioxidants in your and your rabbit’s diet the better.
Safe Herbs for Rabbits
It’s time to get snacking! So let’s look at which herbs to add to the shopping list to try with your bun.
Fresh Herbs
Fresh herbs are something humans and rabbits can enjoy together. Herbs can have strong smells! Some rabbits may be turned off by the smell of certain herbs so you need to try different plants to find their favorites.
Common Herbs
- parsley
- basil
- mint
- cilantro
- dill
- rosemary
- oregano
- sage
- thyme
- fennel
Edible Flowers
- dandelion
- chamomile
- marigold
- hibiscus
- lavender
- rose flowers
A lot of the common herbs you may buy for your own meals regularly. Edible flowers are not as popular at the grocery store and for those you may want to look at dried Herbal Blends.
Here’s a closer look at some popular herbs and why they are great for rabbits! These next herbs are all generally easy to find at the grocery store.
Parsley
Parsley is a milder herb and is often used as a garnish for looks on human dishes. If your bun is picky (and turned off by very strong smells) then parsley might hit the spot. Parsley is excellent for the immune system and digestive system.
Basil
Basil is a favorite among humans. If you love pesto, then you love basil! Basil contains caffeic acid and salicylic acid which have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. These can help prevent infections in rabbits and promote healthy fur and skin!
Cilantro
Salsa anyone? Cilantro is used in the humans’ Mexican dishes! Cilantro has a strong smell which can draw many rabbits to it. I know humans are often split on whether or not they like cilantro but for the buns, it’s usually a winner.
Cilantro has many phytochemicals that can help with digestion and immune function!
Thyme
Thyme is often used to season meats and soups in the human world. It has a cozy comforting flavor if you ask me! Thyme contains caffeic acid and luteolin which are antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. Thyme can also help prevent cardiovascular diseases as it can have a blood-thinning effect.
Dill
Dill is great for helping with digestive mobility. That means it helps move everything along your rabbit’s digestive system. Rabbits eat a lot! This is great as long as everything stays moving through their system in a healthy manner.
Humans often use dill in Greek food, dill pickles, and potato salad!
Rosemary
Rosemary is often used in human stews and holiday dishes! It contains rosmarinic acid which is also anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. It can help give your bun’s immune system a boost and help prevent infections.
Although it’s fun to point out the human dishes we enjoy these herbs in, make sure you never give your rabbit any cooked food and keep your human food to yourself - unless you’re munching on plain herbs!
Herbal Blends
Herbal Blends are a lot of fun. Small Pet Select creates blends with dried herbs and flowers in different varieties. Some have dried berries too! It’s the perfect product to promote foraging and to get your rabbit searching for new snacks.
I’m not sure if it needs to be credited.
This helps keep their mind and their body at work. Wild rabbits spend their days foraging through different plants, tastes, and textures. Finding their favorites is an exciting part of their day!
Herbs and Herbal Blends help bring something new to their usual day-to-day exploring and keep their noses at work!
When it comes to dried herbs, it’s best to only add them to their hay or food dishes when you know they like it. The strong smells are loved by some rabbits and less so by others. You don’t want to add something to a rabbit’s hay pile that could make them eat less. Get to know your bun!
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How Much Herbs Can Rabbits Have? Herbs are an exciting treat for many buns but that doesn’t mean they need to be given sparingly the way other treats like fruits are given.
When it comes to making new additions to your rabbit's diet, the question you need to ask yourself is, does my rabbit eat a lot of hay? If a rabbit’s main source of food is firmly planted in the hay category then adding other foods isn’t a problem (as long as there isn’t a shift away from hay).
And if those other foods are healthy choices of course!
Portion Sizes and Frequency As mentioned, fresh herbs can be added to your rabbit's daily leafy greens portions. Or they can make up the daily leafy greens portion! Again, a cup of leafy greens per 2 pounds of body weight is recommended.
Dried herbs will look much smaller but don’t worry they carry a lot of the nutrients of the fresh herbs! Dried herbs will be more of a topping sprinkled on their hay pile or small pieces left around their enclosure to encourage foraging.
Introducing New Herbs To Your Rabbit’s Routine When it comes to adding any food to your rabbit’s diet, it needs to be done slowly. That means, no big changes at once. Don’t slide them a bowl of nothing but basil if they’ve never had basil before.
Mix a new herb in with the leafy greens that they usually have and watch your rabbit to make sure there isn’t an allergic reaction or any digestive issues.
Only introduce one new food at a time so you can nail down exactly what caused the reaction. Wait three days in between trying new foods.
Signs a food doesn’t agree with your rabbit:
- bloated stomach
- constipation
- diarrhea
- low appetite
- small or malformed stool
If you ever notice your rabbit not feeling well, contact an exotic vet as soon as possible so they can weigh in on if there’s a serious problem that should be addressed with treatment.
It’s also a good idea to rotate the favorite foods that your rabbit does have! If they love basil, don't be tempted to give them basil every day. That way they don’t get too much of any one nutrient. Herbs and leafy greens are a great place to get variety!
You Can Grow Your Own Herbs For Rabbits
Depending on where you live, growing your own herbs can be easy! If you don’t have a garden, you can grow herbs easily in pots. You can even grow herbs inside your house!
When you grow your own herbs you have control over pesticides and fertilizers being used so they can be a cleaner option. Homegrown herbs are also often the cheaper option!
Mint will grow quickly and spread so if you don’t want a garden of mint, grow mint in a pot. Just make sure the pot has holes in the bottom to drain.
Tip: Make sure your rabbit likes an herb before you spend time growing it. You might be frustrated growing perfect cilantro just to find out your rabbit doesn’t love it. Although it’s a nice opportunity to get into salsa making.
Herbs To Avoid
There are some plants that are toxic to rabbits that need to be avoided. Also, it's generally not a good idea to collect wild plants for your rabbits unless you’re absolutely sure of what it is and whether it has pesticides on it.
Onions and garlic are both toxic to rabbits so don’t try and spice up your bun’s life with those common plants.
Other Herbs To Avoid
- agave leaves
- aloe
- amaryllis
- bloodroot
- bluebonnet
- blue-green algae
- buttercup
- belladonna
- eucalyptus
- hemlock
- holly
- jasmine
- lily of the valley
- milkweed
- mistletoe
- nutmeg
- poppy
- ragwort
Anytime you’re unsure about a plant for your rabbit then say no or you can always ask your rabbit-savvy veterinarian for advice on feeding your rabbit.
More Herbs Please!
Herbs are a great addition to your rabbit's routine. The best way to add variety is with fiber-rich flavor. Herbs help you provide something exciting without the sugar punch that often comes when you try to treat your rabbit or get them excited about food.
Just make sure you’re only giving rabbit-safe herbs and you’re keeping your rabbit’s diet focused on low-fat, low-calcium hay as their main source of nutrition.
Now, go spice things up!
