Can Rabbits Eat Basil? Here’s Why.

Last Updated on March 1, 2023 by Marjon Ramos

Feeding basil to rabbits is perfectly safe as long as your rabbit is old enough (12 weeks old) to eat it and you only give moderate amounts.

Also, if it’s the first time you’re giving basil to your rabbits, make sure that you introduce it slowly or only give 15 grams for the first few weeks to see if your rabbit can tolerate it.

Also, mix in some other leafy greens into your rabbit’s diet.

It’s always better to give your rabbits 2-3 types of vegetables per day to ensure that they’re getting the right amount of nutrition per day.

Now that I’ve given you the gist of the article, read on as I explain in more detail why rabbits can eat basil:

Do rabbits like eating basil?

Basil is one of the most nutritious and highly recommended leafy greens for rabbits due to the fact that rabbits love to eat them as well as providing key nutrients that your rabbit would need per day.

In my case, both of my rabbits would gobble up the basil I give them whenever I have one available.

I’ve also asked several of my friends if they ever fed basil to their rabbits, and all of them reported giving some to their rabbits due to the fact that their rabbits love basil so much.

Is basil safe to be eaten by rabbits?

As long as your rabbit is at least 12 weeks old and you introduce it slowly, basil shouldn’t cause any digestive problems for your rabbit.

The only way basil could harm your rabbits is if your rabbit is eating basil in lieu of hay.

The lack of fiber in your rabbit’s diet will eventually lead to digestive problems.

What are the benefits of feeding basil to rabbits?

Gist:

100 grams of basil contains large amounts of vitamin A.

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In order for you to properly understand the benefits of feeding basil to your rabbits, you can use the nutrient constrain calculator for rabbits to see what nutrients your rabbits are getting whenever you feed them basil.

You can also click on the blue icon beside the nutrient to see its benefits and deficiency:

As you can see from the nutrient constrain calculator for rabbits above, 100 grams of basil is rich in vitamin A.

Is basil good for rabbits?

Basil contains large amounts of vitamin A.

It also contains small amounts of vitamin E, copper, niacin, choline, protein, fiber, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, and potassium.

All of which would benefit your rabbit’s health if fed in reasonable amounts.

How much basil can a rabbit eat?

The amount of basil you should feed your rabbits depends on your rabbit’s current weight and age.

You can use the diet portion calculator below to see how much basil (vegetables) you should feed your rabbits per day:

If you don’t have a weighing scale, here’s the estimated weight of rabbits based on their breed and how much basil to give per day:

When can rabbits start eating basil?

The table above assumes that your rabbit is old enough (1–5 years old) to regularly eat vegetables (basil).

Another important factor when deciding how much basil to give your rabbits is their weight:

Make sure you follow the table above and only feed your rabbits vegetables (basil) if they are old enough.

It’s also important to introduce any new food slowly and only in small quantities.

When should you not feed basil to rabbits?

Gist:

You should stop giving your rabbits basil when you notice or suspect any digestive problems.

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Always remove any other food except hay from your rabbit’s diet if you suspect or notice any digestive problems.

This would ensure that your rabbit is getting enough fiber and is not eating too many vegetables in lieu of hay.

Finally, bring your rabbits to a veterinarian if you notice or suspect any digestive problems.

Risk of overfeeding basil to rabbits.

While basil is safe and nutritious for rabbits, there are still risks associated when a rabbit owner overfeeds their rabbits:

• Gastrointestinal Stasis – Overfeeding basil in lieu of hay to your rabbits could lead to GI stasis, which is caused by the lack of fiber in your rabbit’s diet.
• Diarrhea – Diarrhea is also possible when rabbit owners overfeed large amounts of basil to their rabbits too fast. Always introduce any new diet to your rabbits slowly.
• Uneaten cecotropes – Soft uneaten cecotropes are also possible when rabbits are eating large amounts of basil instead of hay. This could lead to softer cecotropes due to the lack of fiber.

Healthy alternatives to basil.

Although basil is safe and nutritious for rabbits, rabbit owners should still give their rabbits a variety of foods in their diet to mimic what wild rabbits eat.

Here’s a list of vegetables and leafy greens that you can feed your rabbits as an alternative to basil:

• Spinach
• Celery
• Green peppers
• Mint
• Alfalfa, radish & Clover sprouts
• Beet greens (tops)
• Parsley
• Peapods (the flat edible kind)
• Peppermint leaves
• Bok choy
• Escarole
• Clover
• Peppermint leaves
• Carrot & carrot tops
• Radicchio
• Raspberry leaves
• Wheatgrass
• Watercress
• Cilantro
• Dandelion greens and flowers (no pesticides)

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Conclusion

Rabbits can eat basil starting at 12 weeks old.

Just make sure that you introduce it slowly or only give 15 grams for the first few weeks to see if your rabbits can tolerate it well, then gradually increase over time.

Finally, make sure that your rabbit is not eating basil in lieu of hay. The lack of fiber would likely trigger a bout of digestive problems.