Dried herbs: natural variety for rabbits, guinea pigs and rodents

In the wild, rabbits, guinea pigs and rodents do not just eat grass or seeds. They nibble on leaves, flowers, herbs, roots and twigs, and the omnivores among the rodents also catch insects. Dried herbs and natural snacks bring some of that variety back into the menu. They make hay more appealing, give your animal something to do and are handy for taming your pet.

Herbs and snacks are where Zooply started. Our own premium brand was created because the herbs and snacks that worked best for our own animals were not always available from other brands. In this category you will find the entire Zooply range: single herbs, leaves and flowers, herb mixes, dried vegetables and fruit, flakes, insects and gnawing material. We use them every day with our own animals in our shop and breeding facility.

At a glance

• ✓ Herbs and snacks are a supplement: hay and the right main food remain the basis.
• ✓ Mix herbs through the hay or hide them as enrichment, and change the type regularly.
• ✓ Give fruit and other sweet snacks only very sparingly; degus and dwarf hamsters get no sweet snacks.
• ✓ Insects are intended for omnivores such as hamsters, rats, mice and gerbils.
• ✓ Introduce a new type in a small amount, one type at a time.

What will you find in the Dried herbs category?

Single herbs and leaves

These are the sugar-free basic herbs you can mix through the hay every day: Zooply Dandelion Leaf, Nettle Leaf, Ribwort Plantain, Birch Leaf, Mulberry Leaf, Parsley Stalks, Lucerne, Green Oats and Red Clover Stems with Leaves. Each herb has its own texture and scent: dandelion leaf is light and fresh, nettle leaf coarser with a distinctive scent, mulberry leaf broad and crisp. Lucerne is richer in protein and calcium than ordinary hay, so you give it to adult animals in small amounts.

Dried flowers

Zooply Chamomile, Marigold, Blue Cornflower, Rose Buds and Rose Petals are light, fragrant flowers. They are ideal for scattering through the hay or bedding, so your animal goes searching. According to the product information, these flowers are also sugar-free and suitable for giving every day.

Herb and flower mixes

If you want to give several types at once, choose a mix. Zooply Meadow Flower Mix contains marigold, chamomile, rose, cornflower and parsley. The Leaf Mix combines dandelion leaf, birch leaf, echinacea, ribwort plantain and nettle leaf. There are also the Flower Mix and the Salad Bar, a mix containing carrot, parsnip, parsley, dandelion, dill, chamomile and lucerne, among other things.

Dried vegetables

Zooply has dried Bell Pepper, Spinach, Cucumber Slices, Beetroot, Pumpkin, Parsnip, Carrot Slices and Carrot Pieces, plus the Vegetable Mix. Vegetables are a recognisable snack that many animals love to eat from your hand. Carrot, pumpkin, parsnip and beetroot are naturally sweeter, though; give them in moderation and not to degus.

Flakes and snack mixes

Zooply Corn Flakes, Wheat Flakes and the Flake Mix are light, crunchy snacks. The snack mixes Herb Dream, Poké Bowl with Vegetables and Grandma's Vegetable Soup combine flakes, vegetables and herbs into a varied treat. Because flakes and mixes with fruit or grains are richer in energy than single herbs, use them as a reward or for foraging, not as a daily handful.

Dried fruit and fruit mixes

For a sweet treat there are Zooply Apple Cubes, Apple Slices, Banana Slices, Banana Pieces, Strawberry, Pineapple, Papaya, Cranberry, Rowan Berries and Rosehip, among others, and the mixes Fruit Mix, Yellow Fruit Mix, Vegetable and Fruit Mix and Vegetable & Fruit Pieces Mix. Fruit contains sugar. So only give it now and then and in small pieces, for example to tame your animal. Not suitable for degus and dwarf hamsters.

Zooply Vitamin C Mix

The Vitamin C Mix consists of red bell pepper and rosehip and is intended for guinea pigs and other animals that need extra vitamin C. It is a tasty supplement, but does not replace guinea pig food with vitamin C and daily fresh vegetables.

Insects

Zooply Mealworms, Crickets, Grasshoppers, Silkworms and the Insect Mix are dried insects: an animal-protein snack for omnivores. Hamsters, rats, mice and gerbils also eat insects in the wild. According to the product information they are sugar-free. Give them as a reward or hide them, and keep the amount small. Rabbits and guinea pigs are herbivores and do not get insects.

Gnawing material

Zooply Apple Branches are dried chew branches; Dandelion Roots are sturdy roots to gnaw on. The teeth of rabbits and rodents keep growing throughout life. Gnawing on untreated wood or sturdy roots keeps them busy and supports tooth wear. For rabbits and guinea pigs, however, hay remains the most important thing for the teeth.

