Fresh grass?

[peppypoo]

I’ve seen in various places those little pots of grass marketed toward small pets…good/bad idea?  I’m thinking about getting some seeds and a small pot so my bunnies can have a bit of fun with fresh grasses.  However, I couldn’t always identify the actual types of grass in the containers (though wheat grass seems to be popular), or the nutritional information etc.  I’m sure the pre-packaged kits are outrageously overpriced, so if I did this, I would try to find seeds from a supplier at a more reasonable cost.  In my mind I imagine my bunnies “lawn mower-ing” the little pot of grass, but would they instead try to dig it up and make a mess?  If so, this miiight not be a good idea.  I’m also wary of bugs and various parasites that could be in the dirt (can I autoclave dirt in my oven? lol)…any input on this idea in general? Thanks!

 

[Beka27]

 Another member did this:  https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tab…fault.aspx

This question seems to come up every spring like clockwork.

I was hesitant.  I was thinking of the mess of dirt flung everywhere, and a dirty bunny… but I’m a little bit of a neat freak.  

[Sarita]

Here’s a response from Dana Krempels on fresh grass:

en.allexperts.com/q/Rabbits-703/rabbits-poo.htm

I take this to mean that as long as it meets these standards and the rabbit can eat it from the container it is fine – fresh cut grass apparently goes bad quickly.

[peppypoo]

Thanks for the link, Petzy – I wanted to do a keyword search for the forum, but kept pulling up an error o_O

Sarita – thanks, I think I’ll give it a try..should be interesting!

[LoveChaCha]

Ooo, great idea Peppy! I’m thinking of growing some Romaine in the sunroom this spring.. may have to add grass to that.

I get a small bunch of wheat grass from the grocer but Chacha seems to want to nom it all up in one sitting

[GrumpyBun]

Ooh, I was about to share my wisdom and found I already had

A word of caution: if you do a big tray like I did you buns may view it as a new litter tray (why Oxo, why?!) and grass does not like rabbit pee.

[LoveChaCha]

Okay

Grumpy, what kind of soil did you use and how did you plant the seeds? I’m new to gardening.. o_O!!!! Any advice and descriptions will be really helpful!

[Beka27]

If you planted it in a higher loaf pan, the buns prob would not be able to get INSIDE of it, just eat from the side. So that’s another option…

[GrumpyBun]

I just used multipurpose compost from a garden centre. You don’t need high quality soil for grass, but using a general compost prevent bugs and creepy crawlies coming in with the soil, which would be unavoidable if you just dug some up form outside.

Grass needs light to germinate so you don’t want to cover it with compost. Just sprinkle over the top and then sort of stroke it – if you were laying a lawn you would rake it in. You should be given guidance as to how thick the grass seed should be sown on the packet, but don’t worry too much about getting it perfect. Aim for two-three seeds per square inch. Once it’s about an inch high – trim it. You need to get light to its roots so they can lock into the soil properly; if you give to bun at this point they’ll just pull out the whole plant.

Can you tell I work in a garden centre?

[BunnyBuns7]

I planted cat grass one year for my rabbit. She loved it! I just used one of those long window sill potters. I also didn’t leave it in with her all the time; just long enough for her to get her fix. I used an organic potting soil and grew it inside. Lily would pretty much chew the grass down to nothing, but what’s nice about cat grass is it grows back fast.

[jerseygirl]

Absolutely grow grass for the rabbits! Part of their natural diet IMO.  It can be a treat or pop some with their other greens. Wheat/barley/oat grasses, even get some timothy seeds and grow that in a pot.  I bought a “cat grass” one time and it was orchardgrass but generally I think they are wheat. Either one would be fine.  I’ve had brome grass naturally growing in part of my yard and fed that fresh to the buns before with no problems. Rumball liked it the most. I think orchardgrass grows naturally out there also.  Sometimes I pick other grass and offer it and they ignore it yet when they go outside they’ll graze on it.

 

You’re right, those kits are probably overpriced. I’m sure you’d be able to find the seeds somewhere. Lots of organic food & health food type businesses sell wheat grass.  I actually just read an article about Flopper’s Garden, a busines in CA makes healthy bunny treats (The BB store stocks some) and the owner has a hydroponic garden kit now. There’s not a lot of detail in this link and unfortunately I can’t find a direct website. http://thebnn.org/2011/01/12/floppe…otanicals/ 

[cactuspancake]

I grow grass for my bunnies! it’s super easy. You can buy bags of “wheat hearts”even at the grocery store! you just put them on top of the dirt, all touching eachother like a layer, push them with your hand a bit, then sprinkle some more dirt on top and water it really well! I keep it saran wrapped for two days in the warm and dark so the seeds germinate then I stick it on a sill!

Harvest when 6″ tall and cut to 1″ tall. If I give them the grass in the pot, they yank it out so I cut it for them. XD It tends to grow slower after the 3rd cut

[LoveChaCha]

I saw some cat grass seeds at Target today! I shoulda got it ><

[peppypoo]

grumpybun, I LOVED your pictures of your bun in a tray of grass! So adorable

After reading all the advice above, I think I’m definitely going to try this out when I can get my hands on some planting supplies. I could even fertilize with bunny droppings, lol!

[LoveChaCha]

Very true.. but.. our rabbits will think it is a litter box O_O!!
I’m gonna go get that cat grass at Target..

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