If you think your rabbit may have eaten a toxic wood, then contact your exotics vet as soon as possible. Tasty treats! I think it keeps a healthier digestive system which is a very good thing in rabbits. Rabbits can be a severe nuisance to gardeners and homeowners since they can devastate vegetable gardens and kill all types of ornamental plants, shrubs, and flowers. However in captivity they do not have this advantage, so will often eat things that they shouldn’t. A diverse assemblage of plant species and structure benefits many wildlife species. Many annual bedding plants are favored by rabbits, including: Bachelor's Button (Centaurea cyanus) Cockscomb (Celosia argenta cristata) Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) See more ideas about plants, herbs, wild edibles. A library of rabbit information from A to Z, The funny side of life with house rabbits, Some frequently asked questions about rabbits, An interactive map of rabbit resources worldwide, Boyle's Pet Housing - UK rabbit hutches with a difference, Personalised artwork in aid of rabbits in need. You’ll also find a range of taste repellents at gardening stores, or you might want to try concocting your own recipe at home (only using rabbit-safe ingredients, of course). If your rabbit does like sage, it will provide them with many great vitamins and minerals. Thanks both, I've seen many sites with lists of rabbit resistant plants and a lot of those plants are listed on other sites as poisonous to pet rabbits. All categories of plants are eaten by rabbits, including perennials, annuals, shrubs, tree seedlings, grasses, fruits and vegetables. This is not good for the manufacturers of rabbit food that wish to sell their product. Not that he would ever do that! There may be differences in how toxic a houseplant is, but to be on the safe side, assume that all houseplants are toxic to rabbits. Wild plants are nutritionally balanced, palatable, and high in fibre. Certain plants can even poison pets, so it’s important to check what you’re feeding them is safe. Identifying and Treating Rabbit Ileus, a Common GI Disorder. Various types of dry and fresh grasses and plants with leaves comprise the largest portion of the wild rabbit diet. Plants, bushes, and the evergreen edge of the yard for the rabbits will help them to hide. Apple is a good example: the seeds are poisonous, but the fruit is perfectly fine for rabbits. We'll divide it into different sections: You can offer these vegetables daily: Here is a list of safe foods that bunnies can eat… continue reading. In the wild, rabbits strip bark from trees as food, along with soft twigs, fruits and seeds. Which plants are poisonous for rabbits? Various types of dry and fresh grasses and plants with leaves comprise the largest portion of the wild rabbit diet. When the weather turns cold, rabbits will munch on twigs, buds, bark, conifer needles, and any remaining green plants. One is to plant your garden with varieties commonly classed as being rabbit-repellent; however, these won’t necessarily repel all wild rabbits. Depending on the habitat and location, wild rabbits will eat any safe vegetation they can find to survive. Rabbits were designed to eat a wide variety of foods, not just one food. They are quite easy to recognise, their leaves can look a bit like other plants if you aren’t used to weed ID but the big pom pom seed heads on a single stem are easy to spot. Rabbits can eat lavender plants. Check out this list of woods, vines, and other plant materials that are safe options for pet rabbits. This is great, grazing on grass is good for your rabbit's digestive system and to keep their teeth in check. Lavender plants. This includes black nightshade, climbing nightshade, red nightshade, bittersweet nightshade, and woolly nightshade among others. Rabbit.Org, Feeding Rabbits. Hazel, Corylus avellana, is such a useful small tree. Hedgerows and waste ground are other places to look. Wild rabbits can carry harmful diseases that can be passed to domestic rabbits. They like to chew things and sample different plants and vegetation. Lemon balm is safe for rabbits. Here’s a list of safe vegetables and fruits for rabbits, followed by those to avoid, to keep your furry friend healthy and happy. Rabbits graze a wide range of plants and can cause sufficient damage to kill young trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. Rabbits are famous for their ability to reproduce. Apple is a good example: the seeds are poisonous, but the fruit is perfectly fine for rabbits. Marigolds, alyssums, ageratum, snapdragons, catnip, and strawflowers are examples of plants that repel rabbits. Sunflowers. Double-check which plants are in your garden before letting your bunnies loose! Safety first. Here's a list of pet-friendly plants. Rabbits are famous for their ability to reproduce. The trouble with being so tasty is it has a tendency to be popular with caterpillars and little black flies but you can pinch off the leaves or just let the caterpillars do their thing and the plants will have another flush of leaves once they turn into butterflies. The plants that are picked are natural food for rabbits that they enjoy eating. See more ideas about Plants, Wild edibles, Herbs. The whole plant is safe for rabbits, including the … Learn how to create a happy, healthy home for your pet. You also need to make sure that where your rabbits roam, wild rabbits can’t access. They are free, yummy and much closer to a rabbits natural diet so just what their digestion is good at handling. Any items in his cage are fair game for his teeth to nibble on so you want to make sure they are safe! You can coppice Hazel to provide plenty of ‘pea