Can Rabbits Eat Fennel? Facts You Should Know!

Can rabbits eat fennel? Of course. Rabbits can eat fennel. I guess you’re already aware of the typical diet of a rabbit; it consists mainly of hays, leafy vegetables, and water.

Although timothy hays are much preferred due to their high fiber and nutrition content, fennel may be sufficient. For sure, your pet will love it. Well, my pet Thumper does.

So if your rabbits need more fiber, adding some fennels to their diet is a good idea. Let’s find out why!

What Is Fennel?

Fennels or ‘Foeniculum Vulgare is a part of the Umbelliferae family, related to carrots and celery. They are considered a perennial herb, sometimes used in various cuisines around the world. 

The seeds can be used in spices, and the rest of their parts are cooked or served raw. Not only that, but they are also crunchy and sweet.

You can identify the fennel with its white or pale green bulb; it comes with stalks at the top that look like a mini forest.

Just like any other herbs, fennel contains flavonoids, rutin, and kaempferol glycosides, allowing it to be an excellent source of antioxidants. If you consume this, it is sure that you’ll be healthy.

In addition to the compounds present in fennels, the bulb can provide vitamin C, necessary to help the body fight free radicals and boost the immune system. Both of these can be gained due to their antimicrobial properties.

This vegetable also promotes a healthy cardiovascular system and colon. It aids in reducing cholesterol levels and removes carcinogenic toxins found in your colon.

Fennels have a lot to give, but can this vegetable also benefit your rabbits in a way?

Fennels And Rabbits

Can rabbits eat fennels? Yes, they can. They may stumble upon or accidentally ingest one, but you shouldn’t worry about that. Fennels aren’t particularly toxic for rabbits.

Fennels are ideal for your bunnies to chew on, so if you’re using them in your dishes, you should give the remaining parts to your fluffy pets.

Fennels are healthy and could be a good snack for your beloved bunny, although this shouldn’t be his leading food. Adding some fennels to your bunny’s food is the right way to do it.

Please do not feed them a bunch because there are conditions and certain risks in providing them too much.

Health Benefits To Bunnies

Fennels have a lot to offer not only to your body but also to your fluffy friends. If your bunny happens to find fennels very tasty, it’s not bad news. Because fennels, as mentioned before, are highly nutritious vegetables.

That’s why I don’t worry whenever I give one to my pet Thumper; he loves eating fennel.

Anyway, here are just some of the benefits your pet can get from this herb:

• Vitamins and other nutrients

Fennels are nutritious enough to provide vitamin C, minerals like potassium, and antioxidants to our body as well as to your bunny.

Raw fennels have a fair amount of vitamin C, folate, manganese, and dietary fibers compared to commercial treats, usually dried.

• Fiber

Fennels can provide fiber as one of the primary necessities of rabbits. They are rich in fiber and low on sugar, so having some fennels in your rabbit’s food is a good idea.

• Antioxidants

This type of herb has an antioxidant called anethole. This compound is found to reduce inflammation and the development of cancer.

And a study shows that:

Anethole can protect the liver from toxic substances. But that doesn’t mean that it’s an instant antidote to any poison your bunny has consumed.

It is still best to consult your attending veterinarians about it.

Some other antioxidant-rich vegetables could provide relief to animals that suffer from arthritis that could cause joint pain and stiffness.

Pets that have severe body discomfort shouldn’t be fed with fennels only. They may need prescription drugs and supplements, so check with your veterinarian if your bunny suffers the same illness.

Some Things to Consider

Although fennels could offer a lot to your bunny’s diet, still too much good can turn sour. Foods rich in antioxidants are suitable for the stomach. But having too much could lead to diseases instead of goodness.

This may sound so ironic; since fennels are high in nutritional value, why would they cause dietary deficiencies?

Rabbits that have overeaten fennels could be obese, leading to other diseases that obstruct or prevent them from eating more.

That way, some nutrients necessary from other nutritious foods can’t enter your rabbit’s body.

Having a lot of fennels could also cause indigestions. Too many antioxidants and dietary fibers could cause diarrhea for your fluffy pet.

So mind the portions you give your rabbits. We don’t want our rabbits to suffer.

How To Prepare Some For Your Bunny

Preparing fennels are as easy as 1—2—3. It’s not that hard.

As mentioned before, rabbits are herbivores; their diet mainly consists of hays and vegetables, so it is easy to find these in the market.

You can feed them raw or cooked fennels. Either of the two is alright.

• Raw fennels

In feeding them raw fennels, all parts are safe for them to eat, provided that the vegetable has been washed thoroughly.

You can wash the vegetable with baking soda if you are not sure whether the fennel bought is organic or not. If the fennel is organic, washing it with water could suffice.

In serving, having them chopped is much appreciated by our rabbits. An extra service won’t do any harm. Also, mix it with other vegetables too, don’t just feed your rabbits with fennels only.

Remember, a balanced diet is a must for these types of pets.

• Cooked fennels

Leftover fennels shouldn’t be a waste. Giving some to your bunny is highly appreciated.

When you cook dishes with fennels and decide to give them some, check the ingredients first.

Not all vegetables are suitable for your rabbit’s body. Some are considered toxic. Some toxic vegetables for rabbits include pasta, silverbeet, walnuts, and more. 

So make sure these kinds of foods don’t mix with their food, or else your bunny will suffer, and we don’t want that.

Now, how many fennels should we serve them?

The answer is simple:

You can give fennels to your bunny mixed with carrots, lettuce, bok choi, dandelion greens, or so. One cup is fine once a day.

Well, the mix is your choice, it’s just a suggestion.

Oh, and a tip! In feeding them the bulb, reduce its quantities. The leafy parts should be provided to them because it has slightly higher amounts of carbohydrates to gain rabbit weight.

Again, overfeeding them is not a great choice. Remove excess food from their plate since rabbits tend to finish all of your food served.

Can Rabbits Eat Fennel Seeds And Flowers?

Rabbits can eat fennel seeds and flowers as they are safe for rabbits to consume and have a high amount of vitamin C and Vitamin A respectively. These nutrients make your rabbit strong and healthy.

However, be sure that you are not overfeeding them.

Final Thoughts

Can rabbits eat fennel? Yes, they can. Fennels are crunchy and a great option as a snack for your rabbits.

Since rabbits need a moderate amount of vitamins, nutrients, antioxidants, and dietary fibers in their diet, fennels can provide them. Moreover, fennels are a rich source of antioxidants as they contain rutin and other flavonoids.

Just keep in mind not to overfeed them with it as it may have adverse effects on their body instead.

If possible, mix fennels with other vegetables when serving them; this makes up your bunny’s balanced diet. Staying healthy and well, these are what we want for our rabbits now, don’t we? I hope the information from this article will help you keep your bunny happy and healthy. 

Thank you for reading!