One of the questions I get asked most often is:
“Can I use leaves or branches from any apple tree for my guinea pigs, rabbits, or tortoises?”
The short answer?
💚 Yes — with a few simple checks!
🌳 Any Apple Variety is Fine – Mostly!
Nearly all domestic apple trees — whether cooking or dessert apples — are safe to harvest leaves and branches from for small animals.
It doesn’t matter if you don’t know the exact variety. If it’s a standard apple tree (Malus domestica) and not a crabapple or ornamental type, you’re good to go.
🚫 Watch Out for These Exceptions
Avoid crabapple trees (Malus sylvestris and some decorative crabapples) as some can contain higher levels of compounds that may upset little tummies.
Skip apple trees growing in areas sprayed with pesticides, fungicides, or other garden chemicals.
Don’t use twigs or leaves with mould, mildew, or signs of disease.
🌿 Why Apple Branches & Leaves Are Brilliant
Help with dental wear — especially important for guinea pigs, rabbits, and chinchillas.
Encourage natural foraging behaviour.
Add variety to their diet with extra fibre, vitamins, and trace minerals.
Offer boredom-busting enrichment as they chew, tug, and shred.
🛠️ How to Safely Prepare Your Apple Forage
✔️ Pick healthy leaves and twigs.
✔️ Rinse thoroughly to remove bugs and dirt.
✔️ Dry well in a warm, airy place until fully crisp.
✔️ Store in a sealed container in a cool, dark spot.
❤️ My Experience with Apple Forage
I’ve used everything from heritage orchard apple trees to random old garden trees planted decades ago — and my piggies have always loved them. There’s something about fresh apple leaves that sends them into a happy, crunchy frenzy 🐹
So if you’ve got apple trees at your allotment, garden, or even a neighbour offering a branch or two — as long as they’re untreated and healthy, you’ve got yourself a perfect, free source of natural enrichment!
Ready to explore more safe, natural forage?
👉 www.guineagourmettreats.co.uk
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