The introduction of pellets for feeding rabbits was welcomed by many breeders as a cheap, easy way to feed stock. Pellets and water were the basic needs and time taken to distribute was minimal.

The sudden sharp rise in the cost of pellets altered this and many rabbit keepers are faced with the problem of keeping the feed bill within their limits.

Many, remembering how they fed their rabbits in pre-pellet days, are going back to those methods. This was to use household scraps as a mash dried of with bran. Time taking, but more economical and very sustaining. In addition to cereals such as oats, wheat or barley and any available greenfood. On this sort of diet rabbits were kept in good condition, fit for showing at all times.

So that owners of rabbits may avail themselves of suitable greenfoods the following list of safe and unsafe materials has been compiled

Wild Plants

FEED

Avens or Geum, Argrimony, Bramble, Bindweed, Bishop's Weed or Ground Elder, Burnet, Butterbur, Cow Parsnip or Hogweed, Clovers, Coltsfoot, Convolvulus, Chickweed, Goosegrass, Crosewort or Maywort, Dandelion, Dock (before seeding), Groundsell, Goutweed, Hawkweed, Heather, Hedgeparsley, Knapweed, Knotgrass, Lucerne, Mallow, Mustard, Nipplewort, Plaintain, Sea Spinach, Shepherds Purse, Sour Dock or Sorrel, Thistles, Trefoil, Vetches or Tares, Watercress, Yarrow

AVOID

Arum, Anemone, Black Nightshade, Bluebells, Buttercup, Bryony, Colthicums(Meadow Saffron), Corn Cockle, Celandine, Deadly Nightshade, Docks (in seed), Dog Mercury, Figwort, Foxglove, Iris, Fools Parsley, Ground Ivy, Hemlock, Henbane, Poppies, Scarlet Pimpernel, Spurges, Toadflax, Travellers Joy

Cultivated Vegetables and Roots

FEED

Artichokes, Jerusalem(Leaves & Roots), Beetroot, Brussel Sprouts, Beans and Haulms(not Scarlet runners), Chicory, Caulifower, Carrots, Cabbage, Celery, Clover, Dandelion, Fodder Beet, Horse Radish, Kales, Kohl-Rabi, Lucerne, Maize, Mangolds(after 25 Dec), Parsley, Parsnips, Strawberry, Swedes, Sainfoin, Savoys, Spinach, Sunflowers

AVOID

Mangold tops, Mangold roots(before Dec), Tomato leaves, Potato tops, Lettuce

Flowers

FEED

Asters, Borage, Calendula, Centaura, Daisies, Galega, Geranium, Geum, Helenium, Hollyhock, Honesty, Lupins(not seeds), Marguerites, Marigolds, Michaelmas Daisies, Nasturtium, Rose, Stocks, Sunflowers, Wallflowers

AVOID

Acacia, Aconite, Antiffhinum, Arum, Anemone, Columbine, Daffodil, Dahlia, Delphinium, Feverfew, Gypsophelia, Helleborus, Hyacinth, Iris, Larkspur, Lily of the Valley, Linarias, Lobelia, Love-in-a-Mist, Monkswood, Poppies, Snowdrop, Tulips

Trees and Shrubs

FEED

Practically all deciduous trees (excepting very fresh growth of young leaves and twigs), Blackberry, Rose, Raspberry Canes, Winter Ivy

AVOID

Most evergreen trees and shrubs, Acacia, Box, Elder, Beech mast, Gorse seeds, Laburnum, Oak, Snowberry, Plum, Ivy, (except in winter when no berries or flowers)


IMPORTANT

Before feeding your rabbits with any wild plants make sure they haven't been contaminated with pesticides or other chemicals.