Safe Herbs List For Rabbits & Guinea-pigs
Herbs contain too much calcium?
Herbs contain essential minerals that are needed by the body. Normally excesses are not an issue due to the 80% water content of the herbs which dilutes the calcium. However, when hardly any fresh food is fed, the calcium is not diluted and can accumulate in the organs. As long as the diet is rich in fresh foods, herbs are completely harmless and are necessary to the diet. They have a high content of phytochemicals which stabilises digestion and a high vitamin and mineral content which is needed in the diet. Herbs contain essential oils which are needed for healthy digestion and healthy airways.
Safe Herbs
The Herbs in this list are common in supermarkets, however if you grow your own herbs then you will have a much wider choice beyond this list. You can easily grow some of these on the windowsill if you don’t have a garden.
Basil - Basil is good for worming, is anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, stimulates the appetite and is good for the digestion.
Dill - Dill is also appetite stimulating and anti-spasmodic, is great for upset stomachs and well liked.
Tarragon - Tarragon is kidney stimulating and good for worming and digestion.
Coriander - Coriander is also good for digestion and has an anti-spasmodic effect.
Cress - Cress stimulates the appetite, is good for the digestion and has a blood purifying effect.
Oregano - Oregano has an anti-bacterial effect, soothes the digestion, is anti-inflammatory, appetite stimulating and purifies the blood. Should be fed regularly.
Parsley - Parsley is very popular, anti-spasmodic, digestion soothing and blood purifying.
Mint - The mint family (including lemon balm) is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, appetite stimulating, germicidal, antispasmodic, analgesic and anti-convulsant. They also have a calming effect, soothe the digestion and promote blood circulation!
Rosemary - Rosemary stimulates the appetite and kidneys, enhances the circulation, is anti-fungal, helps with wound healing and is good for the digestion.
Sage - Sage also promotes the appetite and is good for the digestion. It is an astringent, anti-bacterial, germicidal, hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antispasmodic and analgesic.
Thyme - Thyme is antispasmodic, bile-promoting, anti-inflammatory, good for the digestion and against coccidia, antibacterial, soothing, hemostatic, disinfecting, fungicidal and analgesic. Thyme should be fed regularly.
Chives - Chives can be eaten in small quantities in an ad libitum diet and given in a good mix of herbs. In small amounts chives are safe and have many health promoting properties. They will be eaten as needed with this type of diet and are appetite stimulating, antiviral, good for the digestion and against worms. Chives also have antibiotic properties, help prevent cancer and boost the immune system.
Dried Veggies are a great snack! Especially useful for taming and to add extra nutrients into the diet. Containing no preservatives, these snacks are completely natural.
Suitable for all small animals. Composition: Beetroot, parsnip, carrot, cabbage and sweet peppers.
Do not give to pets who are on a pelleted diet. For reasons not to feed pellets please click here
Pea Flakes are a great way to bond with your pet and are especially useful for taming. A healthy snack and great for those that have increased calorie requirements, they ensure a healthy and natural diet with essential minerals and amino acids.
Suitable for rabbits, guinea-pigs, hamsters, gerbils, mice, rats, degus & chinchillas .
Bunny Meadow Mouse Mix is a complete dried food for Mice.
In addition to their dried food they should also receive daily forage, herbs, branches & vegetables.
Feeding recommendation: 1 tsp per day for an adult Mouse.
Bunny Meadow Roborovski Hamster Mix is a complete dried food for Roborovski Hamsters.
In addition to their dried food they should also receive daily forage, fruits, herbs, branches & vegetables.
Feeding recommendation: 1 tsp per day for an adult Roborovski Hamster.
Bunny Meadow Syrian Hamster Mix is a complete dried food for Syrian Hamsters.
In addition to their dried food they should also receive daily forage, fruits, herbs, branches & vegetables.
Feeding recommendation: 1 tbsp per day for an adult Syrian Hamster.
THIS IS A NEW RECIPE. NEW PHOTOS COMING SOON (CURRENT PHOTO SHOWS OLD FOOD)
Bunny Meadow Dwarf Hamster Mix is a complete dried food for Dwarf Hamsters.
In addition to their dried food they should also receive daily forage, herbs, branches & vegetables.
Feeding recommendation: 1 tsp per day for an adult Dwarf Hamster.
Bunny Meadow Gerbil Mix is a complete dried food for Gerbils.
In addition to their dried food they should also receive daily forage, fruits, herbs, branches & vegetables.
Feeding recommendation: 1 heaped tsp per day for an adult gerbil.
THIS IS A NEW RECIPE. NEW PHOTOS COMING SOON (CURRENT PHOTO SHOWS OLD FOOD)
Bunny Meadow Rat Mix is a complete dried food for rats.
In addition to their dried food they should also receive daily forage, fruits, herbs, branches & vegetables.
Feeding recommendation: 1-2 tbsp per day for an adult rat.
Bunny Meadow Degu Seed Mix should only be a small proportion of the diet. They should also receive daily forage, fresh herbs, branches, hay & vegetables. Dried herbs should also be offered for free admission.
