The New Safe Plants for Rabbits List

[LoveMyBarnyard]

This is one of those threads I'm always happy to see resurface... Maybe an oldie but a goodie.

The informational threads on rabbit talk are always welcome for resurrection in my book, thank you for using the search feature!

Your book?

 

[eco2pia]

Your book?

lol, "in my book" is one of those silly country phrases I picked up from older generations. Think of it as the 4 generations back version of "in my humble opinion (IMHO)" or "according to me..."

I like my old phrases and I have long ago stopped trying to get them out of my verbal communication. I do mostly try to keep them out of written communication to avoid confusion, but some slip by! Things like "six of one, half dozen of the other" confuse the heck out of my international coworkers, but I think it is just part of my charm.

 

[LoveMyBarnyard]

lol, "in my book" is one of those silly country phrases I picked up from older generations. Think of it as the 4 generations back version of "in my humble opinion (IMHO)" or "according to me..."

I like my old phrases and I have long ago stopped trying to get them out of my verbal communication. I do mostly try to keep them out of written communication to avoid confusion, but some slip by! Things like "six of one, half dozen of the other" confuse the heck out of my international coworkers, but I think it is just part of my charm.

I’m pleased as punch to see folks hanging onto phrases from the past! So no actual book then If you ever decide to spill the beans and show your true colors you can write that book because after all the truth is in the pudding…cuz that would just take the cake! Or would that only happen when the pigs fly?

 

[Skai]

SAFE PLANTS FOR RABBITS
Updated October 25, 2021

Disclaimer: This list is provided for informational purposes and is a guideline only. To the best of my knowledge, all the plants listed here are safe for rabbits when fed in moderation as directed; however, neither I nor RabbitTalk will be responsible in any way for any ill effects that may occur from using these plants.

Plants that I have NOT routinely fed to my own rabbits are marked with an asterisk. This indicates only that I did not have access to them and therefore have no first-hand experience with them.

Please always use botanical names for identification purposes; common names vary from place to place and are not a reliable tool for identifying plants.

This list is a work in progress will be updated from time to time as needed. Please post suggestions for additions and questions about the safety of other plants in separate threads in this forum.

~ MaggieJ

_____________________________________________________________________________

Common Name Botanical Name Parts of Plants to Feed Comments

alfalfa Medicago sativa Above ground parts

apple Malus domestica Leaves, branches, fruit Seeds considered toxic.

basil Ocimum basilicum Above ground parts

blackberry Rubus spp. Above ground parts Useful against diarrhea

borage Borago officinalis Above ground parts

carrot Daucus carota sativus All parts, except seeds Seeds contraceptive

cat-tail Typha latifolia All parts

chickweed Stellaria media Above ground parts

chicory, wild Cichorium intybus All parts

cilantro* Coriandrum sativum Leaves, stems

clover, red Trifolium pratense Above ground parts

clover, white Trifolium repens Above ground parts

comfrey* Symphytum officinale Leaves Best dried.

dandelion Taraxacum officinale All parts

grape Vitus spp. Leaves, vines

hackberry* Celtis occidentalis Leaves, twigs

jewelweed Impatiens capensis Leaves, stems

kudzu* Pueraria lobata Above ground parts

lambs-quarters Chenopodium album Above ground parts

lemon balm Melissa officinalis Above ground parts

mallow Malva spp. All parts

maple, silver Acer saccharinum Leaves and branches

maple, sugar Acer saccharum Leaves and branches

mesquite* Prosopis juliflora Leaves and twigs

mint Mentha spp. Above ground parts Not to pregnant/nursing does.

mulberry, white* Morus alba Leaves, twigs, branches

nettle, stinging Urtica dioica Above ground parts. Caution: Must be dried first.

parsley Petroselinum crispum Above ground parts.

pear Pyrus communis Leaves, branches, fruit. Seeds may be toxic.

pigweed Amaranthus albus Leaves, stems.

plantain Plantago spp. Above ground parts. Useful against diarrhea

poplar Populus spp. Leaves, twigs, branches Inner bark relieves pain

pumpkin, squash Curcurbita spp. Above ground parts Seeds are a wormer

purslane Portulaca oleracea Above ground parts

Queen Anne’s Lace Daucus carota All parts, except seeds. Seeds contraceptive

radish Raphanus sativus All parts.

raspberry Rubus idaeus Above ground parts. Useful against diarrhea

red osier dogwood* Cornus sericea Above ground parts.

redroot pigweed Amaranthus retroflexus Above ground parts

rose Rosa spp. Above ground parts

sage, garden Salvia officinalis Above ground parts Not to pregnant/nursing does

sow thistle, annual Sonchus oleraceus Above ground parts

sow thistle, perennial Sonchus arvensis Above ground parts

sow thistle, spiny Sonchus asper Above ground parts

strawberry Fragaria spp. Above ground parts

sunflower Helianthus annuus Above ground parts

sweet potato Ipomoea batatas Tubers, vines and leaves Rich, potentially fattening

sycamore, American Platanus occidentalis Leaves, twigs, bark

willow Salix spp. Leaves and branches. Inner bark relieves pain

yarrow Achillea millefolium Leaves, stems. Not to pregnant/nursing does

​

Yellow dock and curly dock. I have it all over. It grows abundantly. Some buns like it and some ignore it. About the only thing all agree on is parsley and blackberry leaves.

