Pine Cone Rabbit Treats Keep Bunnies Active

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1 Pine Cone Rabbit Treats Keep Bunnies Active Pine cone rabbit treats are a great way to provide stimulation and a healthy chew toy for your bunny. With a simple process you can prepare the pine cone so that it is a safe chewing toy that the rabbits really enjoy. Foraging for Rabbit Treats Healthy Pine Cone The other day I went to the bank. Not unusual but this particular day, a large pine tree had fallen over in the high winds. This was a mature beautiful pine and pine cones were everywhere! It was a forager s dream. I knew that pine cone rabbit treats were a good activity for bunnies but hadn t

2 found any to give to our rabbits. I did the banking business I had come for and asked if I could collect some pine cones. Asking permission before foraging on property that isn t yours,is always a good idea. A short time later I had two large reusable grocery totes filled with pine cones.

3 Since I hadn t given our bunnies pine cone rabbit treats, I asked two other rabbit owners for advice. I knew I had read something about the pine cones needing to be prepared before giving them to the rabbits. But what type of preparation was needed? Preparing Pine Cone Rabbit Treats Both friends told me the same information. The preparation is intended to keep the rabbits from getting any mites, or other insect pests, along with any diseases that could be on the pine cone. I was assured that no insecticides or weed killer had been used around the trees, too. It was obviously a very healthy older pine tree and I was sad to see it toppled by the wind. Also, I was sorry that I couldn t carry off more of the pine cones and the broken pine limbs for the goats! While I am sure that wild rabbits just jump right in and gnaw away on fresh pine cones, I decided to err on the side of caution and follow the procedure for making pine cone rabbit treats the safe way.

4 Step 1 Collect the pine cones from a pesticide free source. Step 2 Wash the pine cones in a sink full of warm water and 1 cup of white vinegar. Remove dirt clumps, insects, dried sap. You may need to keep pushing the pine cones under the surface of the water until they get wet. Spread the pine cones out to dry for three or four days. (you

5 can also use a dehydrator set on low to speed up the drying time) Step 3 Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lay the pine cones in a single layer on the baking sheet and bake on low heat (around 250 degrees F) for 2 hours. Step 4 Cool the pine cones completely. Step 5 Give your bunny his new Pine Cone Rabbit Treats!

6 Why Do Rabbits Need Toys? Rabbits kept in captivity as pets need a lot of mental stimulation in order to not become destructive. Toys are one way to provide the activity needed to keep the bunny healthy. In addition, bunnies need something hard to chew on or their teeth will become overgrown. Rabbits in the wild wear down their teeth by chewing branches and other hard surfaces. Pet rabbits benefit from this too. If you don t provide suitable toys they will begin chewing on furniture and baseboard and other objects you wish they wouldn t chew! Providing chew toys that you make at home is an economical way to provide the mental stimulation and physical exercise that your pet needs. When gathering sticks to make a chew bundle, make sure the wood is safe for rabbits to chew. Maple, Alder, Pear and Willow are good choices. Small branches from an apple tree make a tasty treat! Do not use branches from cherry, plum, peach and apricot trees as they can be toxic. See also

7 How to Make a Rabbit Chew Toy Baked Parsley Treats for Rabbits Rabbit Care Basics Rabbit Care Basics for the Farm, Homestead or Home Rabbit Care Basics Getting

8 Started Rabbi ts can be a wonderful addition to your homestead. Once you know the rabbit care basics you will be on your way to successfully raising rabbits for meat, fiber, or pets. You will notice several areas of importance concerning rabbit care. Many are the basics that you need to learn and provide for any animal you bring to your homestead. Other rabbit care points are specific to the species. If you provide the basics for all life you will increase the odds of having healthy animals. These basics include proper food, shelter and health care.

9 What Should You Feed the Rabbits? Following the stereotype of Bugs Bunny munching on carrots all day long will not provide proper nutrition for your rabbits. Rabbits main source of food should be high quality forage. Hay, grasses, and pellet rations provide this basic food. The commercial rabbit pellets are mostly compressed timothy hay or alfalfa hay with added vitamins and minerals. Protein level for dry does, bucks and growing kits is recommended to be 12 to 15 percent. The multicolored bits in some commercial rations should be limited and fed as a treat. While not necessarily bad food, your rabbits should be eating primarily forage. Rabbits eat sporadically throughout the day but primarily eat in the evening. Water! Water is the most important nutrient when discussing rabbit care basics. Make water readily available at all times of the day and night. Making sure it is clean and fresh is an important task to perform at least once daily. On our farm, we check twice daily for food and water availability. Water can be available in a sturdy flat bottomed bowl or a traditional hanging water bottle if you are using cages. We use a habitat style of housing for our rabbits so a water bottle doesn t work for us. The thick stoneware bowls are nice and easy to clean but often break during freezing weather. The Fortex brand rubber feed bowls are a good choice. If water freezes in these, twist like an old fashioned ice cube tray and the ice pops right out. These bowls last a long long time.

