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Cow parsley
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Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) is a short-lived perennial. It grows in grassland, along hedges and woodland edges, road verges, railway banks and wasteland. The foliage is one of the first plants to appear in the spring and last to disappear in autumn. It is safe and palatable for rabbits but there is always a concern that the plant may be confused with hemlock (Conium maculatum)- see section on ‘Plant Toxicity’. Examination of the stems will confirm its identity as cow parsley.
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FAVOURITE PLANTS TO LOOK FOR
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Cow parsley main stems
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The main stems of cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) are very different from poison hemlock (Conium maculatum). The main stems are ridged and slightly hairy with no blotches.
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FAVOURITE PLANTS TO LOOK FOR
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Bramble tips
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The tips of new growth on blackberry plants are easy to pick because the prickles on the newly grown stem are soft. They are very palatable to rabbits.
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FAVOURITE PLANTS TO LOOK FOR
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Blackberry (brambles)
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Blackberry (Rubus 'fructiosus') is a common hedgerow plant, although the prickles can make it difficult to harvest . It is a semi-evergreen shrub that is common all over Europe. In winter, when other plants are rare, some leaves can still be found to feed to rabbits. In the British Isles there are over 320 ‘microspecies’. All are suitable to feed to rabbits
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FAVOURITE PLANTS TO LOOK FOR
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Bindweed (Hedge)
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Hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium) is a safe plant for rabbits. They love it. Its sister plant - Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)- has a question mark over it because it contains toxins. The plants can be differentiated by their flowers, leaves and the way they grow. Hedge bindweed has large pure white flowers and grows vertically, twining around plants as it goes. It is commonly found in hedges.
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FAVOURITE PLANTS TO LOOK FOR
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Hemlock- cut leaf stem
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The shape of the leaf stem is important to differentiate hemlock from other umbelliferae, such as cow parsley. The leaf stem of hemlock circular and hollow.
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PLANT TOXICITY
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HEMLOCK
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Crossed muesli mix
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COMMERCIAL DIETS
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MUESLI MIXES
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Muesli mix
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Muesli mixes are a mixture of ingredients that are formulated by food companies according to cost, availability of ingredients, and the experience of the nutritionist. Nutritional data is obtained from analysis tables and extrapolated to formulate a feed based on the requirements of commercial rabbits. These mixes are responsible for many health problems in pet rabbits.
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COMMERCIAL DIETS
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MUESLI MIXES
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Daffodils (and other plants from bulbs)
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The leaves, stems and bulbs of daffodils (Narcissus spp.) contain a toxic alkaloid, lycorine. The concentrations of the alkaloid are highest in the outer layers of the bulbs. There are no reports of toxicity in rabbits but the bulbs are known to be poisonous in other species, especially humans who may mistake them for onions. Many plants from bulbs are potentially toxic so it is inadvisable to pick the leaves or flowers when foraging for rabbits. However, they are unlikely to eat them.
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PLANTS TO AVOID
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Wild garlic
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Wild garlic (Allium ursinum) is a common woodland plant with abundant leaves that smell strongly of garlic. It grows from bulbs and, like all other bulbous plants, it is not suitable as a forage plant for rabbits.
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PLANTS TO AVOID