Type of flower/weeds

[Yubin]

Hello, I got these in my hay and I was wondering what kind of weeds and/or flower these are.

 

I’ve googled them but i’m not sure what these are.

I think the flower is dandelion, I just want to be safe and sure that it is okay to feed my buns these!

There’s also thistle, but it so prickly, I usually throw them away.

 

Thank you.

[LBJ10]

Looks like red clover to me.

I’m not sure what the “spray” is. It almost looks like smartweed, but not sure.

[Yubin]

Hey! Thanks for the reply!

Oh, I searched and people said red clover is okay for buns.

The smartweed or whatever that is, it seems not a lot of people feed it, i’m just worried it might have an effect on them later on, but they seem to be okay. Except one of them stop eating hay and pellets, he’s not eating much at all, so i’m a bit worried if it’s the weeds/flower in this hay.

[ParsleyBun]

I don’t know what the long things are but I am 100% sure that the other stuff is definitely red clover! It can cause loose stool if fed fresh in large amounts.  You should defeniteley be fine,  since it is dried and in a small amount. 🙂

[Yubin]

Thank you! Oh no, good thing I don’t see them in the hay patch too often.

[Bam]

The long things look like plantain weed (plantago major) to me. I often forage plantain leaves for my buns, but I’ve never given the actual seed heads.

[Yubin]

Thank you! Hopefully it is that, I went to search and it said to help buns with diarrhea, but these are the seeds head, so i’m not entirely sure.

[Bam]

Plantain (plantago major) seeds are used by and for humans to make the stools firmer and pass more easily (yes, gross, but still…). Rabbits shouldnt be fed the seeds only (theyre sold in stores as a natural stomach aid for humans, and a type of “flour” made from ground seeds is popular as a flour replacement for gluten-allergics and people who are on a low carb diet), because they do absorb a lot of fluid and might cause a gut slowdown. The seed heads you have don’t seem fully ripe, which should make them ok.

Plantain weed is supposed to be very healthy for humans as well as animals, so I always nibble a few when I find them =)

 

[DanaNM]

Just to chime in, the seed head part doesn’t look like plantain to me, but maybe I’ve never seen it that mature?

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[LBJ10]

There are different types of plantain. We have mostly English plantain here and the seed heads don’t look like that at all. But I Googled what Bam said and I think she is right.

[DanaNM]

oh interesting! Yeah I think i’ve only seen the english plantain too.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Bam]

Here are pictures, there are different kinds, as LBJ says.

This is broadleaf plantain, plantago major, :

 

This is ribwort plantain, plantago lanceolata:

The leaves of both are much appreciated by my buns.

(pictures via Bing, not my own).

 

[DanaNM]

Ah, gotcha! Yeah I was picturing the ribwort plantain! And yes my buns love it!

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Bam]

Both are great bunny greens, ribwort plantain is very practical because it grows throughout most of winter. I found an especially beautiful specimen last spring in one of my pallet collars (I grow most vegs in pallets collars), for rabbit purposes I transplanted it to a big pot where its still thriving =D

Broadleaf plantain is a sturdy plant that likes to grow alongside footpaths. They like rather moist sites.

[Author]

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