Last Updated on February 24, 2023 by Marjon Ramos
Quick Facts About Rose Hips:
- Scientific name – Rosa canina L.
- Also known as – Cynorhodon, Cynosbatos, Dog Rose, etc..
- Origin – Europe, Asia, and North Africa
- Average weight – 3.1 – 4.8 g
Rose hips are one of the safest treats you can feed your rabbits. In fact, if you go to Amazon right now you will find a few sellers that are selling dried rose hips treats for rabbits.
Just make sure that your only giving the recommended amounts of rose hips (treats) to your rabbit to prevent triggering digestive problems.
The recommended amount of rose hips that you can give your rabbit is 11-22 grams per kilogram 1-2 times per week.
Also, make sure that your rabbit is at least 7 months old before you give any kinds of treats.
Young rabbits are susceptible to digestive distress so its better to just feed them a lot of fiber without any sugar or starch.
Now that I’ve given you the gist of the article, read on as I explain in more detail why your rabbit can eat rose hips:
Table of Contents
Do rabbits like to eat rose hips?
Yes, your rabbit would eat rose hips if you give them some. Rose hips are sweet, and as we all know, rabbits are suckers for anything sweet.
In fact, they will often overfeed on sugary treats like rose hips if you let them have as much as they want. So make sure that you limit the amount you’re giving.
I’ve also tried giving some rose hips to my rabbit (Tyr and Freya), they both liked it.
Is rose hips safe to be eaten by rabbits?
Yes, rose hips are safe to be given to rabbits as long as your rabbit is at least 7 months old and your only giving the recommended amount 1-2 times per week.
The problem with sugary treats like rose hips is not really the sugar itself but the fact that rabbits are eating it in lieu of their main diet (hay).
The lack of fiber would eventually result in digestive problem like diarrhea or GI stasis.
Age is another factor that would affect how safe sugary treats like rose hips would be to your rabbit. Young rabbits (< 7 months old) are susceptible to digestive problems because their gut flora is not yet fully developed.
What are the benefits of feeding rose hips to rabbits?
To properly understand the benefits of feeding rose hips to your rabbits, you can use the nutrient constrain calculator below, which shows the different nutrients your rabbits are getting whenever you feed them rose hips.
It also shows if the amount you’re giving is within the safe nutritional range: