Can Rabbits Eat Rosemary

Can Rabbits Eat Rosemary?

Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is a fragrant herb that is a favorite of many farm and homestead gardeners. Its thin green leaves are highly recognizable and used often for their aromatic and flavorful properties. 

Can Rabbits Have Rosemary

Rabbits naturally enjoy many types of leafy greens. You may be wondering ‘Can Bunnies Have Rosemary?’, which is a good question to ask, for rabbits have very delicate digestive systems and feeding them the wrong food can cause serious illnesses.

Yes, mature rabbits can eat rosemary as it is a comestible herb. However, there are a number of best practices to follow while offering your bunnies rosemary. 

Can Rabbits Have Rosemary?
All You Need To Know Before Giving Your Rabbits Rosemary

Do Rabbits Eat Rosemary

Yes, there are many rabbits that eat rosemary. However, just like sage herb, there are about an equal amount that find the strong fragrance and flavor of rosemary less than appetizing and a bit offensive.   

Will Rabbits Eat Rosemary

Whether or not rabbits will eat rosemary depends upon the individual rabbit. No rabbit will munch on a herb, no matter how fresh and green, if they don’t find the smell or taste appealing.

Nutritional Value of Rosemary For Rabbits

Before offering this herb to your bunny, you may be wondering about the nutritional value it offers. According to WebMD, a single spring of rosemary contains

  • 3.9 Calories
  • 0.4g of Fiber 
  • 0.1g of Protein 

While this may not seem impressive, rosemary is packed with phytochemicals which act to support eye and liver function. In addition, rosemary contains the following natural minerals and acids 

Mineral/AcidBenefits
ManganeseMetabolic health; aids in blood clotting 
Carnosic Acid Natural antioxidant 
Rosmarinic AcidNatural antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral 
ThiaminAids in energy generation 
RiboflavinGrowth and development 

Clearly, rosemary offers an impressive list of nutritional benefits and is an ideal herb to offer your mature rabbits! 

Can Rabbits Have Rosemary

Is Rosemary Safe for Rabbits

Yes, rosemary is a rabbit safe herb and can be offered to your mature bunnies to support their long term health and happiness. 

How Much Rosemary Can Rabbit Eat

Before we go into how much rosemary rabbits can eat, lets review the best daily diet that your rabbit can have:

  • Unlimited hay (75% to 80%)
  • Quality pellets (10% to 15%)
  • Leafy green vegetables (5% to 10%)

Why is this the best daily diet for your rabbits? 

Because your rabbits have highly specialized and delicate GI systems filled with gut bacterias that are accustomed to high fiber foods.

Ensuring that high fiber hay and quality pellets are the majority of your rabbit’s diet will support the long term gut (and overall) health of your rabbits! 

That said, it is good to mix in leafy greens to your rabbits’ diet and we do so often. Our rabbits enjoy tender greens and they have benefited from the vitamins and minerals within these plants.

A good rule of thumb is 1-2 sprigs of rosemary for your rabbits at a time.

However, with rosemary’s strong scent and flavor you won’t have to regulate how much rosemary your rabbits eat as they will most likely do that for you! 

How Often Can Rabbit Eat Rosemary

If your mature rabbit likes rosemary it can eat this safe herb as long as rosemary doesn’t make up over 5-10% of its daily diet. If your rabbit eats too much rosemary it can suffer from stomach issues and diarrhea. 

Can Rabbits Eat Rosemary Everyday

Yes, mature rabbits can enjoy a bit of rosemary as often as everyday with no harmful side effects. 

How To Feed Rosemary to Rabbits

Before offering rosemary herb to your rabbits we recommend the following steps:

  • Choose only fresh and green rosemary. Avoid wilted, yellowed, or insect eaten plants. 
  • Inspect the rosemary well to remove any insects or slugs that can cause digestive issues or sickness to your rabbits. 
  • Wash the rosemary well with cool water, removing any residual dirt and potential pesticides.

Once you’ve completed these steps, move forward with the following:

  • Place 1-2 sprigs of washed rosemary into a clean bowl.
  • Place this bowl in the hutch or house of your rabbit. 
  • Allow your rabbit to enjoy the nutritious greens.
  • Be sure to remove the feeding bowl and any excess rosemary later in the day

Don’t worry if your rabbit doesn’t touch the rosemary. Again, this herb has a strong smell and flavor that lots of rabbits don’t find appetizing. 

Another great option is to mix a bit of this herb in with the unlimited hay that your rabbits enjoy daily. This method allows your bunnies to enjoy rosemary while diluting the strong flavor and ensuring that they’re ingesting high fibers. 

Can Rabbits Eat Fresh Rosemary

Yes, mature rabbits can eat fresh rosemary as it is the most nutrient packed form of rosemary for rabbits. 

Rosemary For Rabbits

Can Rabbits Eat Dried Rosemary

We don’t recommend feeding dried rosemary to your rabbits. Dried herbs contain less and/or different nutritional values than fresh herbs and can be more difficult for your rabbit to eat and digest. 

