Overfeeding a rabbit can have tragic results, please don't do it.
Posted on 08/05/2010 8:42:35 AM PDT by SMARTY
I have one living under one of our sheds. He was very tiny when we found him and, presumably, abandoned.
Don’t feed gas forming vegetables(broccoli, cabbage, etc.) because they can cause stomach distress due to their inability to expel gas.
I feed mine chopped carrots, radishes(they love those), and a bit of spinach. I give him a few Tbsp. each per day.They also like a bit of chopped fruit such as apple. I also broke down and bought a bag of rabbit pellets, which he loves.The brand I got is Kaytee Forti Diet, but most any will do. Add some water daily, and they’re set. They usually do most of their eating around dawn or dusk. Most of their day is spent sleeping.
I have to add that he had chewed most of my hillside garden to nubs before I broke down and started feeding him.
OK!!!
I have exactly the same experience, as I discovered a small rabbit living behind a Doug fir in my backyard.
He comes out and yes, does eat dandelions. And various grasses, etc.
Totally ignores the lettuce and carrots in my garden. I even tried slicing them up, peeling the carrots etc. Nuttin. Wouldn’t touch it.
BUT!!!!
There is something he loves. And he has come close to eating them out of my hand. Either way, I leave him a bit each day and watch him eat, and it’s almost always all gone in the morning.
His favorite food????????????!!!!!!!????? Apples.
By all means feed him.
But remember never speak of the ‘Shining Wire’!
We have a bunny who visits our yard from time to time, as well as a groundhog. They both love the weeds. ;o)
Rodents cannot resist apples. Best thing there is for baiting a live trap.
I'd be careful..........
Where? Behind the rabbit?
Get a Habitat cage, fill it with green leaf lettuce, trip the door and lay it in front of the opening overnight.
Saute fresh carrots, onions and celery along with 2 cups vegetable stock, bay leaf, garlic, salt and pepper to taste in a stock pot. Chill. Retrieve the cage the next morning, pop bugs with a hollow point 22 caliber bullet in the head. Dress carcase and cut up into bite size pieces bone in. Brown meat add to stock and stew for a couple of hours. Serve over rice. Hot sauce optional.
Don’t put out ANYTHING!
If you do, it WILL attract unwanted pests.
The rabbit is there for shelter.
As long as there’s natural food source withing 100 yards, THEY will be fine.
(I learned at a young age there’s no such thing as “A” rabbit.)
Death awaits with sharp pointy teeth.
This particular rabbit is EXTREMELY jumpy because the lady next door has like 5 well fed cats who like to lurk around.
But I can go out in the yard, and as long as I don’t move too fast or make alot of noise, he seems ok. Especially if I sit in my garden and munch lettuce. That’s when I usually have an apple with me and cut up pieces and toss them to him.
I watched one of the cats try to sneak up on him... cat got within about eight feet... rabbit took off so fast I literally couldn’t keep my eyes on him.
Cat was totally punked!! It was hilarious!
As long as the wabbit’s name is not Bugs, Elmer Fudd might be able to help you out.
“What would I give him that would not attract unwelcome critters?;”
Sounds like you already have one.
But, if feel you must, clover is what I’ve found to be their favorite, especially the larger purple clover.
Dispatch the cat. It has demonstrated it’s worthlessness.
One day you will wake up to find that you have been overrun.
I only started feeding ours out of desperation. He had all but destroyed my large garden.
We have so many critters around here—hawks, owls, foxes, to name a few-—that I thought, “what’s one more?”. Unfortunately for wild bunnies, they are part of the food chain and don’t have a particularly long life expectancy. I fully expect ours to be carted off by a hawk or owl at any time. I say, why not let him enjoy the bounty until that day arrives.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.