Mint is a perfect refreshing herb everybody loves. It’s grown in most people’s backyards. All love to pluck a few leaves and make lemonade or salad or anything at all. But a backyard mint garden and a pet rabbit: is it the safest combination???
Do you know that mint is a safe herb to feed to your rabbit? Can rabbits eat mint stems? Mint having a strong flavor appeals to rabbits? There are countless questions you’ll have to look into before feeding rabbits mint.
So Can rabbits eat mint? YES, Rabbits can eat mint. Mint is a safe and non-toxic herb that can be fed to rabbits. Mint should be fed in moderation to rabbits and shouldn’t be their major diet.
In this article, we will discuss everything you have to know about feeding mint to your little bunnies…
Let’s hop straight in!
Do Rabbits Eat Mint Plants?
Mint is a fast-growing, aromatic herb plant in the Mentha genus. There are hundreds of mint plant varieties and far too many to name here.
However, a number of these mint types are commonly grown in the garden. The presence of pungent essential oils gives Mentha its attractive fragrance that fills the surrounding area with a sweet perfume.
Now let’s address the question: Do Rabbits Eat Mint Plants? Yes, rabbits can eat mint. It is safe and non-toxic. Rabbits can munch on these herbs in moderation along with a mix of other leaves.
Mint is a great addition to your bunny’s diet. They are healthy and rabbits love them as well. Mints contain Vitamin A, C, K and so many more required nutrients.
The best part is Rabbits can eat all parts of the mint plant, including its stem and leaves. Mint has several varieties, and all these are safe for rabbits. This means no wastage too!!
You do have to make sure rabbits are comfortable with eating mints. As we know mint has a strong aroma. Commonly all rabbits love the sweet smell of mint.
Though, that’s the case you have to test a small amount before adding mint completely into their diet. If they show any signs or symptoms of not enjoying the mint, then do not force your rabbits to eat it.
Let’s see the nutrients in 100 grams of mint:
Calories- 44g
Carbs Total- 8.41 g
Dietary fiber- 6.8 g
Fat- 0.73 g
Protein- 3.29 g
Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamin A- 4054 IU
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)- 0.078 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)-0.175 mg
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)- 0.948 mg
Vitamin B6- 0.158 mg
Vitamin C- 13.3 mg
Potassium- 458 mg
Magnesium- 63 mg
Calcium- 199 mg
Iron- 11.87 mg
Can Rabbits Eat All Types Of Mint?
There are several types of mint leaves. peppermint is probably one of the best-known tastes in the whole world!
Besides peppermint, popular species and hybrids of mint include spearmint, chocolate mint, apple mint, pineapple mint, and ginger mint. And they all have their distinctive scent and flavor.
Let’s discuss some common healthy mint plants that we can serve to our rabbits:
- Peppermint: this is usually used in toothpaste. Peppermint is used as a treatment for bloating and indigestion. These are also used as natural decongestants.
Check out more details about Can Rabbits Eat Peppermint? Is Peppermint Oil Safe For Rabbits?
- Spearmint: Spearmint is good for digestive disorders, diarrhea, gallstones, etc.
- Lemon Balm Mint: this is usually used for making teas. This type of mint is safe for rabbits to consume.
- Lavender Mint: This intensely aromatic mint type is used for making lavender teas and it is bun-safe.
There are many varieties of mints excluding the one mentioned above.
You have to be wise while choosing which mint to feed to your rabbits as some types of mint can be unsafe for the rabbits. Keep reading to find out which mint leaves you should avoid…
Can Rabbits Eat Mint Leaves?
Yes! Rabbits can eat mint leaves. Mint leaves are the most nutritious part of the mint plant.
They contain many minerals and vitamins essential for the growth of rabbits. It is completely safe and non-toxic.
Can Baby Rabbits Eat Mint Leaves?
No, baby rabbits can’t eat mint. a baby rabbit won’t be able to properly digest foods like mint yet.
They should only be eating hay and pellets up until around three months old when you can begin to introduce a new food into their diet.
Can Rabbits Eat Mint Stems?
Yes! We know that all parts of mint are edible except for the roots. So rabbits can eat the stem of a mint plant. It is safe and non-toxic.
Mint stems also have the same sharp, minty flavor that can be found in the leaves. if your rabbit doesn’t seem to be having a hard time chewing the stem in its entirety, feed the whole stem to your rabbit.
Can Rabbits Eat Mint Flowers?
All mint plants will flower. They have purple clustered flowers. These flowers just like the leaves have is very aromatic and have a fruity smell.
