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| Safe? | Yes |
| How much | One soft sprig, about 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in), for a 2 kg (4.4 lb) rabbit |
| How often | Two or three times a week, rotated with other herbs |
| Best served | Fresh, washed, unsprayed, soft tips |
| Watch out for | Sprayed plants, woody stems, seasoned or oily rosemary |
Is rosemary safe for rabbits?
Yes. The RSPCA names rosemary among the herbs rabbits can have as part of their daily fresh food, and advises a mix of several leafy greens and herbs, "rotating them regularly". Woodgreen includes it in its list of safe garden plants and herbs. Rosemary has a strong, piney scent from its aromatic oils, which is why many rabbits only nibble it. That strength is also why we treat it as a flavour in the mix rather than a main green.
How much rosemary can a rabbit have?
Fresh greens and herbs should be about 10% of what a rabbit eats, with hay making up most of the rest, according to the RSPCA and Woodgreen. PDSA suggests an adult-sized handful of greens, veg and herbs twice a day. A sprig of rosemary about 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in) long is plenty inside that handful. The Rabbit Welfare Association recommends rotating herbs, so give rosemary two or three days a week and use milder herbs such as parsley, dill or mint on the other days.
How to prepare rosemary
- Pick or buy fresh. Use a plant that has not been sprayed. Supermarket herbs are fine once washed.
- Rinse and shake dry. Wet greens left in a pile can start to go off quickly.
- Snip off woody stems. Keep the soft green tips with their needles.
- Start small. Give half a sprig the first time, mixed with greens your rabbit already knows, and check droppings over the next day.
Fresh, dried and other forms
| Form | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Fresh sprigs and needles | Yes, a small sprig |
| Flowers | Yes, along with the sprig |
| Woody stems | Snip off; hard and usually left uneaten |
| Plain dried rosemary | A pinch only; fresh is better |
| Rosemary from cooking (oil, salt, garlic) | No |
| Rosemary essential oil | No, never on or near a rabbit |
Who should skip rosemary?
Young rabbits still getting used to greens, and any rabbit with soft droppings, should wait. Rabbits that turn their noses up at it are not missing anything: plenty of other herbs do the same job.
What to offer instead
Feathery fennel tops are a gentler aromatic choice, and spring greens make a good leafy base. Our safe food list for rabbits has the full range, and our rabbit diet guide and rabbit care guide show how fresh food fits around hay.
Rosemary and rabbits: questions
Can rabbits eat dried rosemary?
Plain dried rosemary with nothing added is not harmful, but it is very concentrated and the needles are sharp and brittle. Fresh is better. If you use a dried herb mix made for rabbits, check the label lists only plants and offer a pinch as a treat, not a bowlful.
Can rabbits eat rosemary stems?
Soft green tips are fine. Old woody stems are hard and stringy, and rabbits usually strip the needles and leave them. They are not known to be harmful, but we would snip them off and offer the softer top 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in) of the sprig instead.
Is a rosemary bush in the garden safe for rabbits?
Yes. Woodgreen lists rosemary among safe garden plants and herbs. Free-roaming rabbits will usually nibble it lightly because it is so strong. Make sure the bush has not been sprayed, and check nothing toxic, such as foxglove or ivy, grows next to it.
Can baby rabbits eat rosemary?
Wait until they are settled on hay and a few mild greens. The House Rabbit Society suggests starting new greens from about 12 weeks old, one at a time, in tiny amounts. Rosemary is strong, so it is better as a later addition than a first green.
