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Feeding our Bunnies through this Corona Crisis

tonibun

Wise Old Thumper
I have about 3 weeks of Rabbit Nuggets left and looking on PAH website, they are out of stock at the moment. So I am getting slightly worried as to whether I will be able to buy their normal food or have to get something else. I don't really want to change the pellets as they seem good and not quite as expensive as SS or Excel but dearer than some of the other foods. We get really good hay and I have a big bag of Grasstistic. Their staple veg is Spring Greens but I have to drive 12 miles to get that and I am possibly better off staying home and using the local shop. I can't forage for 37 rabbits. I used to bring home bags of long beautiful grass but I can't do this anymore. So I thought we could give one another ideas to help our bunnies through this time.
 
I am in a similar situation though have more choices than yourself. I'm okay for pellets but a bit scuppered for both supermarket greens and foraging.

I have bought loads of seeds and some mini greenhouses but I'm struggling to get potting compost to complete the plan.

I'm also worried about not being able to get VHD2 vaccines done so I'm planning on saving a bale of hay or two back for the bunnies I couldn't get vaccinated (the idea being that new season hay is more likely to have VHD2 than last years hay in which the virus will have died off). Then only feed them herbs/kale that have been grown inside the greenhouse/under netting with no risk of bird droppings etc.

The grow-your-own is a major undertaking though.
 
Ok- if anyone is struggling with nuggets in any way, please please drop me a pm.
I work at a pet food distributor and can (for the moment) get hold of nuggets and stuff. We sell excel nuggets - indoor rabbit range, light and normal, guinea pig range and also to former Russel rabbit brand.
I’m on thurlough leave so I’ve got lots of time on my hands and as I’m doing essential shopping anyway, I can swing past and get anything you need as long as we stock it.
Can’t promise some of the more specialised stuff but I’ll help where I can so just pm me if I can help.
Craig x
 
I am in a similar situation though have more choices than yourself. I'm okay for pellets but a bit scuppered for both supermarket greens and foraging.

I have bought loads of seeds and some mini greenhouses but I'm struggling to get potting compost to complete the plan.

I'm also worried about not being able to get VHD2 vaccines done so I'm planning on saving a bale of hay or two back for the bunnies I couldn't get vaccinated (the idea being that new season hay is more likely to have VHD2 than last years hay in which the virus will have died off). Then only feed them herbs/kale that have been grown inside the greenhouse/under netting with no risk of bird droppings etc.

The grow-your-own is a major undertaking though.

I'm tempted to say use garden soil with crumbled bunny poo. that's what i'd do. Can't believe I've said that aloud on RU
 
I'm tempted to say use garden soil with crumbled bunny poo. that's what i'd do. Can't believe I've said that aloud on RU

I have done it in the past and that is Plan A at the moment. I have one precious bag of compost that I will use carefully. But, yes, the bunnies could well be earning their keep from now on!!:lol::lol:
 
I am in a similar situation though have more choices than yourself. I'm okay for pellets but a bit scuppered for both supermarket greens and foraging.

I have bought loads of seeds and some mini greenhouses but I'm struggling to get potting compost to complete the plan.

I'm also worried about not being able to get VHD2 vaccines done so I'm planning on saving a bale of hay or two back for the bunnies I couldn't get vaccinated (the idea being that new season hay is more likely to have VHD2 than last years hay in which the virus will have died off). Then only feed them herbs/kale that have been grown inside the greenhouse/under netting with no risk of bird droppings etc.

The grow-your-own is a major undertaking though.
Have you tried amazon? I got loads delivered from them (this was a good few weeks back now tho, so Idk if everyone's panicked and bought it all up [emoji51]) I normally get mine from b and q but I can't lift the huge bags atm, it's like 125L or something, so I just ordered a huge selection of different types of soil and got them delivered [emoji38] tbh Idk what I'ma do though going forward, I use a ridiculous amount of compost every year, and I didn't buy enough for like everything being potted on etc [emoji51]

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I'm tempted to say use garden soil with crumbled bunny poo. that's what i'd do. Can't believe I've said that aloud on RU
We have a poop bucket! It's actually for brewing [emoji38] anyway we keep white bun poop in it, and I mix it in with stuff I put in the ground [emoji38][emoji38]

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Have you tried amazon? I got loads delivered from them (this was a good few weeks back now tho, so Idk if everyone's panicked and bought it all up [emoji51]) I normally get mine from b and q but I can't lift the huge bags atm, it's like 125L or something, so I just ordered a huge selection of different types of soil and got them delivered [emoji38] tbh Idk what I'ma do though going forward, I use a ridiculous amount of compost every year, and I didn't buy enough for like everything being potted on etc [emoji51]

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Cheers, I will have a look. I just assumed delivery cost would make it a no-go if not local.
 
