Blackberries are a great summer fruit for humans that can be enjoyed by themselves or as toppings on yogurt or dessert. However, can rabbits safely eat blackberries? If so, how often can rabbits eat blackberries.
So, Can Rabbits Eat Blackberries?
Rabbits can eat blackberries are long as they are fed in moderation and in the correct portion size for a rabbit. Not doing so may cause stomach discomfort or diarrhea which can be dangerous to rabbits. The portion is one tablespoon per 2lbs of the rabbit’s weight.
What in the blackberries cause stomach ache or watery stool in rabbits? What alternative foods can you feed to your rabbit that they may enjoy just as much as blackberries?
We will answer these two questions plus more in this article.
What Are Blackberries?
Blackberries are edible fruit that is filled with antioxidants and essential nutrients. Blackberries are actually native to Europe, but they are now being grown across the United States of America all year round.
Some essential nutrients that blackberries contain include Vitamin C, Fiber, Antioxidants, Vitamin K, and Vitamin A.
Blackberries have also been proven to help with brain function as they contain polyphenols which help to improve motor skills and cognitive skills.
Blackberries are a relative to the raspberry as they are both picked from brambles, both are native to Europe, and they are both an aggregate fruit.
An aggregate fruit is a fruit that is composed of small drupelets instead of a solid mass like an apple.
As blackberries grow in the wild in Europe, the wild rabbits in that region eat the blackberries when they are in season, which is part of the reason it is known that they are safe for rabbits to eat.
Feeding Blackberries To Your Rabbit
Rabbits can indeed eat blackberries, but they need to be given to rabbits in moderation.
Blackberries should also only be given to rabbits when they are fully ripe but not wilted. You need to avoid the blackberries that have a pink color to them as they are considered too ripe for rabbits.
You should also only add blackberries to your rabbit’s diet occasionally. It is ok to feed blackberries no more than two or three times a week with a one-day gap between feeding.
The amount that your rabbit can eat in one sitting is calculated by your rabbit’s weight. The equation to use is one tablespoon per 2 lbs (1kg) of your rabbit’s weight.
Can Rabbits Eat Dried Blackberries?
Rabbits can eat dried blackberries but it isn’t recommended. Dried blackberries are higher in sugar the undried fruit, and rabbits should not consume large amounts of sugar. If you are going to feed dried blackberries, do so very infrequently and only feed 1/2 tablespoon per 2lbs of your rabbit’s weight no more than once weekly.
Can Rabbits Eat Frozen Blackberries?
Rabbits can eat frozen blackberries in the same quantity as fresh blackberries. Many rabbits enjoy frozen fruit on hot summer days. Monitor your rabbit when feeding frozen blackberries for the first time as some rabbits negatively impacted by the cold temperature of frozen fruit.
The Nutritional Information For Blackberries
The nutritional information that is below is for 1 cup (5 ounces or 144g) of blackberries, which is considered one portion for a human adult.
The total calories in the portion size is 62. Here is the nutrition information for blackberries:
- Total fat: 1g (0.03 Ounce)
- Sodium: 1mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 14g (0.4 Ounces)
- Deitary Fiber 8g (0.28 Ounces)
- Sugars: 7g (0.24 Ounces)
- Protien: 2g (0.07 Ounces)
- Calcium: 42mg
- Iron: 1mg
- Potassium: 235mg
- Vitamin C: 2mg
- Vitamin K: 5mcg
- Folate: 36mcg
- Manganese: 0.9mg
- Magnesium: 8mg
- Choline: 2mg
- Pantothenic Acid: 0.4mg
- Copper: 0.2mg
- Phosphorus: 7mg
Blackberries are filled with good nutrients that can help your body function properly. But taking this information into context for rabbits, blackberries do contain a large amount of sugar; for rabbits, this can cause some issues.
Rabbits are used to a diet comprised of 70% hay, then some pellets, and some leafy greens. This is what their stomachs are used to, so you need to be careful when adding anything else to their diet.
Just ensure you measure their portions out correctly and do not feed them blackberries every day; only use them as a nice treat for your rabbit.
Potential Hazards Of feeding Blackberries To Rabbits
Remember that a rabbit’s digestive system is different from a human’s; therefore, they cannot have many of the foods that we eat, but they can eat certain foods like blackberries.
Blackberries are an excellent source of different minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants, which also make blackberries a very good food for rabbits. However, they can only have a small amount per portion, and they can only have it about two to three times per week.
If rabbits eat too many blackberries, then this can begin to cause some issues in their digestive system as rabbits do have a sensitive digestive system.
If your rabbit eats too many blackberries, then your rabbit can develop watery stools or diarrhea and stomach discomfort, which can be extremely dangerous for the rabbit.
Because the blackberries are sweet, if you give them to your rabbit too much, your rabbit may begin to refuse his/her staple foods that their bodies need to function properly, as they will just want to eat the sweet blackberries that they find more appealing.
Additionally, foods that are high in sugar can have long-term health impacts for your rabbit if consumed too regularly.
What In Blackberries Is Harmful To Rabbits?
The part of the blackberries that is the most harmful to rabbits is the sugars that are in them. This sugar is called fructose sugar, and just like too much of it can be bad for us; the same goes for your rabbit.
This sugar can change the bacterial balance in your rabbit’s digestive system, which is what causes the watery stools and stomach ache if your rabbit eats too many blackberries.
Are There Any Benefits To Feeding Rabbits Blackberries?
There are so many benefits to feeding your rabbit blackberries as they are so full of minerals and vitamins that rabbits need to thrive. All the minerals and vitamins that are in blackberries are used in various aspects of the rabbit’s body that help them to stay healthy.
Some are used to keep a healthy digestive system like the fiber, others are used to help keep their fur, skin, and eyes healthy like vitamin K, and then some are even used to help keep their blood healthy like the copper.
If your rabbit is fed blackberries in the right portion size no more than three times a week, they can receive these great benefits from the blackberries.
Better Alternatives To Blackberries For Rabbits
There are so many different foods that your rabbit may really enjoy; you can try to feed these to your rabbit to find out his/her favorite. The alternative foods include:
- Sweet corn
- Asparagus
- Cilantro
- Baby corn
- Basil
- Cabbage
- Beetroot
- Swiss chard
- Green beans
- Rocket
- Pumpkin
- Bell pepper
- Tomato
- Cucumber
- Bok choy
- Summer squash
- Winter squash
- Watercress
- Broccolini
- Escarole
- Parsnip
These alternative foods are just a few foods that are rabbit-approved favorites, but there are many others that you can try if your rabbit does not take a liking to these particular ones.
If you want to introduce new foods into your rabbit’s diet, be sure to introduce them slowly and make sure that you research the right portion size for your rabbit.
Conclusion
Blackberries are a great and healthy food for your rabbit to eat, as long as they are given as a special treat and not as an everyday food. If your rabbit doesn’t enjoy blackberries, there are other rabbit-safe fruits you can feed such as pears, apples, and dragon fruit.