The Degu Seed Mix & Degu Herbal Mix should replace pellets in the diet.
Feeding recommendation: 1 tbsp per day for an adult Degu.
Seeds are great for preventing diseases and they can also relieve symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation or skin problems. Degus would naturally eat them in the wild.
Fresh food is rich in water which may mean that your degu will drink less. This is normal and in the wild they would naturally obtain most of their water from food.
Vegetables do not cause bloat in a healthy degu with a normal digestive tract on a pellet free, varied natural diet as recommended above. If your degu has an issue with it’s digestion be careful with cruciferous vegetables. Introduce vegetables slowly if you have just switched your degu to a pellet free diet and use mainly leafy greens.
Bunny Meadow Chinchilla Seed Mix should only be a small proportion of the diet. They should also receive daily forage, fruits, vegetables, fresh herbs, branches & hay. Dried herbs should also be offered for free admission.
The Chinchilla Seed Mix & Chinchilla Herbal Mix should replace pellets in the diet.
Feeding recommendation: 1 tbsp per day for an adult Chinchilla.
Seeds are great for preventing diseases and they can also relieve symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation or skin problems. Chinchillas would naturally eat them in the wild.
Fresh food is rich in water which may mean that your chinchilla will drink less. This is normal and in the wild they would naturally obtain most of their water from food.
Vegetables do not cause bloat in a healthy chinchilla with a normal digestive tract on a pellet free, varied natural diet as recommended above. If your chinchilla has an issue with it’s digestion be careful with cruciferous vegetables. Introduce vegetables slowly if you have just switched your chinchilla to a pellet free diet and use mainly leafy greens.
Millet sprays are great as a treat or as enrichment. They are also great for adding to natural enclosures. Suitable for hamsters, mice, rats, gerbils, degus, chinchillas, rabbits and guinea-pigs! Millet sprays are especially well digested as the millet is in its naturally more fibrous form.
Bunny Meadow Herbal Mix is suitable for Rabbits, Guinea-pigs, Degus, Chinchillas, Rats, Mice, Hamsters and Gerbils.
Indoor Spring Mix contains whole leaves that help to wear down teeth and a rich selection of herbs, plants and roots that support a healthy colon and prevent obesity.
Especially useful when forage is less abundant. Perfect for replacing unhealthy and damaging pellets.
Free from dangerous colours and additives.
Suitable for rabbits (under 5kg) and guinea-pigs kept indoors during the spring. Feeding recommendation: 30 g / kg weight and adjust as necessary.
To find out more information on why pellets and nuggets are not safe to feed please click here.
Outdoor Spring Mix contains whole leaves that help to wear down teeth and a rich selection of herbs, plants and roots that support a healthy colon and prevent obesity.
Especially useful when forage is less abundant. Perfect for replacing unhealthy and damaging pellets.
Free from dangerous colours and additives.
Suitable for rabbits (under 5kg) and guinea-pigs kept outdoors during the spring. Feeding recommendation: 30 g / kg weight and adjust as necessary.
To find out more information on why pellets and nuggets are not safe to feed please click here.
Indoor Large Breed Spring Mix contains whole leaves that help to wear down teeth and a rich selection of herbs, plants and roots that support a healthy colon and prevent obesity.
Especially useful when forage is less abundant. Perfect for replacing unhealthy and damaging pellets.
Free from dangerous colours and additives.
Suitable for rabbits over 5kg kept indoors during the spring. Also suitable for underweight or older animals and skinny pigs indoors in spring.
Feeding recommendation: 30 g / kg weight and adjust as necessary.
To find out more information on why pellets and nuggets are not safe to feed please click here.
Outdoor Large Breed Spring Mix contains whole leaves that help to wear down teeth and a rich selection of herbs, plants and roots that support a healthy colon and prevent obesity.
Especially useful when forage is less abundant. Perfect for replacing unhealthy and damaging pellets.
Free from dangerous colours and additives.
Suitable for rabbits over 5kg kept outdoors during the spring. Also suitable for underweight or older animals outdoors in spring.
Feeding recommendation: 30 g / kg weight and adjust as necessary.
To find out more information on why pellets and nuggets are not safe to feed please click here.
Summer Mix contains whole leaves that help to wear down teeth and a rich selection of herbs, plants, leaves and roots that support a healthy colon and prevent obesity.
Especially useful when forage is less abundant. Perfect for replacing unhealthy and damaging pellets.
Free from dangerous colours and additives.
Suitable for indoor or outdoor rabbits (under 5kg) and guinea-pigs during the summer.
Feeding recommendation: 30 g / kg weight and adjust as necessary.
To find out more information on why pellets and nuggets are not safe to feed please click here.
Summer Large Breed Mix contains whole leaves that help to wear down teeth and a rich selection of herbs, leaves and roots that support a healthy colon and prevent obesity.
Especially useful when forage is less abundant. Perfect for replacing unhealthy and damaging pellets.