And Yes, just like mint leaves, mint flowers are also healthy for rabbits. You can feed mint flowers to your little rabbit but only in a moderate amount.
Do Rabbits Like The Smell Of Mint?
Rabbits are very sensitive to smell. They tend to avoid certain herbs and vegetables because of their strong scents. As it’s no surprise that mint has a very strong scent.
However, unlike other herbs, mint has a sweet aroma. Rabbits like this sweet smell and taste of mint.
Commonly rabbits do not refuse to eat mint because of their aroma as it is not a dealbreaker for them.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Mint?
Mint is not just a sweet herb. Mint also has many health benefits for your little bunnies.
Let’s discuss why you should feed mints to your bunnies…
- Mint is high in fiber and low in calories and sugar, three components that make up a balanced rabbit diet.
- Mint is a rich source of minerals such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, manganese, and copper.
- Mint can help indigestion in bunnies. Mint has high fibers which are a very common remedy for indigestion.
- Mint can improve the brain development and performance of rabbits because of the rich source of minerals and vitamins in it.
- Mint contains vitamins A, C, and B complex.
- Mint is a good source of antioxidants that can avoid arthritis, memory loss, and even cancer.
- mint is an excellent source of beta-carotene, and that can prevent blindness in rabbits.
- Mint can help rabbits who have loose or diarrhea.
- Mint is an effective remedy for gassy stomachs in rabbits.
Can Rabbits Have Mint Tea?
Yes, rabbits can drink mint tea – but only in certain circumstances. If your rabbit is dehydrated and doesn’t want to drink regular water, they can have a little bit of mint tea to persuade them.
You can brew it with mint leaves and water, or use mint tea bags as long as there are no extra ingredients. Wait for it to cool before giving it to your rabbit.
How To Give Mint To Your Rabbit?
Raw and fresh mint should be fed to the rabbits. Dried mint is not recommended to be fed to the bunnies if you have access to fresh mints. Before feeding it to the rabbits you need to follow a few steps to make it safer.
Make sure you wash the mint if it stores brought. The mint should be made free from all pesticides as some pesticides can be poisonous to the bunnies. You have to rinse the mint thoroughly under running water.
After rinsing the mint, make sure you cut them into smaller pieces and sprinkle in other veggies. If fed alone in a huge quantity it could be overpowering.
You have to make sure that you mix up the mint with other veggies or leaves. It should only be fed in moderation and should never go more than the recommended amount.
Can Rabbits Eat Mint Daily?
Rabbits are strict herbivores. They eat veggies every day. Even though rabbits cannot eat mint every day.
Rabbits want a variety of nutrients added to their daily life, and these nutrients come from a variety of vegetables. That’s why you shouldn’t depend on mint alone every day to do this job.
Risk Of Overfeeding Mint To Rabbits
Despite all the benefits possessed by mint, it should be only fed to rabbits in moderation. If they overeat mint it could lead to many health problems.
Let’s see what all health issues rabbits can show if they overfeed on mint.
- Painful bowel movements
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Lost appetite
Toxic Mints
However safe and healthy mints are there is still one variety of mint that is toxic to bunnies. pennyroyal, one member of the mint family, can be toxic for your little bunny.
There are two types of pennyroyal mints. They are:
- American Pennyroyal: has pale blue flowers and thin leaves.
- European Pennyroyal has lilac flowers and leaves like spearmint.
Both of these varieties are highly toxic to the bunnies and should be avoided at any cost.
Alternatives To Mint For Rabbits
- basil
- endive
- rosemary
- bell peppers
- cilantro
- Brussels sprouts
- bok choy
- parsley
- fennel
- Cabbage
- Zucchini
- Kale
- Carrots
- Celery
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Rabbits Eat Dried Mint?
Yes, rabbits can heat dried mint. However, dried herbs are sometimes too flavorsome for rabbits, so you could mix dried mint with some wet vegetables to make it easier for your rabbit to eat.
Can Rabbits Eat Chocolate Mint?
Rabbits love to eat mint leaves, stalks, stems, flowers, and other parts of the mint plant. If we talk about chocolate mint, yes, rabbits can eat them too. Your pet rabbit will love to have it once a week after the meal.
Final Word
So finally we have the answer to the question of whether rabbits can eat mint.. yes rabbits can eat this sweet plant with no problems. It is safe and non-toxic as long as you stick to the moderation level of feeding.
This flavorful green plant has many health benefits for your little bunnies. It can even be used to cure many illnesses in rabbits. This herb will help you to keep your rabbit healthy and safe.
I hope this article solved all your questions about feeding mint to your furry friends. For more questions comment down below!
