Autumn is very firmly here now, and that means crunchy leaves, fresh air and the perfect excuse to get outside, basket in hand, for some bunny-safe foraging!
Rabbits love variety, and wild plants are a great way to enrich their diet but not everything falling from the trees is safe, so here's a quick guide to rabbit-friendly foraging.
✅ Safe autumn picks
* Apple leaves and twigs - a bunny favourite.
* Bramble leaves (blackberry).
* Hazel leaves and twigs.
* Raspberry leaves and twigs.
* Willow branches.
* Blackberry and apple are also fine to give in very small amounts as a special treat, as long as your rabbit is fit, healthy and has dry droppings!
* Dandelion leaves. Yes, they're usually still here in the autumn but do not give the fluffy dandelion heads.
* Raw pumpkin flesh is fine in very small amounts so if you're harvesting your edible crop, feel free to share with your bunny friends. However, ornamental pumpkins and squash should not be fed to rabbits, and they should not be given used Jack-o-Lanterns to play with, due to the risk of mould.
* If you have calendula in your garden, this can be dried for a tasty winter snack, BUT not all marigolds are the same. French and African marigolds are highly toxic to rabbits, so if you're unsure, don't risk it!
TOP TIP: Pick away from roadsides or people's gardens, as they may have been sprayed with harmful chemicals. Also pick fresh from the bush, not the ground, and avoid damp or mouldy leaves.
❌ Dangerous autumn picks
* Oak and sycamore leaves - these are toxic to rabbits, and most animals.
* Acorns and beech nuts.
* Yew - this is highly poisonous to ingest.
* Mushrooms - a definite no.
🍂Where is it safe to forage?
* Anywhere that you are safe, and ideally away from sources of pollution, such as chemicals, animal waste, along busy roads. Good places to forage are your own garden, gardens of friends or neighbours who you can check in with about the use of chemicals, woodlands, and hedgerows along the verges.
✋Stay safe whilst foraging
* Tell someone where you're going, if you're going by yourself.
* Don't go somewhere which feels dangerous. There are often lots of juicy blackberries overhanging waterways, but make good decisions.
* Ensure that you are not trespassing or foraging from protected woodland or hedgerows.
🐾Be wildlife and animal friendly
* Wild birds, mammals and insects depend on these autumn fruits, so try to take leaves only for your bunnies and leave the berries for the wildlife!
* Make sure that you close all gates behind you. If you find an open gate, and there is livestock in the field, still close it! It's likely the person before you didn't close it!
Happy Foraging!