sticks’ for your kitchen garden. apricot (only when dried for at least one month), mint (do not give to pregnant or nursing does), peach (only when dried for at least one month), rose (any above-ground parts including hips), sow thistle (annual, spiny annual, perennial), citrus (all citrus woods including lemon, orange, etc. Also the food is free. ... Can rabbits eat the leaves on pumpkin plants or are they poisonous? Shantelle | January 17, 2014 at 7:46 am. RABBIT SAFE VEGETABLES-Alfalfa Sprouts Artichoke Leaves Arugula ... A rabbits diet in the wild would consist mostly of grass. Before the food plot planting begins, it is important to select the right location. Some plants have the notation (etc.) Great herbs and flowers you can find outside include dandelion, marigold, … Veterinarycentre.Co.Nz, 2020 http://www.veterinarycentre.co.nz/feeding-rabbits.php. That's where the confusion lies! In fact, I get asked by people all the time about which plants wild rabbits eat. When the weather turns cold, rabbits will munch on twigs, buds, bark, conifer needles, and any remaining green plants. Understand that planting rabbit-repelling plants isn’t a guaranteed solution because hungry rabbits are likely to eat almost anything. Wood is a popular and natural choice for rabbit owners but not all types of wood are safe—something to keep in mind when choosing wood for a rabbit hutch or for rabbit toys. As a general rule of thumb, keep rabbits away from all types of flowers grown from bulbs and from all evergreen trees and shrubs. If you are fond of rabbits, then you can make ready your yard or garden to welcome the wild rabbits. However, this is not always the case and a rabbit must be confined to its run until all poisonous plants are removed. Wild Rabbit Diet. Top rabbit foods include bluegrass, Korean lespedeza, crabgrass, clovers, wheat, corn, and milo. This herb can help stressed bunnies, but be sure to introduce it carefully and slowly into their diet. While twigs and branches are a way for rabbits to get their oral hygiene done, not all twigs and branches are safe for your pet. The best approach is to pick a selection of four or five types of plant, including grass, that you recognise. Do check before you feed any plants that they are not likely to be poisonous. Safe Foods for Feeding Rabbits. Remember if you cannot correctly identify the plant, don’t risk giving it to your bunny! Blackberry, raspberry and strawberry leaves – very good for poorly rabbits; Chickweed; Wild mallow; Wild geranium; Dried out nettle; Plantain; Shepherd’s purse; Goose grass; Buddleia; Rose leaves, petals and wood; Nasturtium; Herbs - mint, basil, lemon balm, rosemary, parsley, herb marigold and lavender; Sow thistle; Yarrow; Grass; Golden rod During warmer seasons, rabbits will eat weeds, grasses, clover, wildflowers, and flower and vegetable plants. Before just grabbing that tree branch from your backyard or a chunk of wood from the local lumber yard make sure the wood you are offering your rabbit is safe, free of pesticides, untreated, preferably organic, do not include any roots, and are free of paint. Reliably identify wild plants You don’t want to poison your rabbits so look out for poisonous plants.. Wash all fresh foods thoroughly Keep your rabbits’ VHD and myxomatosis vaccinations up to date in case of transmission of disease from infected wild rabbits. Rabbits are inquisitive. They eat a wide variety of plants. If you have mesh fences where rabbits could have nose-to-nose contact, build another fence half a metre beyond it to make sure that any wild rabbits couldn’t touch noses with your bunnies to spread diseases. Can Rabbits Eat Thyme The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. There may be differences in how toxic a houseplant is, but to be on the safe side, … * Also see the list of "Medicinal Herbs for Rabbits" page for information on uses and cautions for certain plants. If you let your rabbit out in your garden, chances are it will try a nibble at most things it can get its teeth on so when in doubt protect your plants with fencing or confine your rabbit to a safe area. Plants marked * are ones that I believe to be safe but have not fed to my own rabbits as yet, usually because of lack of availability. While rabbits may be able to eat small amounts without it being fatal, these plants are still poisonous to rabbits. They have a wood-based diet in the cold season (gnaw tree bark, twigs, pine needles) , but they usually feed on green plants during the rest of the time (clover, forbs and leafy weeds, dry and green grasses, shrubs or tree seedlings). Read the complete listing of the plant to get details regarding which parts to avoid. Jul 25, 2014 - Plants that are safe for rabbit consumption. About Rabbits. This is an attempt at a comprehensive list of known toxic and poisonous plants to rabbits with notes on its toxicity with regards to rabbits. It is said that wild rabbits tend to avoid rabbit poisonous plants. There are two types of marigold – Pot/English Marigolds (Calendula officinalis) and French/African Marigolds (Tagetes). Lemon balm. Wild garden herbs, weeds and flowers that rabbits can eat. Which trees, shrubs, flowers, wild plants are safe for rabbits an... Bunnyhugga is an international non-profit site raising the profile of rabbits as pets. However, our pets don’t have that advantage. The food wild rabbits eat provides insight into a natural, healthy bunny diet. Those who allow their rabbits free range should be aware that all houseplants are considered poisonous plants. Reply. Choose an area that has bushes or evergreens where the wild rabbits can hide. If fenced from livestock, pond areas can provide good rabbit