Geranium flowers toxic or ok?

[Bam]

Are geranium flowers ok for rabbits to eat? My bunny Yohio has nibbled on some but I can’t find any solid info on their appropriateness as rabbit-food. I find the most contradicting info, ranging from VERY poinsonous, one leaf can kill to absolutely harmless.

The geraniums I have look like this: http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/regal-martha-washington-lady-washington-geranium-pelargonium-1.jpg

 

[Deleted User]

The overwhelming bulk of the info I’ve read said they are toxic. That said if he only nibbled I’d be concerned but not panic.

I suspect (with nothing to make this a certainty), that the confusion (which I did notice) is due to the difference between true geraniums, ones with flowers, and the scented varieties. They aren’t a lot clearer on the differences when you read about them re human consumption but I know rose or lemon geranium for example can both be safely brewed into tea, while you wouldn’t want to eat the other type.

It occurred to me while I was writing this response, the list you might want to post this question to is:
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/etherbun.html#otps This question falls into their specialties, and searching the site may give you reliable information, … if not its got a lot of specialists (vets, chemists, biologists) on it so posting should get you some good info.

Best of luck, … please let us know how he does!

PS Sorry I didn’t get back to you, … thank you for the egg yolk explanation, I was very interested!!!

[Bam]

Thank you!!

He only had a nibble and it was yesterday and he still seems absolutely fine. He is an adventurer and found his way out on the balcony, which is rabbit-safe except for (perhaps) the geraniums, Wish I’d had time to take a photo of him among the flowers, it was adorable, but of course I had to concentrate on getting him out of harm’s way. I’ve put the geraniums out of rabbit-reach now.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

If you can -try planting a bunny friendly garden -maybe next year?
Marigolds, roses and Nasturiums are a few that they love and are known to be health and fine. Theres definitely others but I find those pretty and edible

[LBJ10]

Are they cranesbill? Or pelargoniums? Both are called geraniums. Cranesbill are called hardy geraniums. Pelargoniums are scented-leaf geraniums. From what I understand, cranesbill isn’t as bad.

[Bam]

They are pelargoniums, zonal pelargoniums. But Yohio is perfectly fine still, so I’m not really worried anymore. Poisoning would’ve manifested itself by now, don’t you think?

I had no idea cranesbill geranium is a type of geranium. Their Swedish name has nothing to do with geranium and I never knew their Latin name. They are very nice plants, the type even I can have sucsess with =)

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