what to plant for rabbits

[ohiogoatgirl]

i'm hoping to start raising rabbits. for meat and to sell. what could i plant for them? i like to be as self-sufficient as possible.
i make my own hay and i know that's a big investment for any livestock. here's what i've already come up with:
sunflowers -seed, stalks
black oil sunflowers (?) - seed, stalks
indian corn - seed, stalks
carrots
turnips
pumpkin
squash
peas
cucumber
parsnips
zucchini
radishes
chicory (the roadside flower kind)
plantain (lots of em in the yard, hope to transplant a few to actually harvest)
willow withes
apple tree clippings (have a few apple trees on the farm and know people with apple trees)
apple slices
parsley

some things i was wondering about were :
lemon balm
mint
cattails (have a huge field of em that i could harvest. hoping to harvest some anyhow for basket making)
dry beans (i have seeds that never got around to planting, hutterite soup bean and indian black bean i think)

and btw i'm in SE ohio.
thanks!

 

[Truscifi]

Bidens alba (aka Spanish needle) is a good high protein green similar to alfalfa. It grows wild here in central FL and they eat it up.

 

[norcal]

You grow plantain in Ohio? Wow!

Mine like Bok Choy & the next year volunteer's sprout up everywhere (and it's yummy in soup & stir fry).

Radishes are great, because they grow SOOOO fast & the rabbits love the greens (I'm in Calif so climate is different).

 

[ohiogoatgirl]

hee hee hee i think you are thinking of the banana type plantain... nope... what i mean is the little weeds plantain.
link about plantain: http://www.prairielandherbs.com/plantain.htm
though i did read that bananas make good treats for rabbits. but not to feed much at all b/c it can make em sick.

 

[norcal]

hee hee hee i think you are thinking of the banana type plantain... nope... what i mean is the little weeds plantain.
link about plantain: http://www.prairielandherbs.com/plantain.htm
though i did read that bananas make good treats for rabbits. but not to feed much at all b/c it can make em sick.

I thought you'd have to have a really GOOD greenhouse to grow plantain up there.

 

[Ms. Research]

In New Jersey, was very successful in growing Parsley, Celantra, Tomatoes, Carrots, Strawberries.

Next Spring plan on trying Kale, Basil, Spinach, maybe even Brussel Sprouts (they tried them last night and LOVED them) along with what I was successful with this year. Garden will be a bit bigger to accommodate feeding healthy rabbits!


Good Luck with your project! Always good to be able to grow what you need to help feed your animals.


eta: It's only fair since the Bunnies supply LOTS of nutrients to the garden! Love that Bunny Poop. Makes things GROW!

 

[20kidsonhill]

Kohlarabi It grows easily, can handle colder weather, and even once it is too tough for you to pick and eat, rabbits still love it.

And radishes would be my next choice. But radishes need to be planted every 3 weeks or so, were kohlarabi can be planted and it will stay fairly well in the garden through out the summer for the rabbits to enjoy.

 

[Ms. Research]

Kohlarabi It grows easily, can handle colder weather, and even once it is too tough for you to pick and eat, rabbits still love it.

And radishes would be my next choice. But radishes need to be planted every 3 weeks or so, were kohlarabi can be planted and it will stay fairly well in the garden through out the summer for the rabbits to enjoy.

Never knew about Kohlarabi. Thank you 20kidsonhill for posting this suggestion. Did a quick "safe search" and will definitely try this for the rabbits next year. I wonder if you can grow them hydroponically? Hmmmm... something to ponder.

Again, thanks for the suggestion. Looks like a winner in my book.

 

[earthdance]

My goats won't touch my lemon balm so rabbits may not like it either. Dry UNCOOKED beans are toxic to even humans. I would focus on perennial greens like kale and collards, and root crops for the tops (turnips, celeriac, mangels). I have similar intentions to supplement my goats and rabbits, and my mini pigs will be ploughing up several places this winter for me to plant Sepp Holzer style.......

I am in Ohio too

 

[norcal]

Kohlarabi It grows easily, can handle colder weather, and even once it is too tough for you to pick and eat, rabbits still love it.

And radishes would be my next choice. But radishes need to be planted every 3 weeks or so, were kohlarabi can be planted and it will stay fairly well in the garden through out the summer for the rabbits to enjoy.

We planted kohlrabi for the first time this year. It's growing pretty slowly here compared to everything else. ??