Planting pasture for buns

[dayna]

Hey, I've got three acres of guava orchard.

I wanted to plant about an acre for the buns.

Suggestions? Horse pasture? I feed mostly forage, but would like a more dedicated area for gathering.

 

[Secuono]

An acre? That's a lot, how many rabbits any in tractor pens? You'll need a scythe to cut it in any amount that won't make you want to quit. If you have tractors, mow strips, so the taller grass is just the right width for the pens to cover. Otherwise, there will be too much left over, patches and a mess you'll have to mow down either way.
I'd think any good mix of horse pasture will work, but you also need weeds; dock, dandelion, plantain, ect.

 

[dayna]

Well, I have three acres. Actually with the new purchase of the lot next door... 6 acres, plus 3 acres in Volcano.

I do have a scythe. I use it to hack down grasses now. I am building an 8 hole rabbit pen for my ladies. The buck(s) will live in the parrot aviaries.

My goats will also be grazing the area. I'm just looking for something, anything, other than Ulu he ferns and plain grass I guess.

 

[Dood]

Well vetch, clover, trefoil and alfalfa seeds are easy to obtain in bulk, at least on the mainland and all make a high protein feed for rabbits. I' ve sown all 4 in our hog and poultry pasture to enrich the lot.

I would assume Hawaii has stricter import regulations to prevent noxious weeds from taking over and don't know if you're allowed them or if you've already been invaded by plantain, sow thistle, goldenrod, dandelions etc.... which are seeded naturally in my pastures.

 

[MaggieJ]

I found this website while searching forage rabbits Hawaii. I am fairly sure this person is a member of both Homesteading Today and RabbitTalk too.
https://sites.google.com/site/hillsidef ... -in-hawaii

You might want to check to see if common bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) is edible for rabbits. I know some bamboos can be fed. I've also heard they can be extremely invasive.

Don't overlook forage trees. This site may be helpful.
http://www.feedipedia.org/

Some weed seeds can be obtained from sites like this one.
http://www.bountifulgardens.org/

Searching for weed seeds is difficult, since most references are to marijuana. But weed seeds can be searched by their common name and you should be able to find most of the common ones if you do it that way. http://www.bountifulgardens.org/

Edited to add:
It seems that weeping willow (Salix babylonica) is an invasive species in Hawaii. Bonus! It is one of the best forage trees for rabbits.

Mulberry trees are also excellent.
http://hawaii-agriculture.com/hawaii-ag ... ous-fruit/

Both willow and mulberry are high in protein, comparable to alfalfa.

I found that by adding Hawaii to almost any Google search for plant species gave good results.

 

[Secuono]

That's a great post, MaggieJ!
Princess tree is also a fast grower and has been used for food. I've been thinking about growing willows like they do for the whips in basket making. Plant a twig, trim it 2in from the ground and all the 3ft offshoots you trim each year for food instead of basket material.

 

[Joe n TN]

I would plant alfalfa. Good protein and a perennial.

Joe

 

[MaggieJ]

I would plant alfalfa. Good protein and a perennial.

Joe

Alfalfa is probably the best single forage crop. We planted some around 2002-2003 along with a nurse crop of red clover. The alfalfa lasted well for close to ten years. It's pretty spotty now and we need to till and replant, but it is a great crop for anyone in an area where it grows well.

 

[Frecs]

In addition to what has been mentioned, I've heard a lot lately about "moringa" trees being grown as forage. Moringa and mulberries can be grown as a coppice/pollard tree (and can be planted very close together for that purpose).

http://www.feedipedia.org (already mentioned) is a fabulous resource for determining the value of various plants and trees as animal feed.<br /><br />__________ Wed Jul 03, 2013 9:19 am __________<br /><br />Oh, and CnB -- could you explain more about how to grow willow for baskets/forage? I think I understand but would like to hear more. And, which type of willow is the best for this method?