Search results

61 items matching your search terms.
Filter the results.
Item type






New items since



Sort by relevance · date (newest first) · alphabetically
Image JPEG image Chickweed
Chickweed (Stellaria media) is a hardy, low growing plant that grows in cool damp places. It is one of the earliest plants to appear in the spring and may still be found in autumn if conditions are wet. It is an easy plant to pick for rabbits because it grows in large clumps. Some rabbits enjoy it. Others do not. The plant sometimes appears on lists of poisonous plants because it contains saponins but there are no reports of toxicity in rabbits. A rabbit would need to eat a large amount to ingest enough saponins to cause problems.
Located in Media / … / FORAGING / EDIBLE WILD PLANTS
Image JPEG image Clover
Clover (Trefolium spp.) is a common plant in areas that are grazed by rabbits. It has an unsubstantiated reputation for causing bloat, probably because it can cause problems in ruminants that eat a large amount of new growth in the spring. The digestive physiology of rabbits is different. Clover is not harmful for rabbits and is often found in lawns or among grass and other plants on verges and other foraging sites.
Located in Media / … / FORAGING / EDIBLE WILD PLANTS
Image JPEG image Clover (red)
Clover is common on rough grassland and on roadsides where there is forage to pick. There are many varieties, and it is palatable for rabbits. Red clover (Trefolium pratense) is easier to pick than white clover (Trefolium repens) because it is larger. Clover has an unfounded reputation for causing bloat in rabbits probably because ingestion of large quantities of young clover can cause bloat in cattle. The digestive physiology of ruminants, such as cattle, is different from hindgut fermenters, such as rabbits.
Located in Media / … / FORAGING / FAVOURITE PLANTS TO LOOK FOR
Image JPEG image Clover (white)
White clover (Trifolium repens) is a common plant in lawns, pastureland, and verges. It is enjoyed by rabbits that can graze on lawns containing clover but is more difficult to pick than red clover because of its low growing creeping growth.
Located in Media / … / FORAGING / EDIBLE WILD PLANTS
Image JPEG image Coltsfoot
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) is a perennial plant that may be seen on verges or hard bare ground that has been disturbed. It can be a problem on arable land and in gardens. The flowers appear in the spring and die back before the leaves appear. The leaves can be fed to rabbits in moderation.
Located in Media / … / FORAGING / EDIBLE WILD PLANTS
Image JPEG image Coltsfoot flower
The yellow flowers of coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) appear from long flowering stems that emerge from the ground in early spring. The flowers resemble dandelion flowers although the seedhead is smaller.
Located in Media / … / FORAGING / EDIBLE WILD PLANTS
Image JPEG image Coltsfoot leaves
The leaves of coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) appear as the flowers are dying back. They are large and angular and have the shape of a colt's (or foal's) footprint. They can grow up to 25cm wide.
Located in Media / … / FORAGING / EDIBLE WILD PLANTS
Image JPEG image Cow parsley
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.
Located in Media / … / FORAGING / FAVOURITE PLANTS TO LOOK FOR
Image JPEG image Crab apple
There are wild and garden varieties of Crab apple (Malus sylvestris). The wild varieties host a variety of wildlife. All parts of the tree are enjoyed by rabbits, but it is the fruit and the leaves that are most useful. The leaves can be harvested in the autumn when they are about to fall and fed fresh or dried for later in the winter.
Located in Media / … / FORAGING / EDIBLE WILD PLANTS
Image JPEG image Dandelions
The Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is the most popular perennial forage plant for rabbits. All parts of the plants are edible including the flowers, stems and roots. There are many forms of the common dandelion with slightly different leaf shapes and growing habits. Dandelions can be found on verges, wasteland, meadows gardens, woodland, and other places. The plant is often considered to be a weed but it useful for rabbits. It tempts anorexic rabbits to eat and can be fed to rabbits with urinary tract disease because of the high water content (85%) and diuretic properties.
Located in Media / … / FORAGING / FAVOURITE PLANTS TO LOOK FOR