Love the Easter Bunny, but not in your garden? If you plant a patch of Swiss chard away from your garden, bunny rabbits will be thrilled and content to eat the Swiss chard rather than your garden. Make it a good size patch, if possible, as you want the rabbits (wild only) to have plenty of Swiss chard to last as long as possible.
Do not feed domestic rabbits Swiss chard or lettuce for that matter, as it will give them diarrhea and they will die. Wild rabbits are use to eating this type of foliage and don't get sick. Growing up on a rabbit farm, it was important that wild rabbit's not be hanging around the domestic rabbit's as they could bring disease. My father would always plant a field of Swiss chard, way down in the north forty, so all the critters would be happy. Wild rabbits stayed away from our gardens, close to the house, as well.
By Suzy from Clinton, TN
Editor's Note: We could find no evidence that chard was dangerous for domestic rabbits. There was a small amount of concern about the oxalic acid content and it was suggested to limit the amount of dark leafy greens (spinach, beet greens, etc.).
I found this comment about chard and other leafy greens. Silverbeet is another name for Swiss chard. But I saw other sites recommend brussels sprouts as a treat so there is some disagreement. I'd use moderation and a balanced variety of fruits and vegetables. Note that avocado, potatoes and broad beans are all considered poisonous and should be avoided entirely.
"Cabbage, Kale, Broccoli, silverbeet, spinach and brussel sprouts can cause tummy issues like colic and bloat so only feed very small amounts of these and lettuce can cause scours.
Foods you can feed:
Carrots , Carrot tops, Apples, Greens, Grass, Puha, Broccoli, Dandelion leaves & flowers, Bananas, Blackberries, Blueberries, Cranberries, Grapes, Kiwifruit, Mandarins, Mango, Nectarine, Orange, Papaya, Pears, Peach, Plums, Pineapple, Raspberries, Raisins, Strawberries, Watermelon, Apple tree leaves, Alfalfa, Basil, Borage, Brussel sprouts, Bok Choy, Clover, Capsicum, Coriander, Chives, Dill, Citrus tree leaves, Celery leaves, Marjoram, Lavender, Fennell, Chicory, Endive, Marigold, Parsley, Radish tops, Rosemary, Watercress, Wheatgrass, Snowpeas, Dock leaves (before they have gone to seed), Celery stalks chopped into small pieces (stops choking on long stringy bits).
Here is a list of other foods to avoid:
Most human foods , Nuts, Crackers, Biscuits/cookies, Chocolate, Cereals, Seeds, Oats, Beans, Milk, Bread, Pasta, Wheat, Corn, Yoghurt drops.
Absolutely do not feed these as they are poisonous to rabbits:
Potatoes, Daffodil, Rhubarb, Lillies, Mushrooms, Avocado, Broad beans, Oak, Sweetpea, Buttercup, Kidney beans, Jasmine, Nightshade, Snowdrop, Privet, Hemlock, Foxglove, Iceberg lettuce, Any leaves from evergreen trees."
www.veterinarycentre.co.nz/
Check out these photos.
I have a small area on my property shaded with old maple trees. It's my summer hangout. I try to make it more pleasant by growing flowers beneath the trees.
I took this picture of a wild rabbit in a grass field in Mason County, WV.
We found this rabbit nest when working in the garden. There were three of them and they were really cute, running around.
While strolling through the property at my father's vacation home, I came across this beautiful wild rabbit just sitting in the green grass having a snack. I zoomed in on him and discovered how beautiful he really is, healthy and alert.
My front lawn is a mess. I hauled in soil to level and raise it, so as to better tie it in with my adjoining vacant field. So, is there a real point of interest in this 'work in progress'?
I didn't enter this picture into a contest because of it's poor quality. I have won a few ThriftyFun contests, lately. Those winnings are going towards a much better camera. ThriftyFun is such a fine website, I hope to post many more and much better quality pictures.