apple tree limbs for chewing on

[bradw]

Hello all,

My daughters received a few nzw for christmas and I was wondering if I can put a few small apple tree limbs in their cage to chew on and play with. Anyone know if this is OK.

thanks

brad

[casusbelli]

by all means, YES.
apple and pear branches/twigs are fine, pear are my californians favorite. only cherry/stone fruits bark is off-limits (among fruits).

[MaggieJ]

Yes, provided the trees have not been sprayed. Apple, pear, willow, elm, sycamore, and poplar are all safe.

[Fat Man]

Ours just got some nice hunks of Mulberry.

[MaggieJ]

Mulberry is excellent. http://www.pjbs.org/pjnonline/fin312.pdf

The leaves of the trees I mentioned, as well as mulberry, can be fed as green feed and also dried for winter use.

[rags57078]

if my rabbits see you with mulberry branches they go nuts , good thing they grow like weeds here

[lonelyfarmgirl]

so they can't have plum and peach branches? why?

[MaggieJ]

The leaves and bark of drupes (single stoned fruits) contain a toxic substance. I'm not saying feeding a twig from plum or peach would kill a rabbit, but they are not as safe as apple or pear and I don't recommend their use.

[bradw]

Thanks for all the input. The bunnies devoured the branches and leaves

brad