cover. What To Feed Your Rabbit. Sage is also high in fiber and helps with a rabbit’s digestion. To help you, here we'll include a complete list of safe vegetables for rabbits. If no parts are listed, assume that the whole plant is poisonous and should not be in fed to your rabbit. Plants that many people can find in their backyards can also be good options for rabbits to chew on. If you let your rabbit out in your garden, chances are it will try a nibble at most things... Rabbits do not have an instinct for what plants are safe to eat and which aren't. Always wash them before feeding them to your rabbits. I would feed a lot more than you are, start by adding more each day and see how the rabbits do. If you have a question on a plant, please ask. Watch if there is any strange reaction that your rabbit might have and if there are no problems, you can include lavender plants into the daily diet. As their human companion we must be careful what vegetables we offer them. Make sure to like and subscribe! Rabbits in the wild all over the world successfully consume a wide variety of plant material. Rabbits enjoy eating a wide variety of vegetables and fruit and these are a great addition to your rabbit's diet... - read more, Boyle's Pet Housing is a UK rabbit hutch manufacturer supporting rabbit welfare, Flicka shares her favourite 10 photos from 2013, Personalised artwork by Kelly Anderson raising funds for rabbits in need. Some vegetables are suitable for rabbits and guinea pigs, while others can cause upset stomachs. We have a list of safe plants for your rabbits and guinea pigs here and here. Wood is a popular and natural choice for rabbit owners but not all types of wood are safe—something to keep in mind when choosing wood for a rabbit hutch or for rabbit toys. More rabbit information… Safe fruit, veg, herbs and plants. Id plant fairly thickly so that the plant foliage would cover the soil, preventing bare ground from showing. It’s the Pot Marigolds that are rabbit safe. Share this post. Sage is also high in fiber and helps with a rabbit’s digestion. Once you feel confident to spot wild forage then you can take a bag with you when out in public areas, etc. A list of known foods safe for rabbit consumption is located in Vegetables and Treats.. They have a wood-based diet in the cold season (gnaw tree bark, twigs, pine needles) , but they usually feed on green plants during the rest of the time (clover, forbs and leafy weeds, dry and green grasses, shrubs or tree seedlings). They love hiding from the other large animals. Below is a list of healthy safe foods for feeding rabbits naturally. A plant not on this list does not mean that it is safe for a rabbit to consume. Safe Fruits and Vegetables for Rabbits. The supply of wild plants will depend on the season, of course, with the greatest selection being available during spring and early summer. The natural diet of a wild rabbit is much more likely to foster a healthy digestive system than the diets of our domestic pet rabbits (obesity is never an issue with a wild rabbit!). Read the complete listing of the plant to get details regarding which parts to avoid. Rabbits need to chew on things regularly to keep their teeth trimmed and healthy. In the wild, they would learn what foods are safe and which ones are not from other older rabbits. All the others I have fed to my rabbits on numerous occasions. Acokanthera (Acokanthera)-fruit, flowers very poisonous Those who allow their rabbits free range should be aware that all houseplants are considered poisonous plants. Can Rabbits Eat Thyme. In most cases, plants that have passed the seedling stage are safe from rabbit damage. To feed a wild rabbit in your yard, choose a wooded or shrubby area where a rabbit will feel safe and scatter plenty of grass and hay there. A rabbit's main diet is hay, but they can also enjoy fruit, vegetables, herbs, plants and weeds. You can even plant some herbs they like to nibble on in a flower bed near the area you’ve chosen to feed the wild rabbits. Jul 25, 2014 - Plants that are safe for rabbit consumption. Please Note: You shouldn't give more than 2 tablespoons of treat food per day (for a healthy 6lb rabbit). A lot of pet shops sell 'treats' that are full of sugar and very bad for your rabbit and his health. The same goes for the material that his hide box and cage are made out of (if they are made of wood). Like their domestic rabbit cousins, wild rabbits are herbivores. We will try to update it periodically. If you have a garden, it’s good to know which plants wild rabbits like to eat. Garden Plants That are Safe for Rabbits and Guinea Pigs. A list of known foods safe for rabbit consumption is located in Vegetables and Treats.. Signs of Poisoning Signs that your rabbit may have ingested a toxic or unhealthy herb include intestinal upset and inflammation, diarrhea, loss of appetite, fever or low body temperature, seizures, lethargy, weakness and depression. The idea that that rabbits won’t eat a plant that is bad for them simply doesn’t make sense. The whole plant is rabbit (and human) safe, leaves, flowers and seed pods. Also, depending on where exactly we choose to collect the greens, we may not know 100% if … Here's a list of pet-friendly plants. Rabbits are fun, furry and cute pets; though they are herbivores or vegetarian, not all plants are good for them. Provide food-Provide leafy green vegetables and herbs for the wild rabbits. Apple tree branches put in the rabbit’s run are safe if eaten and offer play potential. These thick growing plants will not only provide the safety they need from their predators but will also shelter them from the extreme heat and also from heavy rain downpour.