Okay, let me tell you how I started making my own dried flowers for my rabbits. It actually started because I saw these tiny bags of dried petals in the pet shop, costing a small fortune! I thought, I can probably do this myself, right? Plus, I like knowing exactly what my bunnies are eating.
Getting Started – Figuring Out What’s Safe
First thing, I had to figure out which flowers are actually safe for rabbits. You can’t just grab anything. I spent some time looking things up. Turns out, quite a few common garden flowers are okay in moderation. My list ended up looking something like this:
- Roses (petals mostly)
- Dandelions (the whole thing!)
- Chamomile
- Marigolds (the simple kind, Calendula)
- Lavender (just a little bit, strong smell)
Super important: I made absolutely sure the flowers I planned to use hadn’t been sprayed with any pesticides or chemicals. That stuff is really bad for bunnies. I decided to start with roses and dandelions because I had loads growing in my garden, completely untreated.
Picking and Prepping
So, one dry morning, I went out and picked a bunch of fresh rose petals and whole dandelion flowers. I tried to get them when they looked their best, fully open but not starting to wilt. I gently shook off any dirt or little critters – didn’t wash them, because extra moisture makes drying harder.
Back inside, I spread them out on some paper towels for a little bit just to make sure they were surface dry. For the roses, I just used the petals. For the dandelions, I kept the flowers whole.
The Drying Process – My Way
I decided to air dry them. Seemed the easiest way to start. I didn’t have any fancy equipment. Here’s what I did:
For some of the dandelions, I tied little bunches together with plain cotton string, just a few flowers per bunch. Then I hung these small bunches upside down. I found a spot in a spare room closet – it’s dark, dry, and doesn’t get disturbed much. Good airflow is key, I read somewhere.
For the rose petals and some other dandelion heads, I spread them out in a single layer on mesh screens I had. You could use baking racks or even just paper towels on a tray, I guess. I put these racks in the same dark, airy closet.
Then came the waiting. It took longer than I expected, honestly. Maybe two or three weeks? I checked on them every few days. They slowly started to shrink and get crispy. You have to make sure they are completely dry, like, totally brittle. Any moisture left means they could get moldy, and that’s a big no-no.
All Dried Up and Ready!
I knew they were ready when the rose petals felt super crisp and shattered easily, and the dandelion stems (on the ones I hung) snapped cleanly. No softness or bendiness left at all.
I carefully took everything down or off the racks. The smell was actually quite nice and earthy. I put the dried flowers into some clean glass jars with tight lids. Gotta keep them airtight and store them away from sunlight to help them last longer and keep their goodness.
The Taste Test
Okay, the best part. Giving them to my rabbits, Pip and Daisy. I just sprinkled a few rose petals and one dandelion head in their hay. They went right for them! Sniffing like crazy, then munching away. It was really satisfying to see them enjoy something I made myself.
Remember though, these are treats. Not their main food. Hay is still the most important thing by far. I only give them a tiny pinch of dried flowers maybe a few times a week. It’s just a nice, natural little extra for them.
Was it worth the effort? Absolutely. It saves money, I know it’s safe because I grew and dried them myself, and the bunnies seem to love the variety. I’m already thinking about trying chamomile next time.
