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Forum DIET & CARE Dried Veggies and Fruits

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    • Bunnyluvva13
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         I want to dry some fruits, veggies and herbs for my bunny. So i was wondering what are some methods youve heard about or used? It can be how you dry foods for yourself or your bunny or another animal. I was thinking maybe drying zucchini, brocolli, beets, apples, bananas, plums, bell peppers, pear. im not sure if all of these are possible to dry.. so if not please tell me, and if you have any suggestions of things that can be dried feel free to tell me. As for the herbs i was thinking mint, basil, dandelion, parsley, cilantro, tyme and (its not an herb) grape vine leaves. Any tips or suggestions?


      • LittleBunnyPaws
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          For fruits, I would definitely use bananas (my friends bun loves them, mine is too young to have them.) My mom used a dehydrator thing, haha. Sorry I don’t know the exact name. You could also just buy some dry fruit if you can’t find a good method. My bunny loves the occasional mint leaf, haha. Hopefully that helped you good luck with your bunny.


        • Flabebe
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            I dont know what it is about my car but I can dry herbs in it like no tomorrow! I usually string my freshly collected herbs together and let them bake for a day. My car traps in heat with very little humidity and we dont smoke or have weird things in it…

            This link actually is fantastic to read up on about drying herbs!

            http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/drying-herbs-zm0z13fmzmat.aspx#axzz3BvCyBlKV

            Rosemary in an herb that my bun enjoys immensely


          • Bunnyluvva13
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              i like the idea of putting the herbs into your car! it can get really warm in them especially when its sunny! i will have to try that!


            • Eepster
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                For dandelions, I press them in a phone book. I lay them out not touching on a clean piece of paper; place another clean sheet of paper on top; then put them between the pages of a phone book. I live in a dense suburb, so my phone book is thick, but I still then add more weight on top with other books. It takes a few days, but then I have them to add to hay all winter.


              • LittleBunnyPaws
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                  That is a really good idea can you feed your rabbit a hole dandelion? Or just the leaf? Or the stem? Haha, sorry. I have always wondered that.


                • BunnyBrigade
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                    I have never though of putting them in a car! I have a dehydrator that I got for Christmas. I use it to dry my veggies and fruit.


                  • Bunnyluvva13
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                       You an feed the yellow flower stem and leaves! Im not sure about the puffy white flowers but i would not feed that part since its just a bunch of seeds. You can always pull that flower off and feed the stems though.


                    • Flabebe
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                        The book idea is great! I can finally put some of my college books to good use

                        And I totally want a dehydrator, but my partner thinks im silly


                      • Bam
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                          I use a dehydrator, not the really expensive type. I dry all kinds of leaves and some leaves that my bunnies are not fond of are super-delicious to them once they’re dried, like oregano and raspberry leaves. Then I pack the leaves into ziplock bags for storage. It’s really good to use as hay-toppers in winter when nothing grows outside and all fresh veggies have to be store-bought.

                          I dry apples and apple-peel but no other fruits.


                        • Eepster
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                            Posted By Flabebe on 9/01/2014 12:17 AM

                            The book idea is great! I can finally put some of my college books to good use

                            And I totally want a dehydrator, but my partner thinks im silly

                            Text books will work as extra weight for the top, but most won’t work well as the book you place the flowers in.  

                            The pages of of phone books are made of a very soft, inexpensive and light weight paper.  This makes the paper both absorbent and quick drying.  The pages of the phone book wick moisture away from the flowers and stems so they dry quickly as they press.

                            Text books on the other hand are typically made from hard, smooth, sturdy paper.  It does not absorb the moisture the flowers put out well.  It stays against the flower.  You may end up with rotten flowers and stains on your books.


                          • Eepster
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                              Posted By LittleBunnyPaws on 8/31/2014 12:41 PM

                              That is a really good idea can you feed your rabbit a hole dandelion? Or just the leaf? Or the stem? Haha, sorry. I have always wondered that.

                              All parts are good, the yellow flowers are a special treat though.

                              Clovers  and violets are also common yard/garden flower that make good bunny snacks.  You can also dry rose petals, just places them in an airy basket.


                            • Bunnyluvva13
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                                I decided to hang dry some plants. I think it was willow leaves, grape leaves, clover, dandelion, parsley, rosemary, mint. And they are so green compared to what i can buy in my pet stores And it was free! They also smell delicious  Im gonna go outside today and pick some more things to dry including basil, thyme, lavender, oragano and all the other things i mentioned earlier. And i asked my friend who owns a dehydrator if she could dry some fruit for me and she said yes  


                              • Bam
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                                  Hang-drying the stuff you mention is probably the best method, the nutrients get preserved better if you don’t apply heat like you do in a dehydrator.

                                  I still use my dehydrator for plants though since I mostly use it as toppers and it is a very quick method. The scent of drying herbs especially mint is great. One thing that also has a lovely scent is raspberry leaves, I never thought they’d any scent at all until I dried some.

                                  Your bun will thank you =)


                                • Bunnyluvva13
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                                    I forgot that i wrote this!!
                                    I ended up drying plants by hanging them, and by putting them in the oven, which was way faster than hanging them! But i am doing some research into dehydrators now for me and the bunny (i may get one for christmas). If i get a dehydrator that only has one temperature will it work on all different type of plants and foods?

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                                Forum DIET & CARE Dried Veggies and Fruits