Grass, wild greens, common garden herbs, and tree trimmings can be a great addition to your rabbit’s summer diet. Wild grasses wear on their teeth just like hay, and wet greens can get a little more water into finicky rabbits.
Here’s some starter tips and warnings:
Make sure there are NO raccoons coming through the area you gather from. I’m lucky that there are barn cats on my property to keep them away. Raccoons carry Raccoon Roundworm - it is fatal to rabbits and a terrible way to die
Do not gather from areas that have been chemically treated, or where there is frequent animal waste. You can designate one part of your yard for your dog or cat, or even make your own bunny garden with transplanted clean plants.
Google the plants you pick before you feed them to your rabbit. There are guides out there with pictures, and you can google search my list if you want to double check what you’re looking for.
Wash what you gather to get rid of bugs/slugs/dirt etc. shake them out afterward and spread them out. You can still feed rabbits the greens while they are wet bc helps them hydrate and cool off
Sometimes it takes a couple introductions to get a bunny to try a new food. Don’t give up if they are cautious at first.
Tomatoes plants, anything in the onion family, and buttercups are good examples of toxic plants!! make sure you know what you’re giving your rabbit!!
Avoid plants that have high oxalic acid content. Feed greens like spinach and mustard greens in moderation because they contain oxalic acid as well.
Alright, now for the fun stuff, this is what I forage regularly:
Lawn grass has no nutrition value, but those pesky patches of wild grasses like crab grass are great for bunnies, and the texture is good for their teeth!
Dandelions are an obvious choice, and very very nutritious. Young plants are sweeter and more palatable to humans but I’ve found my rabbit likes the big bitter leaves.
Plantain (no not the banana-looking fruit, a flat plant with oval leaves) is a common “weed”, but you can also buy seeds on amazon. They stay small if mowed over but you can transplant them into a garden spot and grow bigger leaves
Raspberry plants are known for trying to take over the planet, but there’s hope! Bunnies can eat the trimmings, prickles and all!
Oregano, thyme, lavender, rosemary, and many other herbs are bunny safe and smell really good
Maple tree trimmings and apple tree trimmings are favorites! they prefer the younger twigs. don’t feed your rabbit immature apples or apple seeds.
common violet flowers and leaves are good too
Hopes this helps get foraging off to a good start!
