Rabbits? - Orchid Board

judith_arquette · #1 08-02-2015, 06:46 AM

Just wondering if anyone has had a rabbit munch on any of their orchids... we have an abundance of wildlife around us and over the past week or so I've noticed that a rabbit has taken up residence near our front yard. I keep some of my collection on the front porch along with our parakeets. This morning I discovered that something has attempted to chew into the bird food bag and I don't want my orchids to be next, especially since now I'm going to be keeping the birds food inside...

Subrosa · #2 08-02-2015, 07:44 AM

I have no idea whether rabbits find orchids palatable, but I have little doubt that if they're around orchids long enough they'll find out for themselves. Dried blood sold as fertilizer spread around a perimeter will normally keep rabbits (and deer) out of an area. However it needs to re re-applied after a rain.

katrina · #3 08-02-2015, 07:52 AM

We have rabbits all over the place and only once have I had any issues that I attributed to a rabbit. Although, I didn't see it happen and given the chomping the squirrels do...it might not have been a rabbit at all. Either way...we have them all over the place and I don't think they consider orchids a good food source.

ALToronto · #4 08-02-2015, 12:19 PM

My pet rabbits would gorge themselves on orchids if they got a chance. I give them wilted orchid flowers, and they fight each other for them. The only plant within their reach is an anthurium, and the leaves get chewed as soon as they come out. And it's not as if we don't feed them!

Orchids are sweet, much like carrots. The only reason the wild rabbits haven't chewed them is because they haven't tried them yet.

judith_arquette · #5 08-02-2015, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALToronto

My pet rabbits would gorge themselves on orchids if they got a chance. I give them wilted orchid flowers, and they fight each other for them. The only plant within their reach is an anthurium, and the leaves get chewed as soon as they come out. And it's not as if we don't feed them!

Orchids are sweet, much like carrots. The only reason the wild rabbits haven't chewed them is because they haven't tried them yet.

Great, I'll definitely have to figure something then

Thanks for the info

Optimist · #6 08-02-2015, 04:34 PM

My pet rats ate many a leaf. Not that they are rabbits, but they are rodents. They also love tilsandias. I learned to keep eveything behind glass. I only have 2 left of the old rat pack. I loved them, but I think I will stay with fish.

estación seca · #7 08-02-2015, 04:44 PM

Wascally wabbits here will bite into anything they can reach. If it's poisonous they spit it out, but the damage is done. When it's really dry they'll even eat things that taste awful like aloes. The antelope ground squirrels climb up where rabbits can't reach and also do nature's work.

Leafmite · #8 08-02-2015, 05:24 PM

If your yard has plenty of clover and dandelions, you won't need to worry about your houseplants. If the bag was chewed, unless you have evidence it was really rabbits, it was more likely mice. Mice really love bird seed.
We have bunnies in our yard quite often and they much prefer the dandelions and clover (and some other weed).
Our pet bunny would often sniff the orchids and other houseplants but really had no interest in any of them. We had a grazing cage for her and, in the winter, I grew some dandelions indoors and bought other greens.

judith_arquette · #9 08-02-2015, 07:56 PM

Many thanks for all the replies! I brought them all back inside. Most of them were at death's door due to my poor "care" and are finally making a comeback so I'd really be devastated if they got munched on....

Orchidcraze01 · #10 08-13-2015, 05:01 PM

When I first moved from CA to MN with my orchids, the squirrels definitely chewed on them when I left them outside. Was super annoying because they didn't eat them. Just bit off the pseudobulbs and canes and chewed them a little bit, leaving them strewn about. I've since built a cage for them when I put them outside.