 

[HTAcres]

I searched "pecan" for this thread and it didn't come up. I am going to look back through to see if there is any general discussion on nut trees. I don't have access to pecan trees right now but I will so interested in finding out if that can be fodder. Where we are moving my cousin trims pecan trees on a regular basis for growers.

 

[HTAcres]

I can't remember where now but this summer squash is another vine plant for rabbits and is supposed to grow prolifically:
https://www.rareseeds.com/store/vegetables/summer-squash/zucchino-rampicante-squash

I was reading through and wanted to comment that I did grow some of this and wow, it makes a huge plant even here in west Texas where I am unsuccessful with much gardening. The rabbits were not enthusiastic but mine are like toddlers. Except for willow and rose, everything else I have to give them multiple times before they like it.

 

[TomO]

I searched "pecan" for this thread and it didn't come up. I am going to look back through to see if there is any general discussion on nut trees. I don't have access to pecan trees right now but I will so interested in finding out if that can be fodder. Where we are moving my cousin trims pecan trees on a regular basis for growers.

Hi. The following link lists all the pages on rabbitalk.com that have the word "pecan" that is indexed by Google . . .

https://www.google.com/search?q=site:rabbittalk.com+"pecan"&oq=site:rabbittalk.com+"pecan"&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIGCAEQRRg6MgYIAhAuGEDSAQkxMjEwNmowajSoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Several of the results appear to address the word "pecan" in your context, some do not.

This is the search phrase . . .
site:rabbittalk.com "pecan"

Replace pecan (in quotes) with whatever you like, for example, nut trees . . .
site:rabbittalk.com "nut trees"

This in no way replaces the very good built-in search function on this forum. The above method will sometimes show things differently on some websites that can help with the data dig.

Let me know if the links don't work for you, hope this helps.

EDIT:
Currently the above pecan example will list around 20 pages, if you omit the quotes it will show over 500.

 

[HTAcres]

Hi. The following link lists all the pages on rabbitalk.com that have the word "pecan" that is indexed by Google . . .

https://www.google.com/search?q=site:rabbittalk.com+"pecan"&oq=site:rabbittalk.com+"pecan"&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIGCAEQRRg6MgYIAhAuGEDSAQkxMjEwNmowajSoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Several of the results appear to address the word "pecan" in your context, some do not.

This is the search phrase . . .
site:rabbittalk.com "pecan"

Replace pecan (in quotes) with whatever you like, for example, nut trees . . .
site:rabbittalk.com "nut trees"

This in no way replaces the very good built-in search function on this forum. The above method will sometimes show things differently on some websites that can help with the data dig.

Let me know if the links don't work for you, hope this helps.

EDIT:
Currently the above pecan example will list around 20 pages, if you omit the quotes it will show over 500.

Thank you! I did only search this thread using the search function.
I will go through these results as well.
I appreciate your help.

 

[HTAcres]

Ohhhh, I see I didn't think about people talking about which wood rabbits can chew on. DUH.

 

[Aqrabuamelu]

Ohhhh, I see I didn't think about people talking about which wood rabbits can chew on. DUH.

Excellent search advice, I use that form quite often myself.
Now, to address Pecan toxicity, The trees produce Jugalone just as Walnut trees do. Pecan and Walnut fodder, leaves and bark, can be fed to rabbits, but only in limited amounts. That is what I can't find, 'what are limited amounts'?
Not all allelopathic elements are harmful to mammals. For example, Jerusalem Artichoke greens are allelopathic and established patches have greatly reduced weed incursions and is evidenced by deer, wild rabbits, groundhogs etc. which can eat a patch right to the ground, the Jerusalem Artichoke compounds are not at all toxic to mammals and with 15% to 16% quantities of fiber and protein, are nearly perfect rabbit food.
So, not all allelopathic plants are toxic at all, some are only mildly toxic, some are very toxic. The hard part is to find out how toxic, and that I have trouble with.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/nut-trees/pecan/pecan-tree-toxicity.htm

 

[HTAcres]

Excellent search advice, I use that form quite often myself.
Now, to address Pecan toxicity, The trees produce Jugalone just as Walnut trees do. Pecan and Walnut fodder, leaves and bark, can be fed to rabbits, but only in limited amounts. That is what I can't find, 'what are limited amounts'?
Not all allelopathic elements are harmful to mammals. For example, Jerusalem Artichoke greens are allelopathic and established patches have greatly reduced weed incursions and is evidenced by deer, wild rabbits, groundhogs etc. which can eat a patch right to the ground, the Jerusalem Artichoke compounds are not at all toxic to mammals and with 15% to 16% quantities of fiber and protein, are nearly perfect rabbit food.
So, not all allelopathic plants are toxic at all, some are only mildly toxic, some are very toxic. The hard part is to find out how toxic, and that I have trouble with.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/nut-trees/pecan/pecan-tree-toxicity.htm

This is VERY helpful, thank you. It sounds like it may be best for my other animals. We may even consider getting goats or sheep. There is other fodder I have fed only very limited to my rabbits such as a wild amaranth we have here (sorry, I have not been able to identify it well enough to know the latin name). But the pigs loved it as well so I fed most of it to them.

 

[Chaos]

I’m pleased as punch to see folks hanging onto phrases from the past! So no actual book then If you ever decide to spill the beans and show your true colors you can write that book because after all the truth is in the pudding…cuz that would just take the cake! Or would that only happen when the pigs fly?

Don't write the book till the snakes have quiled! I suspect that's old English of coiled, or it may just be KY hillbilly

 

[FreedomAcreFarm]

Mine love honeysuckle. Read about it on one of my FB groups