Using Grass Clippings in a Yard with a LOT of Wild Rabbits? 🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰

[Rabbits by Accident]

I live in Texas and I don't think it gets cold enough to destroy pathogens/parasites. (More info if you know about this?) I wanted to put my rabbits in a tractor, but don't think that's a great idea.

It struck me the other day that I have been feeding them lawn clippings. Since I have so many wild rabbits, do you think this is a bad idea?

Thanks for any help, info, ideas
- Liz

 

[RabbitsOfTheCreek]

How do you put rabbits in a tractor?

 

[Rogers92]

I believe shes saying she wanted to put them in a movable bunny tractor.. kinda like a chicken tractor. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Mariah's Meadows]

How do you put rabbits in a tractor?

You may hear some people refer to them as "runs." Something like this, as an example:

It struck me the other day that I have been feeding them lawn clippings. Since I have so many wild rabbits, do you think this is a bad idea?

If you have high infection rates of RHDV2 amongst your rabbits, I would think twice about letting them out in tractors. Forage is probably fine if you rinse it off with vinegar and water before feeding, but would love to hear others' feedback.

 

[Rabbits by Accident]

How do you put rabbits in a tractor?

Yeah, I'm training them to plow the garden That would be great ... no a rabbit tractor - moveable cage set up with bottom that they can eat grass through.

- Liz

 

[MnCanary]

If you have high infection rates of RHDV2 amongst your rabbits, I would think twice about letting them out in tractors. Forage is probably fine if you rinse it off with vinegar and water before feeding, but would love to hear others' feedback.

Why the vinegar? Vinegar is not an effective disinfectant for most viruses. And I wonder if something organic like grass could actually be disinfected with anything. ?

 

[Mariah's Meadows]

Why the vinegar? Vinegar is not an effective disinfectant for most viruses. And I wonder if something organic like grass could actually be disinfected with anything. ?

That's just how I've always washed produce. I know it can kill off salmonella, e. coli, and some other sources of illness. Now that I think more deeply about it, you're correct that it likely would not kill a virus.

Perhaps a rinse with ethyl or a soak in hydrogen peroxide for a few minutes would be better. Those are definitely disinfectants. I think of the two, I'd opt for the peroxide. It's good for killing mould as well. Just rinse it well before serving.

 

[RabbitsOfTheCreek]

Y'all talking about cleaning your grass when sometimes me and my dad will just eat the white parts of grass (At the bottom)

 

[Rabbits by Accident]

@RabbitsOfTheCreek LOL me too! and that's the lowest part where all the bug dirt and animal urine would be. Probably why I never get sick (Ivermectin comes from dirt LOL) And grass whistles!

I just read the 4 H manual for kids about raising rabbits and it says never eat or drink around your rabbits and wash your hands after handling it. Where's the fun in that? I take my morning coffee out when I go to see the rabbits LOL

 

[Mariah's Meadows]

Y'all talking about cleaning your grass when sometimes me and my dad will just eat the white parts of grass (At the bottom)

LOL I am the same way as your dad. Nothing nefarious really gets in my yard, so I am fortunate to not have these concerns. My partner thinks it's funny when I munch on red clover flowers with the bunnies. "One for you, one for me, one for you, one for me..."

I just read the 4 H manual for kids about raising rabbits and it says never eat or drink around your rabbits and wash your hands after handling it. Where's the fun in that? I take my morning coffee out when I go to see the rabbits LOL

Yeah, I generally disagree with that! Germs are important for a good immune system. Eating dirt as a kid surely must be why I was never sick LOL
I do hand wash after handling, though, so I don't spread potential fecal matter around the house.

 

[RabbitsOfTheCreek]

LOL I am the same way as your dad. Nothing nefarious really gets in my yard, so I am fortunate to not have these concerns. My partner thinks it's funny when I munch on red clover flowers with the bunnies. "One for you, one for me, one for you, one for me..."



Yeah, I generally disagree with that! Germs are important for a good immune system. Eating dirt as a kid surely must be why I was never sick LOL
I do hand wash after handling, though, so I don't spread potential fecal matter around the house.

The best thing I like to have are Sweet Clovers, the tiny bright green ones that have little yellow flowers and seed pods

 

[Mariah's Meadows]

The best thing I like to have are Sweet Clovers, the tiny bright green ones that have little yellow flowers and seed pods

OMG I didn't know those were clovers AND that they are edible! Thanks for finding my new summer snack

 

[RabbitsOfTheCreek]

OMG I didn't know those were clovers AND that they are edible! Thanks for finding my new summer snack

Well turns out sweet clover is a whole different thing
This is what I'm talking about

 

[Mariah's Meadows]

Well turns out sweet clover is a whole different thing
This is what I'm talking about

Hey, I still have tons of those around and didn't know I could eat them, so this is still an enlightening day for me Thank you!

 

[Wezl_bites]

If you’re feeding a balanced pellet, you don’t need to give them clippings. RHDV2 is prevalent in most of Texas. Bleach is used to disinfect areas where rabbits might come in contact with each other, like shows. You can wash them in a water bleach solution and rinse, rinse, rinse. It won’t destroy any coccidia eggs, but if you’re not stirring up the dirt, that shouldn’t be a big issue. Those are my two concerns.
if RHDV2 is in your area, I’d do more research on how it’s spread, especially if you have a lot of wild rabbits coming around. If you have any strange deaths or find dead wild rabbits, handle according to your state vet’s guidelines.

 

[Rabbits by Accident]

@Wezl_bites thanks for that. I don't put my rabbits on the ground at all. I bought a bale of hay and a bale of straw so they're set for a while. They actually like the straw better than the hay LOL I think it's oat straw. I just keep seeing these people with tractors and going that would be nice and my rabbits would really like it LOL but I don't think it's going to happen. I have enough to worry about without worrying about the rabbits LOL

- Liz

 

[DeDe]

It hasn’t reached our area yet and I keep going back and forth on the issue. Hubby already bought lumber to build a tractor. Wondering if it would be okay just for the growouts since it would only be from 8-12 weeks of age. Between fear of that and avian flu I’m a wreck!

 

[Cindy in SD]

Well turns out sweet clover is a whole different thing
This is what I'm talking aboutView attachment 28889

I thought that's what you were talking about. OMG, ours is so sour that I literally cannot eat it. I used to eat it in Florida when I lived there, but it was sour--just not half as sour as it is in South Dakota.

 

[RabbitsOfTheCreek]

I thought that's what you were talking about. OMG, ours is so sour that I literally cannot eat it. I used to eat it in Florida when I lived there, but it was sour--just not half as sour as it is in South Dakota.

It is sour

And I like it >:]

 

[dlynn]

Hey, I still have tons of those around and didn't know I could eat them, so this is still an enlightening day for me Thank you!

I love wood sorrel! We eat it in our salads. Picture lucky looking "clovers", flowers from viola, borage,violet, or spicy red bee balm. That's a salad dressed to impress.