Free from dangerous colours and additives.
Suitable for rabbits over 5kg indoors and outdoors during the summer. Also suitable for underweight or old animals and skinny pigs in summer.
Feeding recommendation: 30 g / kg weight and adjust as necessary.
To find out more information on why pellets and nuggets are not safe to feed please click here.
Outdoor Autumn Mix contains whole leaves that help to wear down teeth and a rich selection of herbs, plants and roots that support a healthy colon and prevent obesity.
Especially useful when forage is less abundant. Perfect for replacing unhealthy and damaging pellets.
Free from dangerous colours and additives.
Suitable for rabbits (under 5kg) and guinea-pigs kept outdoors during the autumn. Feeding recommendation: 30 g / kg weight and adjust as necessary.
To find out more information on why pellets and nuggets are not safe to feed please click here.
Indoor Autumn Mix contains whole leaves that help to wear down teeth and a rich selection of herbs, flowers & roots that support a healthy colon and prevent obesity.
Especially useful when forage is less abundant. Perfect for replacing unhealthy and damaging pellets.
Free from dangerous colours and additives.
Suitable for rabbits (under 5kg) and guinea-pigs kept indoors during the autumn. Feeding recommendation: 30 g / kg weight and adjust as necessary.
To find out more information on why pellets and nuggets are not safe to feed please click here.
Indoor Autumn Mix Large Breed & Skinny Pig contains whole leaves that help to wear down teeth and a rich selection of herbs, plants and roots that support a healthy colon and prevent obesity.
Especially useful when forage is less abundant. Perfect for replacing unhealthy and damaging pellets.
Free from dangerous colours and additives.
Suitable for rabbits over 5kg kept indoors during the autumn. Also suitable for underweight or older animals and skinny pigs indoors in autumn.
Feeding recommendation: 30 g / kg weight and adjust as necessary.
To find out more information on why pellets and nuggets are not safe to feed please click here.
Outdoor Autumn Mix Large Breed Rabbit contains whole leaves that help to wear down teeth and a rich selection of herbs, plants and roots that support a healthy colon and prevent obesity.
Especially useful when forage is less abundant. Perfect for replacing unhealthy and damaging pellets.
Free from dangerous colours and additives.
Suitable for rabbits over 5kg kept outdoors during the autumn. Also suitable for underweight or older animals outdoors in autumn.
Feeding recommendation: 30 g / kg weight and adjust as necessary.
To find out more information on why pellets and nuggets are not safe to feed please click here.
Indoor Winter Mix contains whole leaves that help to wear down teeth and a rich selection of herbs, plants and roots that support a healthy colon and prevent obesity.
Especially useful in the colder months when forage is less abundant. Perfect for replacing unhealthy and damaging pellets.
Free from dangerous colours and additives.
Suitable for all rabbits & guinea-pigs (under 5kg) kept indoors during the winter. Feeding recommendation: 30 g / kg weight and adjust as necessary.
To find out more information on why pellets and nuggets are not safe to feed please click here.
Outdoor Winter Mix contains whole leaves that help to wear down teeth and a rich selection of herbs, plants and roots that support a healthy colon and prevent obesity.
Especially useful in the colder months when forage is less abundant. Perfect for replacing unhealthy and damaging pellets.
Free from dangerous colours and additives.
Suitable for all rabbits & guinea-pigs (under 5kg) kept outdoors during the winter. Feeding recommendation: 30 g / kg weight and adjust as necessary. Also suitable for underweight or older animals kept indoors over winter.
To find out more information on why pellets and nuggets are not safe to feed please click here.
Indoor Winter Mix Large Breed & Skinny Pig contains whole leaves that help to wear down teeth and a rich selection of herbs, plants and roots that support a healthy colon and prevent obesity.
Especially useful when forage is less abundant. Perfect for replacing unhealthy and damaging pellets.
Free from dangerous colours and additives.
Suitable for rabbits over 5kg kept indoors during the winter. Also suitable for underweight or older animals and skinny pigs indoors in winter.
Feeding recommendation: 30 g / kg weight and adjust as necessary.
To find out more information on why pellets and nuggets are not safe to feed please click here.
Outdoor Winter Mix Large Breed Rabbit Food contains whole leaves that help to wear down teeth and a rich selection of herbs, plants and roots that support a healthy colon and prevent obesity.
Especially useful in the colder months when forage is less abundant. Perfect for replacing unhealthy and damaging pellets.
Free from dangerous colours and additives.
Suitable for large breed rabbits (over 5kg) kept outdoors during the winter. Feeding recommendation: 30 g / kg weight and adjust as necessary. Also suitable for underweight or older animals outdoors in the winter.
To find out more information on why pellets and nuggets are not safe to feed please click here.
Bunny Meadow Leaf and Flower Mix should be offered ad libitum (as much as they want). Suitable for Rabbits, Guinea-pigs, Degus, Chinchillas, Rats, Mice, Hamsters and Gerbils.