Can Rabbits Eat Blackberries? Your Questions answered.

Last Updated on March 14, 2023 by Marjon Ramos

Rabbits that are at least 7 months old can eat blackberries 1-2 times per week in small amounts. Sticking to this rule would ensure that your rabbit wouldn’t develop digestive problems.

The main cause of digestive problems in rabbits is the lack of fiber in their diet.

This usually happens when a rabbit owner overfeeds low-fiber food in lieu of hay, which should be 80% of their diet.

Now that I’ve given you the gist of the article, read on as I explain in more detail why rabbits can eat blackberries:

Do rabbits like eating blackberries?

Both of my rabbits (Tyr and Freya) like to eat blackberries and will gobble them up whenever I give them some.

My rabbits would probably overeat blackberries if given the chance.

I’ve also asked a few of my friends who have rabbits, and all of them said that they feed their rabbits blackberries, too.

Are blackberries safe for rabbits to consume?

As long as your rabbit is old enough (7 months old) to eat it and you only give it 1-2 times per week, feeding blackberries to your rabbit is completely safe.

Digestive problems happen mainly to young rabbits whose digestive systems are sensitive to sugar.

Another possible way blackberries could harm your rabbit is if they are eating blackberries in lieu of hay.

The lack of fiber would eventually lead to digestive problems.

What are the benefits of feeding blackberries to rabbits?

To properly understand the benefits of feeding blackberries to your rabbits, let’s first take a look at their nutritional content.

You can use the nutrient constraint calculator for rabbits below to see what nutrients your rabbits are getting when you feed them blackberries and if the amount you are giving is within the nutritional constraint.

You can also click on the blue icon beside each nutrient to see its benefits and deficiency:

As you can see from the nutrient constrain calculator above, blackberries contain very little nutrients per 100 grams.

But, as an occasional treat, it’s perfectly fine to have low nutritional content because you should never rely on treats to meet any of your rabbit’s nutritional requirements.

Are blackberries good for rabbits?

100 grams of blackberries contain small amounts of vitamins A, E, and B6.

It also contains important nutrients like copper, pantothenic acid, niacin, choline, protein, fiber, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium.

All of which are great for rabbits if fed at a reasonable amount.

How many blackberries can a rabbit eat?

The proper amount of blackberries you should feed your rabbits would depend on their age and weight.

You can use the diet portion calculator below to see how many blackberries (treats) you should give your rabbits:

If you currently have no idea of your rabbit’s weight, here’s a table that shows the average weight of rabbit breeds and how much blackberries you can give 1-2 times per week:

The table above assumes that your rabbit is at least 7 months old. Another important factor to consider when deciding to feed your rabbits blackberries is their age:

When can rabbits start eating blackberries?

Here’s a table that shows how much blackberries to give based on your rabbit’s age:

When should you not feed blackberries to rabbits?

Gist:

Do not feed blackberries to rabbits that are having digestive problems or those that are less than 7 months old.

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To avoid triggering any digestive problems, young rabbits or rabbits that are less than 7 months old should not be given sugary treats like blackberries.

Also, the proper protocol whenever you notice or suspect any digestive problems is to remove any other food in your rabbit’s diet except hay.

This would ensure that your rabbit is getting their required fiber for the day, which should account for 80% of their diet.

Risk of overfeeding blackberries to rabbits.

While blackberries are safe and nutritious for rabbits, there are still risks associated with overfeeding them.

• Gastrointestinal Stasis: Overfeeding blackberries in lieu of hay to your rabbits could lead to GI stasis, which is caused by a lack of fiber in your rabbit’s diet.
• Diarrhea: Diarrhea is also possible when rabbit owners overfeed large amounts of blackberries to their rabbits too fast. Always introduce any new diet to your rabbits slowly.
• Uneaten cecotropes: Soft uneaten cecotropes are also possible when rabbits are eating large amounts of blackberries instead of hay. This could lead to softer cecotropes due to the lack of fiber.
• Dental problems: Due to the sugar content of blackberries, feeding your rabbits large amounts of them could lead to dental problems.
• Obesity: Overfeeding blackberries to older rabbits, whose metabolism is slower, could lead to obesity due to the high sugar content of blackberries. Obesity could also lead to uneaten cecotropes, or “poopy bottoms,” because obese rabbits wouldn’t be able to reach their cecotropes to eat them.

Healthy alternatives to blackberries.

While blackberries are safe to be given to rabbits, you should still give your rabbits a variety of choices when it comes to their diet, just like what wild rabbits have.

Here are some alternatives to blackberries that you can give to your rabbits one to two times per week as a treat:

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Conclusion

Blackberries are safe to be eaten by rabbits as long as your rabbit is at least 7 months old and you’re only giving them to them 1-2 times per week.

Obesity, dental, and digestive issues can result from overfeeding blackberries to rabbits, especially young rabbits.