wild grasses

[GreenGoddess]

I live in the sandhills of NC.. We have an unlimited supply of what everyone calls "wheatgrass" although i have found this to not be what it is.. It actually looks more like Dallis grass than anything.. Right now it is dry and *everywhere*!! I currently use it along with pine shavings on my coop floor.. But, would this be ok for my son's bunnies? I know they need fiber and this would be a great way to clear the empty lots of this pesky stuff.. I am sure it is pesticide free so that's not an issue.. And we have plenty of wild rabbits (that the dogs in the neighborhood have missed) around so would they naturally avoid it if it wasn't ok? I am going to do some more research tomorrow to see if i can find out exactly what it is but wanted to ask y'all for thoughts on this..

Goddess :bun

 

[GreenGoddess]

Well, I haven't gotten any replies so far but I finally found out after a LOT of research that the overgrown grasses in the area are little bluestem.. A lot of sites say it's good cover for small animals to include rabbits.. So, I guess it would be ok to put in their cage and let them munch on it if they chose?

Goddess :bun

 

[ksalvagno]

As long as there are no pesticides, I don't see why it would hurt. My rabbits get hay every day. If you have a free source, that is great.

 

[GreenGoddess]

Yeah, i know there are no pesticides because basically the lots are empty from when people moved out.. No one tends to the land so they are just overgrown with this stuff.. Ours was the same when we moved it.. We just choped it all down and then burned off whatever was left.. But, I get bunches of this stuff from across he street and from the ditch to put down in my coop.. The chickens love to scratch through it to get the seeds that are left on it and it keeps the floor dry... And the best thing, IT'S FREE!! Wonder if I can find any information on nutritional value for animals.. Guess I will do some more research...


ETA: Well, I broke a piece off from my front yard and broke it into sections.. The whole stalk was about 3- 3 1/2 ft long.. So, I broke it into about 6" sections and put one piece into the cake and they immediately started munching on it.. I can't find any nutritional value other than it's really good for animals when it's still green but I did read that this specific grass has been "used for hay for centuries".. It's been raining off and on today so hopefully tomorrow i will be able to go get a whole bunch of it to clean out the coop and then give a little bit to the bunnies.. I'll stick some into a toilet paper roll to give them something to do at night since right now they like to tip their food dish over to dump the pellets out, grab it with their teeth and throw it against the sides of the cage for entertainment.. LOL


Goddess :bun

 

[hoodat]

Well, I haven't gotten any replies so far but I finally found out after a LOT of research that the overgrown grasses in the area are little bluestem.. A lot of sites say it's good cover for small animals to include rabbits.. So, I guess it would be ok to put in their cage and let them munch on it if they chose?

Goddess :bun

That's good news. Bluestem is the only grass that still contains some nutrition after it turns brown. It's a native grass and getting scarce as other grasses get planted where it was once wild. It isn't favored for pasture because it's a bunch grass. Buffalo apparently did well on it so I don't know why rabbits wouldn't.
If it's getting rained on be sure it's completely dry before putting it into the rabbit cages. You don't want mold. That can cause breathing problems.

OOPS. Just noticed this is an old post. Sorry.