Can Rabbits Eat Cilantro?

Last Updated on February 26, 2023 by Marjon Ramos

Cilantro is one of the most recommended leafy greens you can give your rabbits. Just remember that you have to wait until your rabbit is at least 12 weeks old before you give one. You should also limit the amount of cilantro you give to your rabbit and remember to feed it lots of hay.

Remember that leafy greens should be considered a supplement to a hay-based diet that’s high in fiber.

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

Do rabbits like eating cilantro?

Cilantro 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 cilantro I give them whenever I have one available. I’ve also asked several of my friends if they ever fed cilantro to their rabbits, and all of them reported giving some to their rabbits due to the fact that their rabbits love cilantro so much.

Is cilantro safe to be eaten by rabbits?

As long as you only give the recommended amount, the cilantro is perfectly safe for rabbits. You also need to wait until your rabbit is at least 12 weeks old before you give one because young rabbits’ gut flora is sensitive, so they need a lot of fiber to prevent any digestive problems.

Even after your rabbit is old enough to eat cilantro, you should still limit the amount you give them. See the diet portion calculator below for the proper amount of cilantro to feed your rabbit based on its weight and age.

What are the benefits of feeding cilantro to rabbits?

Gist:

100 grams of cilantro contains large amounts of vitamin A.

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

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 cilantro is rich in vitamin A.

Is cilantro good for rabbits?

Cilantro contains large amounts of vitamin A as well as small amounts of vitamin E, pantothenic acid, niacin, choline, protein, fiber, and potassium.

All of which are within the nutritional constraint per 100 grams.

How much cilantro can a rabbit eat?

The proper amount of cilantro to feed your rabbits should be based on their age and weight. You can use this diet portion calculator to know how much cilantro (vegetables) you should feed your rabbits:

If you currently have no idea what your rabbit’s weight is, here’s the estimated weight of rabbits based on their breed and how much cilantro you can give per day:

When can rabbits start eating cilantro?

The table above only accounts for your rabbit’s weight. Another important factor when feeding cilantro to your rabbits is their age.

Here’s a table to help you decide at what age you should give cilantro to your rabbits and how much cilantro to give as your rabbit gets older:

Make sure you follow the table above and only feed your rabbits vegetables (cilantro) 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 cilantro to rabbits?

Gist:

You should stop giving your rabbits cilantro 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 cilantro to rabbits.

While cilantro is safe and highly nutritious for rabbits, it still carries certain risks when overfed. That’s why it’s important to limit the amount you give and to introduce it slowly if it’s their first time eating it.

Here are the most common problems when rabbit owners overfeed cilantro to their rabbits:

• Gastrointestinal Stasi: Overfeeding cilantro in lieu of hay to your rabbits could lead to GI stasis, which is caused by a lack of fiber in your rabbit’s diet.
• Diarrhea: Diarrhea is also possible when rabbit owners overfeed large amounts of cilantro 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 cilantro instead of hay. This could lead to softer cecotropes due to the lack of fiber.

Healthy alternatives to cilantro.

While cilantro leaves are safe for rabbits, you should still mix in some other vegetables and leafy greens to your rabbit’s diet.

Here are some alternatives to cilantro that you can give to your rabbits:

• Spinach
• Celery
• Green peppers
• Basil
• 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
• Dandelion greens and flowers (no pesticides)

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Conclusion

Rabbits can eat cilantro 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 cilantro in lieu of hay because the lack of fiber would likely trigger a bout of digestive problems.