I think that the 1st. thing to do is to cut out as much stress as possible, especially for stasis prone buns & those with infections. TBH it took me ages to become stress aware for my buns.
NOT forage in the UK but from a plant, I use
echinacea, 1 pinch daily from a human capsule, cos Benjie is a very nervous bun. It's done wonders for him behaviourally, cos he's been very withdrawn, & I'm convinced that it keeps his snuffles under better control. It would also help nervous buns prone to stasis.
I think it's also important to be aware that eg Willow has a lot of aspirin like substances in it, as does yarrow. If a bun is devouring lots of willow they usually have pain somewhere & need a vet. Similarly if they're on metacam, don't let them have too much willow.
I've said how I started with mine.
I'd look at the rabbit safe plants you can get easily, & maybe start by typing in the latin name for the plant in Wickipaedia to get an overview. Remember the culinary herbs too (
never ever use the onion family - garlic/chives etc -they're poisonous to rabbits.) Next step offer them some.
I've noticed that sometimes they just go crazy for it from the beginning, but other times they just take a tiny taste.
Next day they eat a bit more, & then they decide whether to go on, or it isn't helping, stop eating it altogether.
I think that Geoff'speople has more information on that subject than I do.
There's a good thread about feeding buns with tummy probs. here.
http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...ried-given-your-stasis-prone-buns-tree-leaves
Chelle, you've set me thinking -dangerous! :lol: It would make sense if rabbits were highly bodily aware. Wildies have 2 big probs if they're under the weather
- they're more prone to predation if they go far from their burrows when unfit. I've seen this in both my buns being very reluctant to go outside & staying very close to the house when poorly.
The problem for wildies is that if they're unfit, there's always another bun lower in the social heirarchy willing to challenge them to fight for a bit of "upward social mobility".
I have repeatedly noticed that buns learn by watching each other (me), trial & error, & a bit of instinct. With Benjie this certainly applied to food too. He was fascinated by what I ate for a few days. He was up on the sofa beside me, & put his nose into my plate while I watched like a hawk. I always turned the plate so he could only reach things he
wouldn't eat eg fish, & made "A-a" noises = NO. After 3-4 days he gave up interest completely, & never bothers with any of my food now.