This forage should last a few days..

So, I walk my dog daily, and every few days I go foraging with him for the rabbits (and guinea pigs). Every time I go, I like to get different things to trial out and see if they like it.

Yesterday, our new 'trial' forage was fresh nettle. They wern't so keen last night but the bowl was empty this morning so 1 of them (or both) have eaten the 2 leaves I put in.

On this photo is dandelion, long grass, hawthorn, bramble & nettle. Next time I'm hoping to get some ash tree leaves!



I like to give them a good sized bowl of assorted forage (aswell as the occasional spring greens and herbs) on a nightly basis, as it adds natural, almost 'essential' variety to their daily diet.

Here they are, begging for it



I did have a slight issue however, last night, when Leo was munching through the hawthorn, he suddenly started pawing at his mouth exsessively, so I ran for the syringe and picked him up trying to get water into him, but he wasn't having any of it. Luckily he was ok after a few minutes, so either something got stuck in his teeth, or one of the thorns stuck in his gums and he felt it - either way, I am going to be more cautious when feeding now and am thinking of dethorning.

Your Leo reminds me of our 'Kenzo'   



* he does have two eyes, you just can't see them *  

Lady has occasionally pawed at her mouth, but I've realised now that it's a bit of mane got in, not a problem with the food

I do tend to de-thorn hawthorn, as they are very painful if trodden on, but buns are perfectly happy eating the thorny stems of brambles etc

I think I have done the last forage of the season here today - it was such a hot dry summer that the hawthorn bushes are dropping their leaves / yellowing already But I do have a pretty good stash dried for the winter

I haven't managed to dry any plantain this year - where I usually get it from, it has only just starting growing, as it's been so dry! WIll have to buy some ready dried instead

I've given up drying brambles - my lot just ignore them when they are dried  

Tuckerbunnies wrote:Your Leo reminds me of our 'Kenzo'   
* he does have two eyes, you just can't see them *  

Omg.. I giggled when I saw him hehe!!  What a gorgeous fuzzy bunny!  Can I keep him?   I'm not allowed to post external links for 7 days seeing as i'm a new member, so the photo doesn't show up in this post

Blackberry wrote:Lady has occasionally pawed at her mouth, but I've realised now that it's a bit of mane got in, not a problem with the food

I do tend to de-thorn hawthorn, as they are very painful if trodden on, but buns are perfectly happy eating the thorny stems of brambles etc

I think I have done the last forage of the season here today - it was such a hot dry summer that the hawthorn bushes are dropping their leaves / yellowing already :(But I do have a pretty good stash dried for the winter

I haven't managed to dry any plantain this year - where I usually get it from, it has only just starting growing, as it's been so dry! WIll have to buy some ready dried instead

I've given up drying brambles - my lot just ignore them when they are dried  

Ah yes, that could of possibly been the problem - Either that, or he's gotten a twig stuck in his teeth.  In future I think i'll de-thorn the hawthorn and leave brambles etc.

Mine don't like anything dried really.. they'll eat it, if it's the only thing there ;D.

Was going to get some ash tree leaves today, but the road was so busy and I would've looked like such a fool!!  Luckily the bushes etc are still nice and green here

Nomnomnom. I love food  

I like the 'Muuuuuum! We're starving!' piccie  

Have you tried birch twigs and leaves? It's our favourite, even including apple. Luckily we have a massive birch tree all of our very own

Sparky wrote:Nomnomnom. I love food  

I like the 'Muuuuuum! We're starving!' piccie  

Have you tried birch twigs and leaves? It's our favourite, even including apple. Luckily we have a massive birch tree all of our very own

Haha, they're always starving!! (not that I dont feed them, you should know what I mean!! ;D)

No we havn't tried birch.. I find it really difficult to identify tree's.. I need help!  

Birch is pretty easy to identify - look for the silver trunk. The leaves are just starting to drop up here in the grim Norf, which is good because it means the outdoor buns get a ready supply straight into their runs  but I'll have to get Hudad to trim me a branch off before they all go...

Leo is absoutely adorable, I would live a bun like him.  That gorgeous little white nose and fluffy everything.  Could you tell me what sort he is please?

Hugs

JO xx

jolovesbunnies wrote:Leo is absoutely adorable, I would live a bun like him.  That gorgeous little white nose and fluffy everything.  Could you tell me what sort he is please?

Hugs

JO xx

I didn't know Leo had a white nose! Haha.. He's a Lionhead though xx

Rory would have that eaten in about 10 min!

dougal says nom nom nom