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Do Rabbits Eat Milkweed? (Quick Answers)

Rabbits are considered an herbivorous type of animal that usually relies on hay, fresh vegetables, flowers, and herbs as a part of their daily diet. In today’s article, we will discuss if rabbits can eat milkweed flowers or not. 

Do rabbits eat milkweed?  

In general, rabbits do eat milkweed leaves and flowers if they are hungry. It is not that toxic to rabbits and if provided they eat this willingly. Milkweed also acts as a rabbit supplement and does not have long-term feeding effects. So, it is considered a safe food for the rabbits to consume. 

Milkweed is known as a flowering plant that is commonly found in Africa, and North and South America. These flower plants are considered toxic to insects, humans, and other animals because they contain a harmful element named cardenolides. 

However, it does not affect some animals’ bodies and they can live without facing any type of toxicity caused by the milkweed plants. In addition to that, the milkweed is beneficial in many other ways. 

It has herbal medicinal value. That is why it is considered an essential plant. A common characteristic of rabbits enables them to eat any flooring, plant, shrub, or tree seedling. 

Generally, it is common for rabbits to feed on young leaves of milkweed even though they contain a high number of toxic compounds in their milky sap. 

Since the immune systems of rabbits are strong and they live in the wild areas, the toxic plants or flowers cannot cause any significant damage to their body. 

Below is a brief discussion on a different type of milkweed, and explained of whether they are safe for the rabbits to eat or not: 

Butterfly milkweed: 

Generally, the rabbits tend to avoid any type of woody and bush plants. Butterfly Milkweed is a type of bush plant that the rabbits do not prefer to eat. 

Milkweed plants: 

The rabbits usually eat milkweed plants and leaves without having any type of sickness symptoms in their body.  

Milkweed leaves: 

It is common for rabbits to eat the milkweed leaves when they eat the milkweed plants, so it will not affect their body or the immune system.

Is milkweed poisonous to rabbits?  

Milkweed is not considered poisonous to the rabbits because it does not contain any element that can cause damage to the immune system of a rabbit’s body. 

Generally, the rabbits tend to live in wild areas and they have an excellent immune system which enables them to prevent any type of toxic elements from causing damage to their body. 

As a result, milkweed does not cause any significant damage to the body if they are consumed in smaller amounts. Although it is poisonous to some insects and humans, it does not affect the rabbits at all.

Generally, the rabbit tends to eat grass, leaves, trees, and shrubs. Research shows that the milkweed can be provided to the rabbits in smaller amounts. 

The rabbits can eat the leaves of the milkweed. This should not cause any type of sickness or toxicity in their body. 

Do wild rabbits eat milkweed?  

It is very normal for wild rabbits to eat milkweed because it contains materials that should not cause any type of damage to their body. In addition to that, the rabbits are grown up in wild areas, so they know their environment very well. 

The milkweed is poisonous to humans and insects. But Wild rabbits can eat the milkweed because their immune system is improved and helps to prevent any type of toxicity that can be caused by eating the milkweed. 

The rabbits tend to eat milkweed plants as well as the leaves. But it is recommended for the rabbits to eat the milkweed in a smaller amount because it might affect their body if they consume it in large numbers. 

The young milkweed leaves are more poisonous than the adult milkweed leaves. So, it is better to avoid eating the plant or the flowers to keep the rabbits safe and secure.

Why do rabbits eat milkweed? 

 There could be many reasons behind rabbits eating the milkweed. Generally, the rabbit eats milkweed because it is easy to source and does not affect their body. 

Although milkweed is a type of plant that has toxic compounds in it, it can affect the human body as well as the insects if consumed. 

But it is not supposed to affect the rabbits because the rabbits have a strong immune system and they live in wild areas. 

Generally, rabbits eat milkweed because they are easy to source and are found everywhere. Below is a brief discussion on a few reasons why rabbits eat milkweed.

They are found easily: 

The reason why the rabbits eat milkweed is that they are found easily. Sourcing the milkweed and accessing them is not a hassle for the rabbits. They can simply find it in the wild areas.

When rabbits are in search of food: 

Generally, the rabbits eat milkweed when they are desperate in search of food. When they do not find any type of food, they simply eat whatever they have around them.

They get attracted by the color: 

A common reason why rabbits eat great meat is that the color of the plant attracts them. As a result, they simply eat the milkweed plants and leaves.

How to stop rabbits from eating milkweed?  

Many people tend to grow milkweed plants in their gardens as ornamental plants. The flowers of this plant enhance the beauty of your garden as well as make it look more decorative. 

But if you have rabbits that usually come to your garden and eat the leaves and plants, this could be a matter of issue. Not only damage the plants you have in your garden but also will damage the beauty of it. 

That is why it is important to take some steps to secure the milkweed plants of your garden from the invading rabbits. There are different types of steps that can be taken to prevent the rabbits from entering your milkweed garden: 

Apply chicken wire fence: 

A high enough chicken can be used so that the rabbits cannot climb. That is why it is recommended to use a two feet high chicken wire fence to encircle the garden.

Dust the plants with talcum powder: 

You can try using talcum powder, and sprinkling it over the plans to prevent the rabbits from damaging them.

Pour egg solids on the soil: 

Spread some material that the rabbits do not like to smell. As a part of that, you can pour egg solids into the soil to prevent the rabbits from entering your garden.

Is milkweed deer and rabbit resistant?  

Although the milkweed is preferred by the rabbits to eat, they will only eat the milkweed plants and leaves if they are hungry and desperate in search of food. Other than that, the rabbits do not tend to like milkweed at all. 

As a result, you can use milkweed to prevent deer and rabbits from entering your garden. Although the rabbit can consume a little amount of milkweed, it is toxic to the deer

So, if you’re living in a deer-infested area and facing deer invasion, you can try planting some milkweed to prevent the deer from entering your garden and causing damage to your plants and herbs. 

In addition to that, the milkweed plant will be great deer and rabbit resistant if you know how to use it. You can try using the butterfly milkweed, it is a Bush type of plant that the rabbits usually do not like. 

So, it will keep the rabbits away from your garden. As a result, your garden will be safe from the invasion of any type of animal and your trees and plants will not be damaged.

Is milkweed poisonous to deer? 

Milkweed is a poisonous type of plant that can be harmful to many animals as well as humans and insects. As a result, the consumption of milkweed plants or leaves can cause serious damage. 

The milkweed is not considered poisonous to the deer if they are consumed in smaller amounts. Excessive consumption of milkweed can cause serious damage to the deer and make them sick due to their toxicity. 

On the other hand, if you’re looking to use them as a deer repellent, you can try planting some milkweed plants in your garden. They do not like to eat the milkweed plants if they are hungry enough and desperate in search of food. 

That is why it will work great if you can plant them in your garden. And it is recommended to avoid reading the milkweed plants to your deer.

Final Thoughts

It is completely fine for the rabbits to eat milkweed plants and leaves in smaller amounts because it will not cause them any type of toxicity or sickness. It can be fed to the rabbits as a supplementary diet. Rabbits will only eat milkweed plants if they are hungry and desperate in search of food.