We have a poop bucket! It's actually for brewing [emoji38] anyway we keep white bun poop in it, and I mix it in with stuff I put in the ground [emoji38][emoji38]

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I love the way you specify poop from white buns. Atty splats not good enough for growing your veggies:lol: Whenever I say I put bunny poo on a plant Bob always wants affirmation I've not used Rudey's :lol:
 
Tonibun, if you can get any sort of green leafy veg from your local shop, then I'd get that. I'd also encourage the weeds to grow in your garden. It probably won't be enough for 37 rabbits, but it will supplement anything you have to buy.

Re compost, as I think I said a few weeks ago, I feel guilty that I buy peat-based compost. So for sowing seeds, I now always use old compost, which has been re-used time and time again. I've often read that this encourages disease, but I've never experienced that. For potting on, as that requires fertiliser, I either use new compost or old compost with seaweed fertiliser. Obviously also for tomatoes they get their own fertiliser each week once they are producing fruit.

Is there no potting compost left in garden centres?

ETA For potting on it's also fine to use garden soil, with or without bunny poop :)
 
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I love the way you specify poop from white buns. Atty splats not good enough for growing your veggies[emoji38] Whenever I say I put bunny poo on a plant Bob always wants affirmation I've not used Rudey's [emoji38]

[emoji38][emoji38][emoji38][emoji38] Yea Atticus and Clementines poop don't make the cut unfortunately [emoji38]



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Tonibun, if you can get any sort of green leafy veg from your local shop, then I'd get that. I'd also encourage the weeds to grow in your garden. It probably won't be enough for 37 rabbits, but it will supplement anything you have to buy.

Re compost, as I think I said a few weeks ago, I feel guilty that I buy peat-based compost. So for sowing seeds, I now always use old compost, which has been re-used time and time again. I've often read that this encourages disease, but I've never experienced that. For potting on, as that requires fertiliser, I either use new compost or old compost with seaweed fertiliser. Obviously also for tomatoes they get their own fertiliser each week once they are producing fruit.

Is there no potting compost left in garden centres?

ETA For potting on it's also fine to use garden soil, with or without bunny poop :)

My experience locally is that they aren't open. I'd normally go to B&M in town but as they sell food and loo roll the queues are horrendous..and I'm avoiding busy locations. Also, they only had the one bag of ericaceous compost when I went last week. I am not optimistic (and also impatient).

I have just, after a lot of Googling, managed to get an order of seed compost from Homebase. None of the rich compost was showing as in stock but I can cope with the one mega bag that I have for now. I just really needed seed/cutting compost. I had to pay £6 delivery which normally really stings but it's better than venturing out at the moment.
 
Wickes are doing deliveries and they stock some garden supplies. Also look at the Range and supermarkets (Lidl, Aldi, etc) which may soon stock bags of compost.
If you have to reuse compost, I would use 'fresh' for seeds / first potting on (to minimise the disease risk for the most vulnerable plants), and any old stuff for more established plants. You can easily mix in extra nutrients to make it suitable for flowering / fruiting plants. Seed compost is lower in nutrients anyway.
 
I rang PAH earlier expecting them to say they had run out of pellets but they said they had 10 kg bags but you can only have 2! So, should I go and get 2 bags? They could have to close due to staff shortage in the near future, I hope not of course.
 
I've got plenty of nuggets, can't help anyone out though, as haven't got a post office now, they closed it on Saturday :cry:
I'm still managing to get bags of herbs from Aldi, but before we went into lockdown, I bought loads of them, and had a go at drying them, worked a treat so got a big box full now on standby.

That's a lovely offer Craig xx
 
I've got plenty of nuggets, can't help anyone out though, as haven't got a post office now, they closed it on Saturday :cry:
I'm still managing to get bags of herbs from Aldi, but before we went into lockdown, I bought loads of them, and had a go at drying them, worked a treat so got a big box full now on standby.

That's a lovely offer Craig xx
Ooooo how'd you dry them? :D

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Nothing fancy Graciee, I just lay them on baking parchment on baking trays, stick them in the oven on 150 fan for about 15-20 mins, then switch off but leave them in there for a few hours to dry. They are all crispy then, and I've been putting them in empty cereal boxes. Treacle approves, and I've put a few sprigs in my homemade soup too.
 
Nothing fancy Graciee, I just lay them on baking parchment on baking trays, stick them in the oven on 150 fan for about 15-20 mins, then switch off but leave them in there for a few hours to dry. They are all crispy then, and I've been putting them in empty cereal boxes. Treacle approves, and I've put a few sprigs in my homemade soup too.
Ooo you think it would work for dill? The white buns are dill crazy, if they don't get a packet a day they get so upset [emoji38] so drying it would be good :D

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The shops do seem to be much better stocked today. I am shopping for us, my elderly parents and OH's mum. I got everything on my list and it wasnt too bad. Due to shopping for that many I had quite a lot on my list too. There seemed to be lots of fresh veggies about. Maybe Tonibun the shops are getting better stocked near you too.

Pets Mum - I am going to have a go at drying herbs etc thank you.
 
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