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Yes, chinchillas can eat rose hips as an occasional treat. The PDSA suggests one rose hip as an occasional treat, Woodgreen lists dried rose hip as a healthy treat, and PetMD names rose hips among good low-calcium treats. Give one dried rose hip, once or twice a week at most. It is one of the safest treats you can offer a chinchilla.
| Safe? | Yes, as a treat |
| How much | One dried rose hip |
| How often | Once or twice a week at most |
| Best served | Dried, whole or broken in half, from a pet supplier |
| Watch out for | Sprayed garden roses, too many treats crowding out hay |
Why rose hips make a good treat
Rose hips are the fruit of the rose plant, but dried hips are firm, dry and fibrous rather than soft and juicy, which suits a chinchilla's gut far better than fruit like apple or grapes. They are one of the few treats that UK and US sources agree on. The PDSA lists one rosehip as an occasional treat. Woodgreen lists dried rose hip as a healthy treat. PetMD names rose hips with marigolds and calendula as low-calcium treats, and Chewy's vet-reviewed sheet lists rose hips and petals.
How many rose hips can a chinchilla have?
One at a time. The PDSA says one piece as an occasional treat, and Chewy suggests treats once or twice a week. PetMD says treats in total should be no more than 1 to 10% of the diet, and Chewy says no more than 10%. For a chinchilla eating mostly hay with 1 to 2 tablespoons of pellets, one rose hip once or twice a week keeps well inside that.
How to give rose hips
- Buy them dried for pets. Pet-sold dried rose hips avoid garden sprays, which Chewy warns against.
- Check each one. Use only firm, dry hips with no damp growth or spoiled smell.
- Break it in half if you like. Two half-treats on different days stretch the same amount.
- Hide it in the hay. The PDSA suggests hiding treats in hay to encourage foraging.
- Start with one. The RSPCA says never change a chinchilla's diet suddenly, so try one and check droppings the next day.
Because rose hips are so popular, they make a good taming reward. Offer one from your hand at the same time each evening; see our guide to taming a chinchilla.
Hips, petals, twigs and other forms
- Dried rose hips: yes, as above.
- Dried rose petals and leaves: yes, in small amounts. Woodgreen lists both in its forage mix.
- Wild rose twigs: yes, with the large thorns removed, says Woodgreen.
- Fresh rose hips from the garden: not covered by our sources. They are softer and may be sprayed, so we would stick to dried pet-sold ones.
- Rosehip syrup, tea or jam: no. These are human foods, often sweetened, which the PDSA says not to offer.
Who should go careful?
Young chinchillas and those with a sensitive tummy should have hay and pellets settled first, then try a half rose hip. Overweight chinchillas should keep treats to the low end.
Other treats
Rotate rose hips with dried dandelion, dried nettle or chamomile, and keep unlimited hay as the main food. Sweeter treats such as raisins are best skipped. For the full list, see what can chinchillas eat, our chinchilla diet guide and our chinchilla care guide.
Rose hip questions
How often can chinchillas have rose hips?
The PDSA calls one rose hip an occasional treat, and Chewy suggests treats once or twice a week. We would give one dried rose hip once or twice a week at most, alongside unlimited hay.
Can chinchillas eat rose petals?
Yes, dried and in small amounts. Woodgreen lists dried rose petals and dried rose leaves as chinchilla forage, and Chewy lists rose petals as a treat. Use petals from unsprayed plants or ones sold for pets.
Can chinchillas eat fresh rose hips?
Our sources only describe dried ones. Fresh hips are softer and wetter, and garden roses are often sprayed, so we would stick to dried rose hips sold for small pets.
Are rose hips good for baby chinchillas?
Wait until a young chinchilla is settled on hay and pellets. The PDSA keeps even its small raisin allowance away from young chinchillas, so go gently. When you start, half a dried rose hip is plenty.
