Tried Grape Leaves today

[Frosted Rabbits]

Took a good look along one of the property borders-- grapevines!!! so, the buns got a few fresh, young grape leaves today-- I employed the old dog crate, and put some of the babies on a grassy spot in my patio area, as well. Gave them a chance to sit on cool soil as I cleaned their dropping pan.

 

[Anntann]

Cool

I have a couple of rabbits that don't like grape leaves at all, and others who place them as 2nd or 3rd on the preference ranking. Since you can't kill a wile grape vine, I figure it's manna from heaven

 

[MaggieJ]

My rabbits like the young leaves. They make a nice change for them from the usual weeds.

 

[Iggysbabysitter]

Mine enjoyed the young green stems and leaves. And once dried, they still loved them.

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

Mine enjoyed the young green stems and leaves. And once dried, they still loved them.

Cool-- Ithink Iwill see if I can't start collecting and drying for winter time treating!

 

[curlysue]

I never tried grape leaves.i have some wild ones right in my yard.

 

[MaggieJ]

My rabbits will eat grape leaves and vines, especially young ones, but they are not at the top of their list. I include them when I come across them in my foraging, but I think I'm going to seek some out to dry for winter. I could just wind them into wreaths and hang them up.

 

[Iggysbabysitter]

I had quite a bit gathered for DH to feed while I was away, and the wreathes took quite a bit to dry (thick wreath= 2days in the sun), and lost quite a bit of color laying in the sun. The ones dried in the dark (slower) looked much better.

 

[MaggieJ]

I don't dry anything in the sun. I hang things up in the mudroom mostly or on nails in the goose house. Just had a brainwave though... There are exposed 2x4s in the unused upstairs bedroom so I can hammer in nails and hang more stuff there. Great air circulation and only indirect sunlight.

David was out with his camera in our back 40 and found a lovely stand of Queen Anne's lace. The bunnies feasted last night and this morning on it and cattails, plus a bucketful of young red-root pigweed and lambs quarters. We want to get out to harvest a good amount of that Queen Anne's lace, but David says it is tough going back there plus having to dodge the poison ivy, so it might not be so easy for me. I think Brian might scythe a path though... It would give great access to areas I do not normally get to. Anything that improves the buns winter diet is a priority for me and the money saved on purchased feed appeals to us all.

I would love to have a shed dedicated to drying and storing forage and hay for the animals.

 

[Brody]

My gang is not fond of grape leaves generally but as a mid winter treat a wreath is very popular - third only to apple branches or willow wreaths