Chamomile is well known for its natural relaxing and soothing properties, as well as being a natural anti-inflammatory.
If you’ve been wondering ‘Can Bunnies Eat Chamomile?’, we at Hobby Farm Heaven are here to answer all your questions.
Yes, mature rabbits can eat chamomile as an infrequent treat.
This herb and its variations are nontoxic to your bunnies and, if offered in moderation, can support their health and happiness. However, there are a number of best practices to follow regarding offering your rabbits chamomile that we will cover below.
Read On To Have All Your Questions Answered About Chamomile For Rabbits
Nutritional Benefits of Chamomile for Bunnies
There are two popular variations of Chamomile: German Chamomile and Roman Chamomile. Both originated from Europe and have been used for years to treat a number of ailments, including:
- Mouth Pain
- Gastrointestinal Issues
- Small Wounds
- General Stress
- Insomnia
Why can this herb offer such a range of benefits?
Because it is packed with an impressive 28 terpenoids and 36 flavonoids. These are pharmacologically active compounds that can be used by bodily systems to address illnesses and ailments.
| Compound Within Chamomile | Benefit |
| α-bisabolol | Antimicrobial and antiseptic |
| cyclic ethers | Antimicrobial |
| chamazulene | Antiseptic |
| umbelliferone | Antifungal |
Is Chamomile Good for Rabbits
Without a doubt, chamomile is chock full of natural compounds that can greatly support the health and growth of mature rabbits.
However, chamomile does not offer much raw nutritional value to bunnies. It is not a good source of fiber, calories, or protein.
Is Chamomile Safe For Rabbits
Yes, chamomile is a rabbit-safe herb. Both variations, German Chamomile and Roman Chamomile, can be offered in moderation to mature rabbits without negative effects.
Is Chamomile Bad For Rabbits
Chamomile poses a health risk for rabbits when eaten in excess. Your bunnies require a high-fiber diet in order to remain healthy, which chamomile cannot provide.
If chamomile is eaten too often, it can send your rabbit’s stomach and digestive system into imbalance.
How Much Chamomile Can Rabbits Eat
The best daily diet of a mature rabbit consists of the following:
- Unlimited hay (75% to 80% hay)
- Quality pellets (10% to 15%)
- Leafy green vegetables (5% to 10%)
Unlimited hay makes up the majority of rabbits’ diet because it offers the high fibers that rabbits’ specialized digestive and metabolic systems require to function properly. That said, herbs such as chamomile are great natural supplements.
We practice offering 2-3 stems of chamomile to our mature rabbits on any given day and they have never shown negative effects.
How Often Can Rabbits Have Chamomile
Mature rabbits can enjoy chamomile as often as everyday, as long as this herb doesn’t make up more than 5-10% of their diet.
How to Feed Chamomile To Rabbits
Follow these steps when preparing chamomile for your mature rabbits:
- Choose only green chamomile. Avoiding wilted, yellowed, or insect eaten plants.
- Inspect the chamomile well to remove any insects or slugs.
- Wash the chamomile well with cool water, removing any residual dirt and potential pesticides.
To feed chamomile to your rabbits:
- Place a bit of washed chamomile into a clean bowl.
- Place this bowl in the hutch or house of your rabbit.
- Allow your rabbit to enjoy the nutritious herb.
- Be sure to remove the feeding bowl and any excess chamomile later in the day.
You can also mix chamomile in with the unlimited hay that your rabbits enjoy daily. This method allows your bunnies to appreciate the benefits of chamomile while ensuring they’re ingesting high fibers.
What Type of Chamomile Can Rabbits Eat?
Can Rabbits Eat Fresh Chamomile
Yes, mature rabbits can enjoy fresh chamomile leaves, stems, and flowers.
Can Rabbits Eat Dried Chamomile
While rabbits CAN eat dried chamomile, it may be harder for your bunnies to munch on dried leaves, stems, and flowers. However, if it is dried correctly, dried chamomile can be a great addition to the hay your rabbits enjoy daily.
