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Forum DIET & CARE Buttercups in the yard….

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    • LauraBunny
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        I love letting my bunnies have outdoor play time. So far, they’ve only been in the backyard because in the spring our front yard is covered in buttercups (I know they’re toxic to buns). Does this mean that I can never let them graze in the front? I’m sure there is a pesticide that kills buttercups but then that wouldn’t make the grass and clover safe for them to eat either….The yellow buttercup flowers are gone now but I still don’t let them graze out front because I can’t distinguish the buttercup greens from all the other greens out there….Suggestions? TIA!


      • HouseMiniLops
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          According to most websites, buttercups are relatively low in toxicity. In other words, a few won’t kill them, but may give them a bit of a tummy ache. It is normal for some buttercups to make it to hay, and at this low level it is supposed be safe. So it depends on your comfort level. You could also let them out and watch them carefully to see if they are interested in eating them. Some rabbits are (they have lost the instinct telling them they are bad to eat) while others will not touch them on their own.


        • LauraBunny
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            Thank you for this! Yes, I’m definitely scared that they have no instinct left and will eat whatever they find. :/


          • HouseMiniLops
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              Probably better not to risk it then. In the spring, our yard is covered in buttercups, and we wait until things dry out a bit and the buttercups are mostly gone before letting our rabbit out at all. He has tasted them, but definitely does not like the flavor. Besides, during the summer there are too many other tasty things to eat. Pansies, dandilions, clover, roses, nasteriums! No need to go as far as the buttercup patch. Hopefully we’ll be able to get rid of them all before next spring.


            • LauraBunny
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                Oh, but you let them out when the buttercups are gone? Our flowers have been long gone. Do you think it’s safe to let them out in the front?


              • Sarita
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                  Is the front yard secured? Do you keep them in a pen when they are outside?


                • HouseMiniLops
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                    I think the leaves of buttercups are more the issue than the flowers, so I would still watch carefully before letting him out.

                    We have a very secure front yard – the previous owner had a dog that was a digger so the fence goes down about a food underground buried in a trench of rock. The fence is also tall enough to keep out deer. Even so, we never leave him alone outside because of the threat of aerial predators. Also, are there places for them to hide? You want to make sure they have a safe place to go if they get scared, but one where you can still get to them. We always leave the door open for Sweetie so he can run back inside if he wants. And he does so frequently – when he hears a loud noise, or ironically enough, when he needs to use the litterbox.


                  • LauraBunny
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                      Haha good bunny going inside to use the litterbox! I let them play in their separate x-pens while the dog and I are sitting with them (I’m in the pen–dog is not ). They seem to love it–lots of happy jumps and running. I move the x-pens around to new spots of clover each day. Good point about the hiding space–I didn’t think about that since they’re so curious and always frolicking. However, my new bun would probably really appreciate the hiding spot. I’m not sure he’s ever been outside before. Once I finish adapting them the runs will have a wire roof and dig-proof flooring. For now I baby-sit them. It’s so relaxing!


                    • LBJ10
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                        So these are actual buttercups from the genus Ranunculus? The reason I ask is because, yes they are considered toxic, but most animals wouldn’t tolerate eating enough of them to be severely poisoned. They supposedly taste nasty/irritate the mouth. The type of “buttercup” that most commonly grows where I am is crowfoot. People often call morning glory or bindweed “buttercup” where I live. Not sure why. Well, anyway, bindweed is considered mildly toxic too.


                      • Bam
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                          I have plenty of buttercups both ranunculus acris and ranunculus repens, and my bunnies avoid them. Can you dig them away? The repens variety are stubborn though, but some types grow from a “bow” (rosette, don’t know the proper botanical term) of leaves and can be easily pulled out (depending on the soil of course, if it’s very stony and dry you may need to water first). Meadow hay normally contains some buttercups simply because they grow everywhere, unavoidably. These buttercups are bright yellow (the flowers) and the flower-petals are shiny.

                          Morning glory of the convolvulae family is poisonous, some types quite poisonous. It is a climber with blue, trumpet-like flowers. Bindweed is a type of morning glory, but with white or pink or white/pink striped flowers like trumpets, not as magnificent as the blue garden morning glories. Bindweed is mildly poisonous to grazing animals. Just like with buttercups, the amount ingested is crucial. If a bunny would pig out on bindweed or buttercups it may not go well.


                        • LauraBunny
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                            Thank you so much for this information ladies! It’s very overwhelming the number of plants that can be toxic….that’s why I always plop them down in a patch of clover–it’s the only thing I know I can recognize! lol I’ve even avoided giving dandelion leaves because I know there is a native plant that looks very similar (but is toxic) and I don’t want to make a mistake! (Haha overprotective bunny mom here….) I’m pretty sure they’re actual buttercups (i looked at pictures of the other ones you mentioned online). I wish I had a picture from spring but I don’t think I do. There is also this very prolific weed/plant in our yard that I would really appreciate if the rabbits would eat! However, I have no idea what it is and don’t want to feed it to them and it turn out badly…


                          • LBJ10
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                              Yes, it can be difficult with all the lists. It becomes even more complicated when common names are different from actual names.


                            • HouseMiniLops
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                                FYI – we just got back from the vet for a tick removal. The vet said all of the ticks where we live are rare and harmless. She would still let him outside supervised so he can benefit from the exercise and grazing, but check him over carefully afterwards. I’m not sure. I certainly would not let your bunny out if you live in an area where there are ticks or mosquitoes that carry diseases.

                                On the plus side, he is very healthy, with great looking teeth (in spite of never wanting to chew on anything), healthy ears, and at an excellent weight.


                              • Bam
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                                  HML; that’s great =)

                                  I fear ticks too, around here about 1/3 carry Lyme disease and some may carry TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) and several other diseases. I don’t let my buns out because I worry too much. Maybe I’m doing them a huge disservice though.

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                              Forum DIET & CARE Buttercups in the yard….