Any garden will benefit from having marigold blooms. The petals and leaves of the plants are renowned for their vivid colors and intense fragrance. Most likely, you’ve noticed that bunnies enjoy eating flowers. However, not all are suitable for them. Can rabbits eat marigolds?
While some gardeners grow marigolds as a rabbit deterrent, others report that rabbits consume their plants. This article explains the basis for these divergent viewpoints. Additionally, if you wish to add marigolds to your pet’s diet, you will find the information you need here.
Why Do Rabbits Avoid Marigolds?
For the most part, flowers are one of rabbits’ favorite food, and munching on petals is a satisfying hobby for them. Still, don’t be surprised if your rabbit rejects any attempts you make to give it a taste of your pot marigold. It’s common knowledge that marigolds can keep rabbits away naturally. Many gardeners recommend the plant as a rabbit repellent.
To locate readily available food sources, rabbits use their keen sense of smell. Some rabbits may avoid areas with marigolds because of the powerful smell. This variety of flowers has a strong scent and a bitter taste, which makes it unappealing to rabbits. Although the blooms and leaves are edible, rabbits may avoid the plants due to their intense fragrance and unpleasant taste.
Some wild rabbits strongly dislike the scent of marigolds, which is why some gardeners use the flower as a border plant to deter wild rabbits from eating garden produce.
However, contrary to popular opinion, most rabbits will eat marigolds, but the plant isn’t their favorite. Rabbits will eat anything, including marigolds if they are hungry enough. Marigolds do not prevent rabbits from entering the garden, even though these animals often shun intense or unusual aromas as potential hazards. Rabbits often view marigolds as little more than another nibble.
What about those who vouch for their effectiveness in warding off rabbits? There are undoubtedly other elements at work. They may reside in a region where predators like foxes and owls keep rabbit populations in check.
Is Marigold Flower Suitable For Rabbits?
There are wide varieties of marigolds. It is good to feed rabbits marigolds if you use a suitable type. Pot marigold, or Calendula (Calendula officinalis), is entirely safe for rabbits. Your bunny can eat these brilliant blooms without any repercussions. You may relax knowing that these plants do not threaten your rabbit’s health whether you let it eat some or not.
Some marigold species may irritate or even be toxic to rabbits. In the buttercup family, you’ll find the succulent marsh marigold (Caltha palustris), which has glossy leaves and tiny yellow flowers. Humans and bunnies should avoid their leaves. It contains protoanemonin, which can cause skin irritation if handled. In addition to causing lesions in your rabbit’s digestive tract, this greasy poison can cause convulsions.
French and African marigolds are also toxic to rabbits. Though smaller than typical marigolds, they come in various vivid colors, including yellow, orange, and red. Rabbits hate these because of the powerful scent they emit. On top of that, they can make your rabbit ill. In addition, it may cause skin irritation in your pet. French marigolds are relatively less toxic; even so, rabbits should stay away from them.
Health Benefits Of Marigolds To Rabbits
Rabbits can gain several health advantages from pot marigolds. First off, marigolds are a good source of fiber. To maintain a healthy digestive system and teeth, rabbits need a lot of fibrous food. Marigold is an ideal supplement if you want to give rabbits a treat or spice up their diet so they have more options for foraging.
Access to marigolds’ hydration and nutritional benefits is excellent for a rabbit’s health and development. Their orange-yellow hue comes from antioxidant carotenoids in the petals. In addition, antioxidants ( carotenoids and beta-carotene) are found in the leaves and stems.
Excellent for enhancing rabbit immunity, marigold can also be used to boost appetite during illness. It also facilitates quick recovery from ulcers, skin conditions, slow-healing wounds, and bruises.
How To Feed Rabbits Marigold
Start with a small amount of Calendula officinalis to test if your bunnies appreciate it, then look for indications of diarrhea in their droppings after a day. You can incorporate it into your rabbit’s regular diet if you observe no adverse reactions.