10 Rabbit Housing Speaking of housing, how will you take care of the rabbit care basics of secure housing? Rabbits can be housed in many different ways. House rabbits can be trained to use a litter box and freely roam the house, when you are supervising. You should take precautions and remove or guard cords and other chewable items from the curious bunny. Farm raised rabbits are often kept in a rabbitry. This could be a building or a three sided shed that provides shelter from the sun, wind and rain. Cages are stacked in the rabbitry with each rabbit having it s own cage. The cages usually have

11 an open end that is wire and an enclosed end for sleeping, kindling, and hiding when they feel threatened. The wire cage bottom should have a section that is solid of some sort to allow the rabbit to rest without always sitting on wire. When the rabbit sits on the wire cage floor all the time, the feet and hocks can become injured. Rabbit housing can be as simple or elaborate as you like. The time involved in building a natural rabbit habitat varies. If you feel this is the path you want to take, you will want to read this e-book about Habitat Housing for Rabbits. The ebook I wrote includes plans and instructions for building an area like we did for our outside bunnies. Habitat Housing for Rabbits is also available on Amazon.

12 Building an Outdoor Habitat The first step to building an outdoor rabbit habitat is to prepare the ground. Some type of wire should be laid first, then a layer of thick tarp or used poly feed bags, to prohibit digging out of the enclosure. Cover the area with a few inches of dirt, mulch, or sawdust, to allow the rabbit to dig and scratch in a natural environment. This system has worked well for us with outdoor rabbits. Enclose the area with solid, sturdy fencing surrounding the hutch and the natural play area. In the house you will need to provide water and food, plus any treats you want to give to the rabbit. For bedding we use plain pine shavings. In hot weather the rabbits prefer to lie directly on the cooler floor of the hutch and will kick the shavings out of the way. This is fine as long as they have an area to use for eliminating waste.

13 Rabbit Care Basics for Good Health Being aware of signs of illness in your rabbits will make a big difference in the animals recovery. Once a rabbit becomes ill, you must act quickly or you will likely lose the animal. One way to determine illness is to know the signs of a healthy rabbit. Healthy animals will be moving around freely and not sitting in a corner looking unkempt and depressed. Healthy animals are alert, interested in food and treats, and aware of the surrounding area. Check the fecal droppings for signs of runny discharge, diarrhea, unusual bad odor, or color. Viral and Bacterial Illness Sneezing and watery eyes and nose can be a sign of allergies, dust in the hutch, a mild illness, or snuffles. Snuffles, or Pasturella, is a serious viral illness that is highly contagious. Treatment with antibiotics, usually Duramycin or Penicillin can cure the infection if caught early enough. It can travel swiftly through a rabbit colony so make sure to do regular health checks with your rabbits. Sore Hocks occurs when rabbits have thin fur padding on their hocks and rest on wire cage floor. Using a piece of plywood over part of the cage floor gives the rabbit somewhere to rest that doesn t contribute to the issue.

14 Parasites In the parasite area, coccidiosis and enteritis are the main threats to your rabbit s health. Mucoid Enteritis is a mucus diarrhea that quickly causes a rabbit to lose condition and strength. In young rabbits the result is often death within 24 hours. Coccidiosis is caused by an over abundance of coccidia in the digestive tract. The rabbits suffering from coccidiosis do not thrive, often look sickly, and are likely susceptible to other ailments too. Coccidiosis can be treated with a coccidiastat added to the water. The form of coccidiosis that infects the liver of rabbits is harder to treat. It is less likely to occur in mature rabbits, as they are more resistant to infections. Bot Fly Infestations Bot flies lay their eggs on the fur of the rabbit and the larvae migrate into the rabbit through the

