Can Rabbits Eat Thyme? - The Hobby Zeal

Thyme has medicinal and culinary value. That is why most of us grow thyme in the garden to use in regular cooking.

Yes, rabbits can eat both fresh and dried thyme. Thyme has medicinal value. You could provide thyme as a treat and the quantity should not exceed 5% of their main meal. Usually, most rabbit breeds don’t like the pungent flavor of thyme.

Two types of thymes are mostly available.

Common Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Lemon Thyme (Thymus citriodorus)

Here I will walk you through the benefits and risk factors of thyme as a rabbit meal. Without further ado, let’s get started.

Can Rabbits Eat Thyme (Thymus Vulgaris)?

The common thyme (Thymus vulgaris) that is also known as summer thyme or garden thyme is completely safe for the bunny. Thyme is a perennial evergreen flowering plant. It is under the genus Thyme and the family Lamiaceae.

The other common herbs of this family are fennel, dill, coriander, parsley, Origano, and others.

Common thyme has a gentle minty flavor. You could provide the thyme as a treat with other herbs of this group.

But please remember, these herbs or fresh grass are not the main food for the rabbit. The dried version of grass which is known as Hay, is the main food of rabbits.

So for the betterment of your pet bunny, you could provide a small amount of Thyme occasionally it will diversify the feeding habit.

Can Rabbits Eat Lemon Thyme (Thymus citriodorus)?

The Lemon Thyme has a stronger flavor than the common thyme. Lemon thyme and the common thyme are almost similar in appearance.

Like the common thyme, rabbits can eat lemon thyme in a small amount. But most of the rabbits will refuse to eat the lemon thyme for its strong flavor.

Can Rabbits Eat Creeping Thyme (Thymus praecox)?

Creeping Thyme is awesome for landscaping. But they are strong in taste. Rabbits don’t like the Creeping Thyme and in most cases, they don’t eat the Creeping Thyme.

Does The Wild Rabbit Eat Thyme?

The wild rabbit doesn’t eat thyme usually as well as the other herbs of the Lamiaceae family. There is plenty of grass available in the wild. That is why the wild bunnies avoid the thymes.

But in adverse conditions like the snow time, the wild rabbit eats the dried thyme if they get it. Apart from the dried thymes, they eat other herbs and plants to sustain themselves.

Is Thyme Toxic To Rabbits?

No thyme is not toxic for the rabbit at all. Moreover, you can use the Thyme as medicine for your bunny. Bloating is a very common problem for the bunny. when they are introducing themselves to a new food, bloating is very common.

In this case, you could provide dried or fresh thyme to your bunny. Also, thyme is a good herb to treat the diarrhea of the rabbit.

Fresh thyme or Dried thyme?

You could provide fresh or dried thyme to your bunny. both of them are safe for the bunny. if you don’t grow thyme in your garden then fresh thyme should be the expensive one.

In this case, you could provide a small amount of dried thyme to your bunny.

Can Rabbits Eat Thyme Stems?

Yes, like the leaves of the thyme, rabbits can eat the stems of the thyme. You could offer the dried or fresh stems of the thyme to your bunny. but due to the pungent taste, your bunny may refuse to eat.

So, it would be better to provide thyme with the leaves and with other herbs like dill, mint, oregano, and others.

Can Rabbits Eat Thyme Flowers?

Particularly, rabbits don’t love the thyme flower. You could collect the thyme stem and leaves before the flowers. During flower time, the thyme stems get sticky and dry.

Final Thoughts

Thyme is rich in medicinal value. it helps to deworm the rabbits. you could also use thyme against the diarrhea of the rabbit. overall thyme boosts the digestive system of the bunny.

So, you could offer thyme in a small amount occasionally to your bunny as a treat. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to share.

Also Read