Which herbs suit which animal?

Rabbits and guinea pigs

For them, the single herbs, leaves, flowers and herb mixes are the best choice to mix through the hay every day. Vegetables can be given as a snack. Fruit and flakes only very sparingly. For guinea pigs, the Vitamin C Mix is a tasty supplement to their daily vitamin C.

Hamsters, mice, rats and gerbils

These omnivores enjoy herbs and flowers to search for, and insects as a protein-rich reward. Rats quickly become overweight; keep snacks small for them. Dwarf hamsters, especially Campbell's and Russian dwarf hamsters, are sensitive to sugar: no fruit or sweet snacks.

Degus

Degus are prone to diabetes. Give them only sugar-free herbs, leaves and flowers, such as dandelion leaf, ribwort plantain, nettle leaf, chamomile and marigold. No fruit, dried fruit, carrot, pumpkin, parsnip, beetroot, flakes or snack mixes containing these ingredients.

How to use dried herbs

You can give herbs in two ways. Mix them through the hay, so your animal searches through the hay more actively and eats more of it. Or use them as enrichment: hide a little in a cardboard box, a tunnel or the bedding. Alternate between types so it stays new. With a new type, start with a small amount and see how your animal reacts. For animals with a sensitive tummy, give one new type at a time.

Use snacks deliberately. A piece of vegetable or a mealworm from your hand is a good way to get a shy animal used to you. If you give snacks every day, do not reduce the main food, but keep the snack genuinely small.

Taming with snacks

A shy rabbit, a new hamster or a group of young rats gets used to you fastest if you become associated with something tasty. Sit quietly next to the enclosure and offer a small piece on your flat hand: a dandelion leaf or piece of bell pepper for a rabbit or guinea pig, a mealworm for a hamster, mouse or rat. Let your animal come to you and do not grab. Repeat this for a few minutes every day, at the same time.

For this, preferably choose snacks you can give daily, such as sugar-free herbs, vegetables or, for omnivores, an insect. Save fruit for the odd special moment. Use small pieces: it is about the contact, not the quantity. Count snacks you give while taming towards the daily portion of treats.

Storage

Store dried herbs and snacks in a dry, cool and dark place in the closed packaging or a well-sealing jar. That way colour, scent and taste are preserved. Throw herbs away if they smell musty, are damp or you see mould.

Handy combinations

• Zooply hay and straw to mix the herbs through.
• Zooply herbal hay, which already contains herbs, leaves or flowers.
• Zooply rodent food as the basis for hamsters, gerbils, mice, rats and degus.
• Zooply bedding to hide herbs and insects in.

Frequently asked questions about dried herbs

How many herbs can I give per day?

With single herbs and flowers, a handful a day mixed through the hay is a good guideline for a rabbit or guinea pig; for small rodents a pinch is enough. It should remain a supplement: your animal should still eat its hay and main food as normal. If your animal is eating less hay since you started giving herbs, give fewer herbs.

Which herbs are suitable for degus?

Only sugar-free herbs, leaves and flowers, such as dandelion leaf, nettle leaf, ribwort plantain, birch leaf, chamomile, marigold and blue cornflower. Avoid anything with fruit, carrot, pumpkin, parsnip, beetroot or flakes. If in doubt, choose a single herb, so you know exactly what is in it.

Are dried fruit snacks healthy?

Fruit contains sugar, even when dried. As a rare treat for a rabbit, guinea pig, hamster or rat, a small piece is fine, for example for taming. We do not recommend it as a daily snack. For daily use, it is better to choose sugar-free herbs or vegetables such as bell pepper or cucumber.

Can my rabbit have mealworms or crickets too?

No. Rabbits and guinea pigs are herbivores and do not need animal protein. The Zooply insects are intended for omnivores such as hamsters, rats, mice and gerbils. For rabbits and guinea pigs, herbs, leaves, flowers and some vegetables are the right treats.

Can I give herbs to a sick animal?

Herbs are food, not medicine. If your animal is not eating, is lethargic, has diarrhoea or is breathing heavily, go straight to a vet with knowledge of rabbits or rodents. Herbs can, however, help a recovering animal regain its interest in food, provided the vet has no objection.

Why does my animal not eat the herbs?

Some animals need to get used to a new scent. Mix a little through the hay or food your animal already knows and try it for a few days. If that does not work, try a different type. Not every animal likes every herb; that is why the range is so wide.

Zooply dried herbs at Knaagplaza

Herbs and snacks are the heart of Zooply. We use them every day to keep the hay of our rabbits and guinea pigs appealing and to keep our rodents busy and tame them. Choose the herbs that suit your animal, alternate regularly and keep snacks a small treat.