15 skin. It s a fairly disgusting thing to treat as the grown larvae emerges from the rabbit through a skin hole leaving a gaping wound that can lead to infection. Read more about Bot Flies and Fly Strike here. You can prevent many illnesses and infections with good ventilation, regular cleaning and manure management. Flies are attracted to wet manure and bedding and breed in this condition. Keeping the cage and area clean and dry will make the area less attractive to flies which carry disease. Rabbit Care Basics in First Aid In our first aid box we keep supplies that can be used immediately if a rabbit is sick or injured. Here are the items we feel need to be on hand to tackle an emergency. VetRX For relief and prevention of snuffles and pneumonia in rabbits Vibactra all natural, organic herbal support against viral and bacterial infections BlueKote -Antiseptic and Anti-Fungal spray for wounds and skin infections. Coats with a blue coloring, that is mostly needed for chickens but won t do any harm when used on rabbits Vetericyn Wound Care spray alcohol free antibacterial spray for all animal care. This is my go-to product for almost every type of wound, except around the eye. (see Vetericyn Eye Gel) Vetericyn Eye Gel For irritations and infection control in or near the eye (see also Vetericyn Pink Eye Gel) Vet wrap Cohesive stretch bandage for wounds and injury protection Gauze pads 2 x 2 pads for most rabbit needs scissors, tweezers, flashlight

16 Neosporin Triple antibiotic ointment Herbal Health Care for Rabbits Herbs are a wonderful way to supplement your rabbits feed. The nutrients in herbs will help rabbits stay healthy and build strong immune systems. I particularly like to give my rabbits fresh or dried Thyme. Thyme is a great support for respiratory health. Parsley, Lemon Balm and Oregano are also favorites in our rabbit family. I highly recommend regular additions of fresh or dried herbs as part of your rabbit care basics. Other Treats I try to bring treats to our rabbits frequently but not every day. In addition to their pellets, hay, herbs and water, I

17 bring an occasional banana, strawberry tops, fresh greens (leaf lettuce, kale, and Swiss chard) and apple slices. Fruit can lead to runny poo if given too often therefor, keep fruit as an occasional treat. Your rabbits will love being part of the family and the farm life. Many farms have a breeding pair or two that provide meat for the family table. Other people raise Angora rabbits for spinning fiber. Our Rabbits are currently enjoying pet status on the farm, and we have one rabbit who retired to our house. Once you provide the rabbit care basics you are ready to start raising rabbits for your homestead. Are you raising rabbits? Would you consider rabbits as a part of your homesteading journey? What would you add to the rabbit care basics discussed here? Continue reading about Rabbit Care and Homesteading with

18 rabbits with these posts. Click the photo to reach the post. From A FarmGirl in the Making Rabbit Safety in the Summer from Happy Days Farm The Fewell Homestead Rabbit Care for Beginners

19 An InLinkz Link-up Snow on the Farm Blizzard 2016

20 What Goes Into Preparing the Farm for a Major Snowstorm? What makes farming different when there is snow on the farm? Actually, nothing. The same things need to be tended to no matter what the weather brings. Except for the fact that, the older I get, the more I seem to fall on that lovely cover of white. The latest snowflake extravaganza left me rather beaten up. It was light fluffy snow which made it easier to shovel but walking through this powder, up to my knees, made the footing unstable. At least the fall was soft!

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22 (Chickens are not known for their love of snow. After a couple days inside the coop, a few will be curious enough to try the pure white snow in the run. I will shovel some snow out of the way and lay down straw to entice the others to leave the coop)

23 The Real Difference When Snow is Expected on the Farm The real work of dealing with snow on the farm begins before it happens. We spent the week leading up to the predicted blizzard in full preparation mode. I am a little bit crazy about not ever running out of feed for the animals, balanced with not hoarding food that might get stale or moldy. I try to calculate how much we will need, depending on the season, and plan accordingly. Even though someone had recently picked up feed, I noticed that the goat and sheep formula we use for our mixed flock, was running low. So that needed to be purchased. Water is another big concern on our farm. We are a well and septic area, which means that when the power goes out in a big storm, we have no water. To prepare for this we store water in gallon jugs, and three gallon containers. The frozen hoses are stretched out and then wound up to take inside. (Store in the bathtub or some other water proof space, so the frozen water won t ruin your carpet or floor when it thaws.) Water really is our biggest worry on the farm, and more so when there is snow on the farm.

24 The next task was to collect up any tools and feed bowls lying around. This is so I can find the bowls without digging through a mountain of snow. This storm was predicted to reach blizzard status with the high winds so collecting loose objects before they become flying projectiles is a good safety precaution. Waiting for Snow on the Farm And then we waited. The storm arrived on schedule and the snow continued through the next day. 36 hours of snow on the farm. It took a good deal of time to make it to the farm the next day. Since we had supplied everyone with extra hay, feed

25 and water and they were all safe, we didn t panic. When a vehicle could finally make it down our street to the opening of the farm drive, I was getting anxious to see how the animals were doing. When the coops and houses and stalls were opened I was glad to see that there was still water and food left from the night. Everyone was doing well. The chickens immediately started eating. There were already some eggs waiting despite the different schedule for the day. With a foot or more of snow on the ground, no one was interested in going out, except the ducks. They quacked for quite a while discussing the crazy weather.

