Foraging Safe
- Thread starter kirstyj
- Start date
Personally I think the benefits of providing fresh wild forage to bunnies outweighs any risk of them catching anything detrimental.
You will never be 100% sure that anything you pick hasn't been contaminated, although that is also probably true for hay. However, there are certain precautions you can take. I feed forage daily to my bunnies and most of that comes from within my garden, so I would hopefully be aware if there were also wild bunnies there. I rarely wash the plants, but do inspect them, especially for bird droppings, which if found, will mean that I completely discard that leaf. If I was picking forage from the countryside, I would try to avoid areas where I know there to be wild bunnies. I would also avoid areas where I know there to be dogwalkers. I wouldn't pick from the side of a road either, because of traffic fumes. Washing plants will make them clean, but not disease free.
Other thoughts are to be really sure of your identification of a plant. Also consider suitable tree leaves and sticks, which are very beneficial, both to teeth and digestion, and which will not have been contaminated by wild bunnies or dogs.
You will never be 100% sure that anything you pick hasn't been contaminated, although that is also probably true for hay. However, there are certain precautions you can take. I feed forage daily to my bunnies and most of that comes from within my garden, so I would hopefully be aware if there were also wild bunnies there. I rarely wash the plants, but do inspect them, especially for bird droppings, which if found, will mean that I completely discard that leaf. If I was picking forage from the countryside, I would try to avoid areas where I know there to be wild bunnies. I would also avoid areas where I know there to be dogwalkers. I wouldn't pick from the side of a road either, because of traffic fumes. Washing plants will make them clean, but not disease free.
Other thoughts are to be really sure of your identification of a plant. Also consider suitable tree leaves and sticks, which are very beneficial, both to teeth and digestion, and which will not have been contaminated by wild bunnies or dogs.
Cinnabun14
Warren Scout
My outdoor rabbits forage every morning, and I also pick wild plants for them on a regular basis. I only let them eat/pick plants from a specific place in our yard that is just for rabbits. It's untouched by lawn mowers (other than the push, manual kind) and chemicals. My parents did spray the area once, and as a precaution, we kept the buns from foraging for three days and a big rain, then they were let back out (I wouldn't recommend spraying the grass for anything anyways, and my parents have since stopped, thank goodness).
I agree with Omi for precautions. You can also start a bunny garden, so you can be sure what you're feeding is chemical-free and safe to eat, but that won't protect it from wild rabbits or other critters. Just be really aware what kinds of diseases you have in your area, especially RVHD and RVHD2.
I agree with Omi for precautions. You can also start a bunny garden, so you can be sure what you're feeding is chemical-free and safe to eat, but that won't protect it from wild rabbits or other critters. Just be really aware what kinds of diseases you have in your area, especially RVHD and RVHD2.
I forage but never wash the greens. Most of it comes from the allotment - which is a fenced plot, so no-one else can go in.
Avoid path edges where lots of people / dogs walk, and vehicles pass. Plants will be much nicer and cleaner just off the beaten track.
Avoid any areas where there are wild rabbits - to avoid diseases.
If I'm wild foraging, I try to look for embankments or pick from above knee height (ie where dogs won't have toileted). Trees are also good, such as willow - often found in parks or at the side of water. Always make sure it's OK to forage in these places and check if you need permission. Someone with an untamed garden locally may let you pick dandelions, grass, brambles and other suitable weeds.
Brambles are a traditional rabbit forage - found all year round in any area that hasn't been cultivated. Take a sturdy cloth bag and something to cut the stems / leaves as they are prickly, but rabbits love them.
Avoid path edges where lots of people / dogs walk, and vehicles pass. Plants will be much nicer and cleaner just off the beaten track.
Avoid any areas where there are wild rabbits - to avoid diseases.
If I'm wild foraging, I try to look for embankments or pick from above knee height (ie where dogs won't have toileted). Trees are also good, such as willow - often found in parks or at the side of water. Always make sure it's OK to forage in these places and check if you need permission. Someone with an untamed garden locally may let you pick dandelions, grass, brambles and other suitable weeds.
Brambles are a traditional rabbit forage - found all year round in any area that hasn't been cultivated. Take a sturdy cloth bag and something to cut the stems / leaves as they are prickly, but rabbits love them.
OH and I have just come home from holiday and my daughter looked after Prince the Rabbit. She gave him rose leaves and dandelions because she was sure of them, but mostly he has had veg from the shop and rocket. Today I have fed him "weeds" from the garden and he is still excitedly chomping them. I think he likes the "weeds" best of all!
This is a really useful guide for foraging for rabbits:
shop.rabbitwelfare.co.uk
Foraging for Rabbits by Twigs Way | Rabbit Welfare Shop
If you'd like all three books in this series, Foraging For Rabbits, Gardening For Rabbits and Growing and Feeding Vegetables and Fruit for Rabbits use this link to save Twigs Way special offer for all 3 books. Save yourself £4.50 by using the special deal link.
shop.rabbitwelfare.co.uk
