Grass clippings

[LittlePuffyTail]

I was at the barn tonight and they were mowing down all the pastures. One of the girls that works there gave the bunnies a big pile of grass clippings. Assuming this is bad for them, I took it out and gave them some fresh hay. I know that for horses grass clippings are really bad and can cause severe colicky gas so I just assumed it’s not great for buns as well, especially since these guys are used to hay and not grass. Anyone know about this?

[Beka27]

As I understand it, fresh grass would have to be limited, and it would fall under the 2 cups of greens per day. Since you want to give a variety each day to make sure the bunny is covered nutritionally, you probably wouldn’t give more than about a half cup of grass clippings. It’s not dried like hay where you would offer it in unlimited amounts. This is my *guess*. I would also be concerned WHERE the grass was coming from, what kind of fertilizer might be used on or around it.

[MooBunnay]

I was researching online and couldn’t find any reputable sources that said grass is OK to feed – the House Rabbit Society only specified wheat grass as OK to eat, and I’ve fed that to my bunnies a couple times, but never in large quantities, just a few blades of grass here and there. Horses and bunnies are remarkably similar in their eating habits, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it causes the same effect on bunnies, but that is just a guess. If I were you, i would have done the same thing though, I don’t think that a random huge amount of grass would be good for their diet, even if grass is OK in small amounts.

[Deleted User]

The only use I have for grass clippings is well dried occasionally in litter/digging boxes or dried as little squished patties as a treat. Even then, you need to know that they are free from fertilizer, manure residues, etc. I would also be concerned about bugs, like flea eggs in unwashed clippings that haven’t been dried.

[Sarita]

I’m with Petzy on this – grass is not a problem but who knows what kind of stuff lurks in the grass they are given.

[PEPPA GEORGIE]

Well if you know where it has come from it should be ok shouldnt it as when buns graze in their pen outside they eat as much grass as they like. I do give it to mine although my guinea pigs get more as they gobble it all up xxx

[KytKattin]

If they aren’t used to it, it is definitely important to only give in small amounts. While I do think that a rabbit can eat unlimited grass after a time (i had Hubble doing so after a few months since he wouldn’t eat hay before his teeth were taken care of), if it’s only a treat then it should be treated as such.

On another note, grass is one of the best ways for a rabbit to use it’s teeth. Someone posted an article at one point that explained how different muscles are used for chewing different things, and grass was the best for grinding them down.

[Deleted User]

I would be surprised if a rabbit was actually going to eat the clippings unless they were of a decent length. The ones I use for my litter boxes dry sometimes, are more of a bedding, then again my rabbits turn their noses at hay fines, too, and other rabbits are repored to love the fines the most!
For teeth benefits the grass has to be long and with stem.

[bunnytowne]

I fed my buns a handful or so of grass after I washed it.  Our yards aren’t treated.

However I was watching yep a discovery channel thingy.  It showed birds and a rabbit that had roundworms and were on their sides legs kicking going in circles.  The parasite was carried by raccoons who are immune to it.

We have coons here and after that I got afraid to feed them grass.  But they sure loved it.  Also if the coons were carrying this parasite I would think I would see birds and such behaving in the above mentioned manner.   So I think I will be feeding them grass again.

What do you ladies n guys think should I feed or not?   I may be overreacting about not feeding them grass.  Also I don’t want to scare anyone from doing it either cuz buns really do enjoy it.

I was gona post this question anyways so I figured since we are on the subject I would mention it here.

Maybe I should stay away from those channels you think?

[Crayon]

I’ve let Bunny munch on the tim grass I am growing in pots. He seems to enjoy it! So I suggest if you want to feed grass as a treat, grow some in a pot. Then you know exactly what goes into it and can be sure to keep raccoons away. It would be sweet to grow some in a flower box outside a window or something like that.

[Deleted User]

Crayon, I wish I had a green thumb like you (I saw the photos of your balcony, gorgeous ) — but Bunnytowne, I asked my vet about parasite eggs on grass and she said that as long as you wash it well (meaning soak it, swish it, drain and dry) it should be OK.

[bunnytowne]

OH good.  I have a lettuce crisper I can throw it thru.  Thanks Petzy. I feel much better now.  I think I watch too many documentary type shows.  Ear wigs litterally in someones ear these parasites killing birds and bun.    Oh just too much.

I found some blue fescue grass seeds.  I planted some in pots.  Lets hope the buns enjoy the fresh ones.

Where did you find timmy seeds?  I got the fescue at Lowe’s

[Crayon]

i got the tim seed from a friend of a fraiend who has a green house. It’s local.

[MooBunnay]

BT – I think you need to start watching some lighter TV shows Perhaps a really cheesy reality show or something non-parasite related!

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