Can rabbits eat dill? Read the full article so make a wise decision. “Kira hurriedly ate up dill! Will it harm her?” This was the exact question of a rabbit parent when she brought her bunny to the clinic for medical attention. Before that day, Kira was diagnosed with food poisoning because of the wrong foods fed to her. And the treatment commenced on her! But the little fellow refused to eat anything. It was a huge concern to her parent.
She plucked some twigs of dill from her home garden and playfully waved it beneath her rabbit’s nose. Just to get her furry companion physically active! Surprisingly, she bite off some leaves and was allowed to eat up a whole twig. There, the parent was! Asking to know if it will harm her bunny.
As a responsible rabbit parent, you must know the nutritional value of any food you feed to your rabbits. Some many herbs and grasses are poisonous to rabbits. I guess that’s why you’re here! In this article, we will reveal all you need to know about feeding dill to your furry friends.
What You Need To Know About Dill
Dill’s botanical name is Anethum graveolens. It is an annual-growing herb that belongs to the celery family called Apiaceae. History has it that dill got its name from an ancient Norse word “Dilla” meaning to soothe. For hundreds of years, it has been used for cooking and medicinal purposes. Because of its strong, appealing flavor and chemical compounds!
There are varieties of dill in existence like Elephant Dill, Greensleeves Dill, and Bouquet Dill. Nutritional studies have proven over time that dill has no chemical compounds that could poison your rabbits. But could cause harm when fed in large amounts to your rabbits.
Nutritional data analyzed by the US Department of Agriculture reveals that 100g of Dill has:
- Water: 95.27 grams
- Energy: 16 kilocalories
- Protein: 0.68 grams
- Fat: 0.1 grams
- Carbs: 3.4 grams
- Sugar: 1.86 grams
- Fibre: 1.6 grams
- Calcium: 25mg
- Iron: 0.34mg
- Magnesium: 10mg
- Phosphorus: 20mg
- Potassium: 233mg
- Sodium: 39mg
- Vitamin C: 14.8mg
- Some traces of vitamin A, vitamin B, zinc, copper, thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin.
- Rich in antioxidants like flavonoids, terpenoids, and tannins.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Dill?
Dill helps to clear the congestion in the intestines of rabbits. It has a good amount of vitamin C that promotes healthy muscles and prevents the risk of developing scurvy. Which is a common disease in rabbits! The calcium and potassium content of dill helps in healthy bone development and prevents the thinning of bone tissues. It also has manganese that boosts the function of the brain and nervous system.
Dill is often used to treat rabbits suffering from gastrointestinal diseases. It is used as an antiseptic applied to injuries for quick healing. Its chemical compounds help to reduce the sugar levels in the blood and prevent the risk of developing diabetes in rabbits. Dill is rich in antioxidants that help to protect body cells from inflammation and damage caused by free radicals. In cases of microbial activity and pesticides, antioxidants reduce their harmful effects on your rabbit’s body.
Do Rabbits Like Dill?
Most rabbits like the spicy flavor of dill. Only a few can be picky and may find it less appealing. And enjoy eating other herbs like parsley and rosemary. It all depends on the food preferences of your furry friend.
Do Wild Rabbits Eat Dill?
Yes, dills are readily available in local gardens or the fields. Wild rabbits happily nibble on them because of their appealing scent and taste.
Can Rabbits Eat Fresh Dill?
Fresh dill is the best leafy treat for your bunnies. It has its nutrients and flavor intact for your rabbits to fully enjoy!
Can Rabbits Eat Dried Dill?
Dried dill has a nutritional value a bit different from fresh ones. Rabbits may find it less savory!
Can Rabbits Eat Dill Pickles?
Dill pickles are completely different from dill. Never serve it to your rabbits as it could harm their intestines. Pickles come with condiments like salts which may be poisonous in your rabbits when taken in large amounts. Focus on feeding raw dill plants to your bunnies. Avoid cooked dills!
Which Part Of Dill Plant Can Rabbits Eat?
Your rabbits can eat all parts of a dill plant except the seeds! The green leaves of a dill plant are very nutritional! The flowers and stems are only recommended for mature rabbits to eat. When serving the flowers to your rabbits, remove all the insects stuck to them. It may cause stomach upset when ingested.
The tender stems of this tasty herb can also be enjoyed by your rabbits. Do not serve the seeds of dill plants as they can get trapped in your rabbit’s throat and cause harm. More so, dill seeds have large amounts of carbs and fat that could make your rabbits obese.
Can Rabbits Take Dill Oil?
Never give any oil infused with dill to your rabbits. It is too fatty and may cause obesity! However, dill oil otherwise called dill essential oil is a very concentrated form of dill. That is gotten through the refining of mature seeds or leafy greens of dill plants. It is mostly used in rabbit hutch to control bug growth and odor. It may not be good for your rabbit’s consumption. Anyway, we recommend you seek medical advice from your doctor before serving dill essential oil to your little friend.
Which Variety Of Dill Plant Can Rabbits Eat?
There are varieties of dill plants with little different tastes and nutrients. Some of them are Elephant dill, Bouquet dill, and Greensleeves dill. Nonetheless, all the varieties are healthy for your rabbit’s consumption.
How Much Dill Can Rabbits Eat?
We recommend that green vegetables and herbs should make up 5% to 10% of your rabbit’s diet. Rabbits need a high amount of fiber-rich food for proper body functioning. As such, one tablespoon of fresh dill is enough for a growing rabbit of two-pound body mass. You can serve one or two twigs of dill to mature rabbits.