Can Rabbits Eat Rosemary Leaves

Yes, mature rabbits can eat rosemary leaves. While the leaves are thinner than most herbs, they are the most nutritious part of the plant.

Can Rabbits Eat Rosemary Flowers

Yes, mature rabbits can eat rosemary flowers. There is no need to remove flowers before offering rosemary to your rabbits, however be sure to remove any pollinator insects! 

Can Rabbits Eat Rosemary Stems

Yes, mature rabbits can eat rosemary stems. Note that older rosemary stems become woody; only offer tender, green stems and sprigs to your bunny. 

Do Rabbits Eat Rosemary Plants

All parts of the rosemary plant are safe for rabbits to eat. Make sure to inspect and wash rosemary well before offering it to your rabbits. 

Can Rabbits Eat Rosemary Variations?

There are a number of well known rosemary variations including Blue Boy Rosemary, White Rosemary, Arp Rosemary and Hill Hardy Rosemary.

All variations differ in flavor, aroma, and potency and some are more commonly used for landscaping than for ingestion. Nonetheless, all can be safely enjoyed by your mature rabbits. 

Can Rabbits Have Rosemary Oil

Rosemary essential oil is a very concentrated form of rosemary and as such has a strong smell that most of your rabbit will find offensive.

While the oil can safely be used topically or internally with animals to aid with fungal or microbial issues, we do not recommend using rosemary oil with your rabbits before first checking with your local vet. 

Is Rosemary Oil Safe For Rabbits

In small and diluted amounts rosemary oil poses no threat to your rabbits. However, the oil is very strong and can quickly cause digestive issues if used excessively. 

Do Wild Rabbits Eat Rosemary

Many gardeners know that rosemary can discourage wild rabbits from venturing into prized veggies and herbs. This is because wild and domestic rabbits alike often find rosemary too strong for their liking.

Do Bunnies Like Rosemary

While bunnies enjoy leafy greens, they won’t eat anything that doesn’t appeal to them. You may find that your bunny doesn’t eat the rosemary you offer, don’t worry!

Not all bunnies like the strong flavor or scent of rosemary herb. 

Rosemary For Rabbits Hobby Farm

.

Concerns of Feeding Rosemary to Rabbits

Parasites

Herbs sometimes host parasites. Therefore, it is extremely important to inspect rosemary well and remove any bugs, slugs, or insect eggs before offering it to your rabbits. 

Pesticides

Store-bought as well as locally grown rosemary sprigs can contain residual pesticides. Wash rosemary well in cool water before offering it to your bunnies. This helps to remove any residual pesticides that could harm your rabbit. 

Over Ripened Rosemary

Over ripened rosemary refers to rosemary herb that is starting to wilt, yellow in color, or is wet and rotted.

Never give your rabbit over ripened rosemary as it can harbor harmful bacterias and fungi that cause immediate illness. 

Overfeeding Rosemary to Your Rabbits

What happens if you feed your rabbit too much rosemary? 

This low fiber herb can cause stomach upset as it doesn’t support the natural high fiber diet of your bunnies. 

This is why it is important to only offer your rabbits rosemary as a treat and/or dietary supplement. If not, your rabbit can suffer from stomach bloating, upset, and constipation.

Can Baby Rabbits Eat Rosemary

No, we never recommend feeding your baby rabbits rosemary.

All rabbits that have yet to reach 12 weeks of age are still in a highly developmental stage.

These immature rabbits have stomachs and digestive systems that are extremely sensitive and offering them an herb such as rosemary can result in a number of health issues. Wait until your rabbit reaches 12 weeks of age and, even then, only offer a small sprig of rosemary to start.

.

What Does Rosemary Do For Rabbits?

If your rabbit enjoys rosemary it can boost its health in many ways including

  • Supporting metabolism 
  • Acting as a natural antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral
  • Providing your rabbit with natural antioxidants

Does Rosemary Keep Rabbits Away?

Yes, rosemary is among the small number of herbs that can deter rabbits.

Another herb that deters most rabbits is Basil.   

Will Rosemary Give My Rabbit Diarrhea?

Rosemary can cause your rabbit diarrhea, but only if you are offering too much of this herb to your bunny. If you feed your rabbits a high fiber diet of unlimited hay and offer rosemary as a tasty supplement they won’t experience diarrhea. 

Final Thoughts On Do Rabbits Eat Rosemary

Rosemary is a rabbit safe herb that can offer your farm, homestead, or pet rabbits beneficial vitamins and minerals. And don’t be worried if your bunny doesn’t eat rosemary; not all rabbits like it!

However, if your rabbit does like to nibble rosemary, follow the best practice of keeping it within 5-10% of your rabbits’ total food intake. Stop offering your rabbit rosemary if it begins to show abnormal health signs. 

Finally, always remember to inspect and wash fresh rosemary well and avoid offering rosemary to baby or immature rabbits as their digestive systems cannot yet handle this potent herb. 

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

Scroll to Top