26 The sheep were comfy cozy in their stall. The door leading to their outside paddock was nearly blocked by snow. I am glad that I blocked the doorway from the inside, so that no sheep were trapped outside during the storm. As long as they have hay in their manger I would bet they didn t even notice the gate was closed.

27 See you tomorrow Bunnies.

28 I know the goats aren t planning any outings in the snow.

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30 Bunny Treats Rabbits for Your Pet Bunny Treats for Your Pet Lets just admit it, we love to feed our rabbits bunny treats. Watching those cute little noses wrinkle as they eat some goodies is just fun. While we may want to keep the rabbit s diet as close to natural as possible, it still is ok to bring a treat to our pets or farm rabbits and watch them eat enthusiastically. We have both house rabbits and farm rabbits and they all love a treat. Rabbits are herbivores and this means they should mainly be eating plants. Fruits and vegetables are a product of plants and should be given in moderation.

31 Is feeding your pet rabbits complicated? Not really! Since rabbits are herbivores they are happy with grasses and legumes. Rabbit diets should consist of water, pellet food, and hay. These should be the core of a good rabbit feeding program. There are many rabbit formulas to choose from and for the most part the all purpose timothy pellet will be the right choice. If you have a rabbit with a specialized need, such as lactating, or fiber producing then you may need to choose a specialized formula. Most pet supply dealers should be able to help you choose the correct ration for you pet.

32 What vegetables and fruits can you give for bunny treats? The following list is not all inclusive. You may find a treat the is the favorite of you bunny. And with any treat, it is important to remember that a small amount is fine, but a large amount may cause health problems. Carrots everyone thinks of carrots when they think of bunny treats. And it is true that rabbits love carrots. Carrots are also high in sugar, so a little bit goes a long way. Apples Pears Bananas Also good choices but in limited amounts. These are high in sugar also.

33 Banana Days are very popular but must be limited due to sugar content in fruit Leafy Greens, including Kale, Spinach, Romaine, and other leaf

34 lettuces. Avoid iceberg lettuce as it is mostly water and can cause diarrhea. Some greens are high in oxylic acid which can damage kidneys if fed in high amounts. Spinach, and Swiss Chard are in this group of greens, so limit these to one leaf per rabbit per day. Safe Foods for Your Rabbit Leafy green plants such as dandelion greens, and plantain leaves are great treats and high in nutrients and vitamins. Herbs Adding fresh herbs to your rabbits diet will boost immunity and overall good health. The top herb to consider adding would be Chamomile for calming and soothing, particularly during the first year of life when the hormones are raging. Occasionally adding some oregano for immune health can be beneficial too. Lavender is also sometimes used to increase calming but only a pinch! Brittany May from Happy Days Farm recommends using these three but only using the Chamomile regularly. She notes that in the wild, rabbits would

35 find what they needed to feel good. In captivity, we need to supply these herbs, occasionally. (Simple Herbs for a Stressed Out Rabbit) Remember that feeding only fresh fruits and vegetables is not the natural diet of rabbits. Even the famous Peter Rabbit ended up sick in bed after visiting Mr. McGregor s garden! Digestive Problems A final word about diarrhea in rabbits. Feeding the wrong diet to your bunny may lead to diarrhea. Diarrhea is a symptom not a disease in itself. Diarrhea can be very serious and lead to death quickly. Keep some whole oats or oat hay on hand. I find it easier to keep some whole oats in the house in case there is an occurrence. Feed a good size handful of oats. Do not use the sugar sweetened oatmeal mixes. Use whole plain oats. Baby rabbits are particularly susceptible to diarrhea from eating fresh greens and fruits. Do not feed baby rabbits any fresh foods until they are fully developed. At that point, introduce fresh produce very slowly so that your rabbit can enjoy the bunny treats without getting sick. I waited at least 10 weeks of age and started with offering a small piece of carrot as a treat.

36 no fresh greens or fruits for baby bunnies!

37 Further sources (affiliate links, I will receive a small amount of money from the sale if you choose to purchase these books from this link. Your price does not change) Natural Rabbit Care

38 Lots of Rabbit info here An InLinkz Link-up I write about many homestead and livestock related topics on the blog Timber Creek Farm. Do you want to know more about raising chickens? My new book, Chickens From Scratch, is available now through the Timber Creek Farm website or from Amazon.com