Can Rabbits Eat Parsley? How to Add It Safely

Yes, rabbits can eat parsley. The House Rabbit Society lists parsley among the leafy greens known to be safe for rabbits, and the RSPCA names parsley among the good foods for a daily mix of leafy greens. Parsley is one green among several, and it goes in with the others rather than replacing them.

Rabbits are great pets for people who are ready to feed them well, and hay is the biggest part of what they eat.

Can rabbits eat parsley?

A healthy adult rabbit can eat parsley as one of its daily leafy greens. The RSPCA says rabbits need "a large handful of safe, washed leafy green vegetables, herbs and weeds daily" and that "Good foods are spinach, celery, cabbage, kale, broccoli, rosemary, parsley, mint and dandelion leaves." The House Rabbit Society’s vegetable page says "The following list contains leafy greens known to be safe for rabbits to eat," and parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is on it.

For people, parsley has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.

Can bunnies have parsley every day?

Rabbits can have parsley as one of the greens in the day’s mix. The amounts the sources give are for greens as a group. The RSPCA says a rabbit needs a large handful of washed greens every day and gives the mix as 10 percent of the diet. It says to give a variety each day, ideally five to six different types. The House Rabbit Society says "Select at least three types of green leafy vegetables daily to provide a variety of nutrients."

The RSPCA’s own daily list of greens and herbs is romaine lettuce, spring greens, watercress, rocket, basil, rosemary, coriander, mint, and dandelion leaves. The House Rabbit Society’s safe list adds arugula, bok choy, carrot tops, collard greens, endive, kale, mustard greens, romaine lettuce, spinach, and watercress next to parsley.

Parsley is one of the greens the Indiana House Rabbit Society marks with an asterisk. Its note reads "These leafy greens need to be rotated due to oxalic acid content and should only be one out of three varieties of greens a day." The same asterisk is on alfalfa sprouts, radish and clover sprouts, beet greens, mustard greens, radish tops, spinach, and Swiss chard. So on a day parsley is in the bowl, it is one of the three kinds. Romaine lettuce, cilantro, and dandelion greens are on the same list without an asterisk.

The House Rabbit Society’s diet page gives "1-2 cups of vegetables for every four (4) lbs. of body weight." Its vegetable page gives "approximately one cup of packed greens for every two pounds of rabbit" and says to "keep an eye out for any change in litter habits and behavior." Because both figures go by body weight, it helps to know what your rabbit weighs, and our page on how big rabbits get covers breed weights.

How do you add parsley for the first time?

Add parsley the way you add any of the other new foods: one at a time and in a small amount. The House Rabbit Society says "When trying out new greens, add only one new type to the diet at a time. Introduce gradually and eliminate if it causes soft stools or diarrhea." The RSPCA says "Introduce new types of greens gradually, in small amounts, to avoid potential stomach upsets."

The House Rabbit Society’s vegetable page adds a waiting time: "Wait 24 hours to make sure there are no soft stools or gas problems before adding another vegetable to your rabbit’s diet." Add parsley on a day when no other new food goes in, so a change in the droppings has one likely cause.

The Indiana House Rabbit Society says it is best if a rabbit "has been eating grass hay for a minimum of 2 weeks" before any fresh food is introduced.

How should you wash and serve parsley?

Wash it first. The RSPCA says to give "safe, washed leafy green vegetables," and the Indiana House Rabbit Society says "there are many pesticides sprayed throughout the growing process, so it’s important to thoroughly clean all produce before consuming it."

The House Rabbit Society says to "Serve your vegetables wet to increase your rabbit’s intake of liquid." It also says "Do not serve your bunny spoiled vegetables. If you wouldn’t eat it yourself, don’t feed it to your bunny." Take out any spoiled sprigs before your rabbit eats them.

How much of a rabbit’s day is parsley and other greens?

Most of a rabbit’s day is hay. The RSPCA says a rabbit’s diet "should consist mostly of fresh hay and grass (85%), with some leafy greens (10%) and a few pellets or nuggets (5%)." The House Rabbit Society’s diet page says "Hay should comprise 85% of an adult rabbit’s diet." The RSPCA’s guide for a day’s hay is a "rabbit-sized" bundle that "should be as big as they are." Adult rabbits "do best on a mix of timothy hay and other grass hays," the House Rabbit Society says. Parsley sits inside the 10 percent for leafy greens. Fruit is separate: the RSPCA says "Certain fruits and vegetables can be given in moderation as an occasional treat," and the Indiana House Rabbit Society lists oranges among its fruits with the peel removed, and says to "Limit fruits to 1-2 tablespoons per 5 lbs. of body weight."

The House Rabbit Society says "Leafy greens should make up approximately 75% of the fresh vegetables fed daily." For the full list of fresh greens for your bunny's diet, including how much of each, see our page on what rabbits can eat. Carrot tops are another leafy green on the House Rabbit Society’s safe list, and our page on carrot tops shows where they fit next to parsley. The House Rabbit Society says the remaining 25% of a rabbit’s vegetables may come from non-leafy greens, around 1 tbsp per 2 lb of rabbit, which is where vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower fit.

What should you watch for after parsley?

Check the droppings. The House Rabbit Society says "If the droppings are soft or the rabbits are gassy, discontinue the vegetable to prevent more serious gi stasis issues." Watch the droppings for signs of digestive problems.

The RSPCA says "Any change in the size, shape, quantity, or consistency of the hard poo pellets can mean your rabbit is poorly." Its advice: "If your rabbit has diarrhoea, is passing soft faeces or the quantity and consistency of their poo pellets doesn’t return to normal within 24 hours," book a vet appointment as soon as possible.

Under its heading on a rabbit refusing food, the RSPCA says "Some rabbits may be reluctant to eat. If this is the case, take them to a vet to check there are no underlying health problems, such as gut stasis (a slowdown or stopping of the normal movement of food through the digestive system), which needs immediate attention." The RSPCA also says "If you think your rabbit has eaten something poisonous or unsafe, call your vet as soon as you can," and its rule for any plant you are unsure about is "if in doubt, leave it out!"

Can baby rabbits have parsley?

Not yet. The House Rabbit Society says "For baby rabbits, vegetables should only be fed after 12 weeks of age and introduced one at a time in quantities under 1/2 oz." The House Rabbit Society’s diet page says to "Introduce hay to baby bunnies as soon as they can eat on their own."

If you are choosing housing for a new rabbit, see our list of the best rabbit hutches.

Sources

• House Rabbit Society. "Healthy Rabbit Diet Guide: Safe Foods and Treats." rabbit.org/care/food-diet. Also "Best Vegetables for Rabbits: A Healthy Diet Guide" (rabbit.org/care/fruits-vegetables).
• Indiana House Rabbit Society. "Greens and Vegetables." indianahrs.org.
• RSPCA. "Rabbit diet." rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rabbits/diet.
• Healthline. "Parsley: Nutrition, Benefits, and Uses." healthline.com.

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