Also, you shouldn’t feed your rabbit exclusively marigolds. Hay should make up most of your pet bunny’s diet, along with some vegetables and high-fiber pellets. Fruit snacks are acceptable to give bunnies on occasion.
When feeding your rabbit greens, it’s best to combine a small number of marigolds with other rabbit-safe greens. Examples of suitable vegetables include asparagus, cilantro, mint, parsley, pumpkin leaves, etc. About four to six different types of fresh foods, both leafy and non-leafy, are suitable.
You can hand-feed your rabbit marigold petals if it is a fan of this flower. Or, you can sprinkle it on your rabbit’s hay to liven up mealtimes. While fresh marigolds are more readily available in the summer, you can ensure your rabbit has access to this tasty treat year-round by drying and storing the flowers.
If you aren’t sure what kind of marigolds you have in your garden and your pet gets into them, you should watch for any signs of sickness. Additionally, only adult rabbits should be given marigolds.
What Part Of Marigold Can Rabbits Eat?
Marigolds are completely edible from root to flower. Even still, most rabbits enjoy the sweet taste of petals and seek them out as a snack. Because of their slightly sweeter taste, rabbits prefer the petals to the leaves. Although, there are bunnies that favor the leaves.
In the garden, rabbits usually eat marigold plants from the bottom up. They go after the shoots, leaves, and buds first before moving on to the more tender petals. Rabbits will nibble on marigolds, but they aren’t a favorite. However, the strong scent of marigold leaves may repulse some rabbits.
What Type Of Marigolds Keeps Rabbits Away?
If you have a rabbit problem, you know how difficult it is to protect your garden from these pests while allowing your plants and shrubs to thrive. The last thing you want is to put in the effort and time to grow these flowers to have rabbits come in and eat them all.
Even though rabbits are adorable, they can wreak havoc on your garden by eating your plants and destroying your crops. Rabbits are particularly fond of tender, immature vegetables, but they avoid plants with strong fragrances. Planting marigolds all over your garden may deter rabbits, as the aromatic scent of the flowers is offensive to many of them.
There are two primary varieties of marigolds used as rabbit deterrents in gardens. The first is pot marigolds (Calendula officinalis). Pot marigolds come in a rainbow of daisy-like hues, including yellow, orange, red, white, and even pink.
Others include French and African Marigolds. Many people confuse the two because of how similar French and African look. Marigolds, which are part of the genus Tagetes, also have a strong scent that is thought to keep rabbits and deer away from gardens.
However, experts agree that marigolds typically fail to keep rabbits out of gardens. Although deer often disregard marigolds, rabbits may enjoy munching on them. When they’re hungry, rabbits eat just about anything, including tagetes.
How Do You Keep Bunnies Away From Marigolds?
Since rabbits sometimes eat marigolds, it’s unlikely they will deter them. You can protect your marigolds and other garden plants against wild rabbits in many ways.
Install Fence
Fencing your garden securely with chicken wire or hardware cloth will deter rabbits. The fence’s height should be between two and three feet to prevent any rabbit from hopping.
Maintain a tidy garden
To feel secure and hidden, rabbits will only visit specific locations if they feel concealed and protected. Therefore, clean up the area surrounding your marigolds if you want to discourage your rabbit from eating them. Get rid of any rubbish or heaps that could provide cover for rabbits, and mow down any tall grasses. Rabbits won’t bother your plants if they have any reason to fear for their safety.
Get a scarecrow
Since rabbits are terrified of owls, you can use an owl decoy to scare them away. Also, pinwheels can help deter rabbits from nibbling on your garden plants. Rabbits are frightened by their noises and movement.
Conclusions
Pot marigolds are a safe option if your bunny likes to snack on marigold plants. It’s possible, though, that they’d choose the sweet petals over the bitter leaves. You should probably avoid African, French, and Marsh marigolds since they contain mildly poisonous chemicals.
Since rabbits can eat marigolds, don’t count on the plant to keep rabbits away from your garden. It would be best to use other more dependable methods.