Forsythia, which is popular as an ornamental shrub, is considered slightly poisonous to humans. But rabbits running freely in the garden like to nibble on the tender branches. Is the gold bell harmless or even edible for rodents?
Is forsythia poisonous or edible for rabbits?
Forsythia branches are harmless to rabbits and can be eaten. However, make sure to only feed fresh, he althy branches in small quantities and not to use them as main food.
Is forsythia poisonous to rabbits?
In fact, rabbits not only love to eat forsythia branches, but according to the Rabbit Aid in Germany, they are also safe for small mammalssafe So you can feed the forsythia to your rabbits if they accept and like them. However, please note these precautions:
- only feed in small quantities
- together with other branches
- do not use as main food
Cut the branchesfresh from the bush and make sure to only choose those with he althy, intact bark and leaves (without fungal spots or similar).
Which trees can rabbits eat?
In addition to forsythia branches, your rabbits can nibble on the fresh branches of many other shrubs and trees. When it comes to coniferous trees, you can grow spruce (in smaller quantities) and pine, but they are rarely eaten. Fir branches, on the other hand, are more popular.
Twigs ofare more popular with rabbits
- Fruit branches such as apple, pear, plum, cherry
- Bamboo
- Birch
- Beech and hornbeam
- Oak (against diarrhea)
- Rock Pear
- Hazelnut
- Linde
- Blackthorn
- Spears (all types)
- Willow (all types)
Of course, this list is not a complete list of branches. When feeding, make sure that the branches havenot been treated with chemicals (e.g. fungicides or a pesticide), as these are toxic to rabbits.
Which shrubs are poisonous to rabbits?
Manyornamental and wild shrubs that are poisonous to humansare also dangerous for rabbits. These include theYew, the most poisonous coniferous tree in Germany, which is highly toxic in all parts of the plant and in small quantities can even be fatal to an adult. You should not feed yew branches to rabbits, and this also applies to these types of trees:
- Wisteria
- Boxwood
- Angel Trumpet
- Gold Rain
- elderberry
- Cherry Laurel
- Magnolia
- rotten tree
- wig bush
- Pipe Bush (False Jasmine)
- Rhododendron
- Viburnum (Viburnum)
- Thuja
- Black Cherry
- Miracle tree
Twigs, leaves and other plant parts of the species mentioned may neither be fed to rabbits nor be found as plants in the rabbits' (outdoor) enclosure. When feeding wood cuttings, make sure that there are no branches of poisonous species underneath.
Would rabbits eat poisonous plants?
No. Rabbits usually dislike poisonous plants, but you can't be sure about them. Some voracious hoppers tend to ingest dangerous species themselves - sometimes because the domesticated animal, which is always fed by humans, can forget what is poisonous and what is edible. Make sure that your rabbits always havelarge and varied selection of suitable food plants available - the small mammals usually only go for poisonous plants when they don't have enough to eat.
Tip
Suitable shrubs for rabbit runs
What should I plant in the rabbit run? Above all, non-poisonous plants that are reluctant to be eaten for other reasons should go in there. For example, spruce, pine and fir are well suited, but privet, lilac and the like are also suitable.