Can Rabbits Eat Dill every day?
Dill can be served two or three times a week! It should be given as a special treat. However, if your rabbits love it, you can serve it regularly as sprinkles on hay and other fiber-rich vegetables that are healthy for your rabbits. You must have a food plan that restricts your rabbit’s intake of dill to at most 3 threads of dill every day.
At What Age Should Rabbits Eat Dill?
Your baby rabbits should not be fed dills. Their digestive system is still very delicate and not fully developed to break down the complex nutrients in dill. Rabbits from 12 weeks of age and above are only allowed to eat dills.
How To Introduce Dill To Your Rabbit’s Diet
When introducing dill to your rabbit’s diet, sprinkle a few dill leaves on their normal fiber-rich foods. Your rabbit may love the flavor! Observe your rabbits closely for the next 24 hours. Look out for signs of stomach upset, diarrhea, or constipation. Also, check their fecal droppings. If there are obvious changes in the texture and color of the pooh, stop feeding them dill.
If it settles well in your rabbit’s body without adverse reactions, continue feeding the dill to them. And add a few more amounts! Don’t serve different kinds of new food at the same time to your bunny. Take it slowly, one at a time. Until their body adjusts to it.
Dill Recipe For Rabbits
Follow these procedures while preparing dill for your rabbits:
- Select fresh dills for your rabbits. Wilted or insect-bitten plants should be discarded.
- If you’re buying it from the market, ensure you get organically-grown dills
- Carefully examine the whole surface of the dill plant and put off any insect on it that could harm your rabbit.
- Remove the seeds from the dill flowers. They are not nutritionally healthy for your rabbits.
- Wash with clean water, getting rid of any remaining dirt stuck to it.
- Put some amount of dill into a clean, shallow dish. One or two twigs of dill are enough!
- You can sprinkle it on the unlimited hay you want to serve to your rabbits. In that way, your rabbits savor the flavor of dill. While enjoying the benefits that dill and hay offer at the same time.
- You can also mix dill in small amounts with other vegetables
- Place the dish in your rabbit’s hutch
- After feeding, remove the bowl and dispose of any left-over dill.
- Clean up the feeding space. Dirt can hoard bugs and mold that could discomfort your little one.
Health Concerns Associated With Feeding Dill To Rabbits
- Wilted dill: wilted dills are overripe, yellow in color, and insect-bitten. They can cause digestive problems in your rabbits when ingested. Never serve it to your rabbits.
- Pesticides: we recommend you home-grow the dill you feed to your rabbits. Most dills are grown with chemical fertilizers and pesticides that may cause harm to your rabbits. Otherwise, ensure you properly wash the dill under running water before giving it to your rabbits.
- Parasites: some insects on dill plants may pose as parasites when taken in. You must get rid of insects or larva-like growth on dill plants. Before allowing your rabbit to eat!
Diseases Involved In Over-feeding Dill To Your Rabbits
- Gut bacteria imbalance: excess intake of dill may have counterproductive effects on your rabbits. And cause the abnormal growth of bad bacteria in the gut region.
- Digestive problems: cases of stomach bloating, excess gas, constipation, stomach upset and diarrhea may be caused by overfeeding dill to your rabbits. Diarrhea cam is very fatal if it persists for days in your rabbits. Take your bunnies to a vet as soon as you notice them.
- Kidney disease: Fresh dill has comparatively large amounts of calcium which may harm your rabbit’s digestive tract and bladder. Excess calcium can form clumps that result in kidney and bladder stones. This can cause serious problems for your rabbits.
Where Can I Get Dill?
You can get dill from any grocery store in your neighborhood. If you didn’t see one and want to save yourself stress, you can place orders for dill at this vegetable store. Your orders will be delivered to your home within a few hours.
How To Preserve Dill For My Rabbits
So many people prefer to buy dill in large amounts and store it for future rabbit consumption. Even if you are harvesting from your garden, you still need to preserve it. You can preserve it by freezing or drying it. It’s very easy! To freeze, get a plastic wrap and enclose the dill twigs.
You can also store it in a dried form. Get some twigs of dill and spray them on a tray. Keep in a sunny place for some time. It will become dry and flaky. You can crumble the leaves and put them all into an airtight container. Seal it and keep it for your rabbit’s consumption.
Can I Grow Dill At Home?
Yes! You can grow dill plants at home in a plant vessel or garden space. Growing dill indoors is very easy and needs no complex tools. Home-growing dill plants will also save you the stress of worrying over pesticides. Used on purchased dills that could harm your bunny.
Keep these in mind when planning to grow dills:
- Dills have a long tap root. Choose at least a 12-deep planting pot with a diameter of 6 to 8.
- Dills grow better when the seeds are planted. Ensure you buy good seed varieties that can grow better indoors
- Dill plants thrive in good sandy soils that can’t easily be water-logged. Choose a little acidic and manure-rich soil when planting dills.
- It takes one or more years for dill plants to mature (it can be annual or perennial) It depends on the variety you planted and the part of the world it’s grown.
- This herb grows very well under enough sunlight. Especially in the hot summer! Ensure you expose your dill plants to a sunlit space.
Can Rabbits Eat Dill – Conclusion
Dill is a nutritional snack for your bunny! It has vital vitamins and minerals that promote healthy body functioning. Over time, studies have shown that it has no compounds that are toxic to rabbits. However, excess consumption can have a counterproductive effect! And cause health problems that could harm your bunny. Moderation is very necessary if you want a healthy lifestyle for your furry friends.