Can Rabbits Eat Chamomile Tea Bags
Offering bunnies the dry contents of an unused chamomile tea bag is okay.
This is because chamomile tea is made with properly dried chamomile flowers and leaves and is safe for your rabbits to ingest. However, be sure to remove the plastic or paper bag before offering these dry herbs to your bunnies and never offer the wet, steeped contents of a used chamomile tea bag to your rabbits.
Can Rabbits Have Chamomile Tea
Rabbits can ingest chamomile tea and experience the benefits of chamomile if it is first cooled and then diluted into their daily drinking water.
Can Rabbits Have Chamomile Oil
Yes, mature rabbits can have chamomile oil. Although most herbal oils will aggravate a rabbit’s sensitive digestive system, chamomile oil in moderation is beneficial.
You can experiment with very small amounts of chamomile oil for your bunnies to treat microbial and other issues. Check out this research article for more information.
Can Rabbits Have Chamomile: Concerns and Risks
Parasites
It is important to inspect fresh chamomile plants and remove any bugs, slugs, or insect eggs before offering them to your rabbits.
Pesticides
Unless you’re harvesting from your own pesticide-free garden, wash fresh chamomile well in cool water to remove any residuals that could harm your bunny.
Over Ripened Chamomile
Over ripened chamomile refers to plants that are starting to wilt, yellow in color, or are wet and rotted. Over ripened chamomile can cause illness by introducing foreign bacteria to your rabbit’s gut.
Over Feeding Rabbits To Chamomile
If you offer your rabbit chamomile in excess they can experience stomach bacteria imbalance, potential digestive tract blockages, and diarrhea.
This is because chamomile cannot provide the high fiber that rabbits require and therefore should not be offered as a primary food. If your rabbit is experiencing these symptoms, simply stop offering your rabbit chamomile and move to unlimited hay and high quality pellets until your rabbit is eating and defecating normally.
Can Baby Rabbits Eat Chamomile?
No, never feed baby rabbits chamomile.
While this herb offers incredible health benefits to mature rabbits, it poses a threat to immature rabbits (less than 12 weeks old).
Baby rabbits have yet to fully develop their stomachs and digestive systems, therefore, these systems are extremely sensitive and cannot properly digest complex greens.
To save your baby rabbits serious health issues, wait until they reach 12 weeks before offering them chamomile.
Great Video about Chamomile by very popular homestead couple Doug and Stacy!
Frequently Asked Questions Related To Can Rabbits Have Chamomile
What Does Chamomile Do For Rabbits?
When it comes to the benefits of chamomile for rabbits, there is a large number, including:
- Gastrointestinal support
- Stress relief
- Natural anti bacterial, anti fungal, and antimicrobial
- Natural anti inflammatory
Is German Chamomile Rabbit Resistant?
German Chamomile doesn’t attract all rabbits, although most find the scent and flavor delicious. This plant is an annual that may not be able to recover if nibbled on too much by rabbits.
Will Wild Rabbits Eat Chamomile?
Yes, wild rabbits enjoy nibbling on any chamomile they come across.
Final Thoughts on Can Rabbits Eat Chamomile?
Chamomile, like other greens such as Lemon Balm and Mint, is a safe and beneficial herb to offer mature bunnies.
Remember to follow the best practice of keeping this herb treat to 5-10% of your rabbits’ total food intake.
In addition, always inspect and wash fresh chamomile well and choose only good quality, dried chamomile to offer your bunnies. This ensures your rabbits eat a dirt and insect free treat.
Finally, avoid offering chamomile to baby or immature rabbits as their digestive systems cannot yet digest this green herb properly.
Here at Hobby Farm Heaven we believe in the natural benefits of herbs. We do our best to practice “the herb of the week” plan.
What is The Herb of the Week plan?
The herb of the week plan is where we feed a different herb to our rabbits each week.
How do we do this? Most often we mix a few sprigs of the Herb of the Week in with the rabbits’ hay, whenever we feed hay. This is easy and hassle free.
Want to know more about the benefits of feeding herbs to your rabbits?
Go to this post: Herbs That Rabbits Can Eat