Our friend rabbits are one of the most sensitive creatures and cannot eat everything present. He has a specific diet and can feed only on the selected diet. Therefore, many people are worried about their food and diet and this blog will explore the relationship between rosemary and bunnies.
Can rabbits eat rosemary, the answer is yes because these herbs are non-toxic and do not cause any health issues to the rabbits. However, the large amount of rosemary can be problematic to the rabbits due to its low nutritional value. Read the blog to understand why rosemary is just a treat and not a regular rabbit food item.
What is rosemary?
Rosemary is a type of herb and its flowers are part of many households. It is used in salad and for cooking. Some also use it to flavor the food and as an additive in many things.
As it is present in every household, it is understandable that rabbits can eat this as food and you can also give a little amount of it to the rabbits. Many people try to feed the rosemaries even if the rabbit does not like it. It is recommended to not feed anything that the rabbit does not like.
What are the benefits of Rosemary to the Rabbits?
Rosemary has many benefits to the bunnies and can be beneficial in many sense
Antioxidant: Rosemary is an ancient herb and it is widely used as a herb. Indian Vedic has also mentioned it as a healthy medicine. The rosemary flower can be added to the rabbit food and it can serve as a medicine to the rabbit diet. Rabbits can consume rosemary as an anti-oxidant. It helps in the immunity of the rabbit and boosts the germ-fighting powers of rabbits.
Digestive booster: Rosemary is excellent for the stomach and intestinal movements. They can help in the easy movement of food. Rosemary leaves and stems are the perfect cleaner for the stomach
Vitamin: Rosemary has a strong vitamin base and it is rich in vitamins A, C, and k. Its consumption can improve the vitamin intake and presence in the bunnies. Thus, consumption of the Rosemary can help boost the vitamins.
Minerals rich stems
Rosemary is rich in minerals as they contain potassium, nitrogen ad magnesiu,m. Besides, these minerals are highly digested and easily assimilated into the bloodstream. These mineral not only helps the bone but also have positive impact on the eyes and other body part. Some minerals can improve the vision.
Note: the excess of these minerals is dangerous, therefore, feed only a minimum amount of the rosemaries to the rabbits.
Heart diseases and Cancer: Rosemary is perfect for the health of the heart. It helps in disease management and cardiovascular movement. It thickens the blood stream which is healthy for heart disease.
Furthermore, it also helps ie fighting the tumor and the movement of blood in vascular streams. Therefore, most of the tumors are neutralized by the rosemary. The removal of tumors decreases the cancerous cells in the blood. Thus, rosemary is good against cancer cells.
Disadvantages of Rosemary: Why Rosemary is bad for Rabbit
Not a regular diet
Rosemary is not a regular diet for the bunnies. Rosemary and hay can be a good mixture for the rabbits but giving rosemary in large amounts is not beneficial for the rabbits
Can be dangerous for the stomach
Rosemary can be dangerous for rabbits if given as a regular diet because of its easy digestion. It can lead to watery and loose stool movement which is bad. In some cases, it can cause a stomach infection.
Lack dietary fibers
As a dietary expert, I suggest that choose food with good dietary fibers for rabbits. Hay has good dietary elements and they are perfect but Rosemarie lacks a good amount of dietary fibers. Therefore, avoid feeding the rosemaries to your rabbits and choose hay. Use it occasionally or as a treat.
Strong repellant Smell
Rosemary has a strong and repellant smell that can irritate your rabbit. It might be possible that your rabbit does not like the rosemary due to this smell. Smell and Rabbit are enemies and can not live together.
Allergic to the Rabbits
Rosemary flowers have allergens and pollens in them. If you introduce this. It can cause an allergy and therefore, you should observe the reaction of rosemary first and then check the activities. If everything is fine, then rosemary can be a good option
Moderation is necessary
Always remember that rosemary should be given in moderation and it can not be fed in large amounts. You should give only a small amount of rosemary to the rabbits and this small amount should include the stems and leaves of rosemary
Use it as a treat
You can add the rosemary to the list of treats. It means that you can give the rosemary to the rabbits as a treat only. Imagine it as a cake for humans. Humans like cake but can not eat it every day similarly, rosemary can be a perfect cake for the rabbits and you can give it 2-3 times in one week.
Can produce Bloating in the stomach
Rosemary can lead to a significant production of bloating which means the gases can be produced in the stomach of rabbits due to rosemary and these gases can be dangerous for the rabbits. They can cause fading and mental distress in the rabbits.
What are the other herbs that can be given to the rabbits
Herbs can be a portion of good food for rabbits and these are some of the herbs that can be perfect for the rabbits;
- Basil
- Coriander
- Dill
- Mint
- Parsley
- Oregano
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Basil
- Broccoli
- Beetroot greens
- Dark Green cabbage
- Carrot tops and roots
How Much Rosemary is Safer for the Rabbits?
The amount of rosemary is very important to feed and you should use the thumb rule to feed the rosemary. This rule says that the amount should be similar to your thumb and no more than that. This rule can be applied to other treats
Another 10 percent rule is there which says that you can use 10 percent of food as a treat for the rabbits and anything exceeding that limit can be regarded as dangerous for the rabbits. 80 percent of the food should come from the hay and only 20 percent should come from the other sources. 10 percent of rosemary is a healthy addition for the rabbits.
How to feed Rosemary to bunnies?
You should remember that the rabbits like the crunchy and hard part of the rosemary which is the stem and you should focus on feeding the stem part of the rosemary. Other leaves and flowers can be an option too
So, rinse off the rosemary plant so that all the pesticide and other additive can be removed. Use the knife to cut it and give it smoothly to your rabbits.
FAQs
Can I give rosemary Flowers to the bunnies?
Yes, Rosemary flowers are perfectly safe for the bunnies but you should check for the allergic reaction. Also, flowers have a strong smell and therefore, the rabbit may hate him for that
Can I feed dried rosemary to the rabbits?
Yes, dried rosemary can be a good option for the bunnies and you can feed the dried rosemary. However, remember that the dried rosemary may be difficult to digest.
Can I give cooked Rosemary to bunnies?
No, Cooked rosemary is dangerous for the rabbits and you should not give cooked items to the bunnies. During cooking, it loses all its nutritional value and it becomes soft. Rabbits do not like soft objects.
Can I feed rosemary leaves to Rabbits?
Yes, you can feed the rosemary leaves to the rabbits. They are non-toxic and the perfect dietary asset for the rabbit’s diet.
Can I feed Rosemary to young rabbits?
Newborn rabbits are not advised to give the rosemary. However, if your rabbit is one year old. You can feed your rabbits the rosemary plants and leaves
Conclusion
Summing up the debate, rosemary is an herb that is produced in the Mediterranean and they are now present in every household across America and Europe. People use it as a salad and flavoring item. However, these can be used to feed the rabbits. Rabbits can eat the rosemary and it has no negative impact on the health of rabbits. It is healthy and has many health benefits such as it helps in the digestion and absorption of many minerals in the rabbit body. It contains many specialized vitamins such as Vitamin A and C and a small amount of vitamin C too.
However, it can be dangerous if given in large amounts. They are low-calorie and have fewer dietary nutrients therefore their presence in the stomach can lead to many diseases. It is smelly and many rabbits may feel unsafe while feeding it. Similarly many rabbits can be a victim of bloating after feeding on the rosemary. Therefore, give only a minimum amount of rosemary to the rabbits.
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