Rabbits are herbivores. Their diet should include plant food, especially in summer. In order for animals to grow healthy and fertile, they must receive a sufficient amount of greens. The grass contains a lot of fiber, which improves digestion, and microelements. In winter, delivering the required amount of vitamin-rich plants becomes difficult. Therefore, you should take care of your hay reserves in advance, in the summer.
- crops (alfalfa, lupine, rye, vetch, green peas, borage, amaranth, oats);
- wild plants (Siberian hogweed, dandelion, nettle, wheatgrass, wormwood, clover, coltsfoot).
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Fresh grass food should be alternated with dry food to balance fluid in the body, as it contains a large amount of water. Rabbits can be fed weeds from the beds, dried grass after mowing the lawn.
Green food is perfectly absorbed by rabbits. The daily norm of green food is about 500-700 g for an adult animal, and hay is fed mainly in winter - the norm is 200-350 g.
Herbs suitable for consumption
Herbs suitable for rabbits to eat:
Legumes are added in small portions, usually given along with cereals. Nettle has a positive effect on diseases of the digestive system and improves lactation in rabbits and strengthens the immune system in young animals. Wheatgrass is endowed with diuretic properties, its rhizomes are dried for future use. They are stored for about 3 years. Plantain heals wounds and contains a lot of protein. Coltsfoot treats diseases of the respiratory system and acts as a preventative against bloating.
Carrot and beet tops can be used as feed. The latter has a laxative effect, which can be neutralized by sprinkling the leaves with crushed chalk before serving. Rabbits also eat leaves of grapes (along with the vine), raspberries, plums, and elderberries. Tree branches are excellent for feeding, especially such as ash, apple, and rowan.
For medicinal purposes, branches of oak, birch, willow, and coniferous trees are occasionally added to the food. It is strictly not recommended to feed elderberry, apricot, and bird cherry branches to rodents. Ornamental garden (jasmine, poppy) and indoor plants such as begonia, zinnia, anthurium, etc. are harmful to rabbits. Lettuce leaves other than lettuce can be given. A good addition to the daily diet would be radish tops, turnips, savoy cabbage, strawberry leaves, Jerusalem artichoke, celery, and basil.
The same greens are not fed for a long time. They alternate or use mixtures.
Plants wet from rain or dew are dried and then given to animals. Otherwise, harmful effects on the microflora of their digestive tract cannot be avoided. When harvesting grass for the winter, dry it well on stretched nets or sticks folded into a “house”.
Mow before the buds appear or at the beginning of their appearance. Mow plants for hay on sunny days so that they are sufficiently dry and do not spoil during storage. It is not advisable to overdry the herb, as it loses its aroma and color. Store the resulting hay in a dry, ventilated area. Branches can also be prepared for the winter. Young branches are tied into bunches and hung in a ventilated area. In the spring or after a long period of feeding animals dry food, green grass should be introduced gradually to prevent digestive upset.
Young animals should be fed with greens little by little, monitoring the condition of the animals. If herbs are not properly dried or stored, even initially beneficial ones can become harmful. Mold has appeared on the hay - the raw material is not suitable for consumption. Of course, herbs are useful for the development and maintenance of the vitality of rabbits, but you need to be careful when choosing plants - in the meadows and gardens there are specimens that can harm the health of the animal.
Quinoa
Take fresh stems from young quinoa tops. Before offering such grass to a rabbit, you need to wash it from dust and dirt.
After this, it is kept in the sun for 4 hours. In hot weather, you can spray the stems with water.
Mustard
Wild field mustard is not dangerous until the seeds appear. It contains components harmful to rabbits - mustard oil, after entering their body, leads to poisoning. It causes intestinal upset and bloating.
Sudanese
Sudanese is suitable for feeding domestic decorative rabbits in the period from the beginning of the plant's emergence into the tube until full heading. It is strictly prohibited to offer green grass to animals.
Proper nutrition is a very important link in rabbit breeding technology. The health of your pets, and therefore the quality of the final product, will depend on the balance and nutritional value of the diet.
In the diet of rabbits, the largest volume is occupied by food of plant origin. Useful herbs for rabbits must be used for fattening from the beginning of their appearance in the spring until the onset of autumn frosts. They contain nutrients, proteins, vitamins and minerals for enhanced growth of young animals. Many herbs that rabbits eat also have a medicinal effect - lactic, anti-inflammatory and others.
Not all herbs are equally useful or how not to make a mistake in choosing
For feeding, you can use seeded grasses, for example, vetch, alfalfa, lupine. But it is much more economical to feed rabbits with wild plants that grow in meadows, fields, forests and even vegetable gardens.
Tip: Using green herbs to feed rabbits, you can reduce the amount of grains and feed in the diet by half. This will have a positive impact on the cost of the resulting meat, fluff and fur skins.
First, let's decide what kind of grass can be given to rabbits. Only young grass, which has a lot of protein and little fiber, should be used for feed. Plants that are harvested in the late period of their growth lose a significant part of their nutrients, and due to the increase in fiber in them, they are less digestible by rabbits.
It is not recommended to feed only one type of herb for a long time. Rabbits are much more willing to eat green food that is varied. Freshly cut grass, especially after morning dew or rain, must be dried to increase its digestibility.
The table discusses what herbs can be fed to rabbits without fear for their health, and also notes the nuances of their preparation.
| Herb name | Beneficial features | Secrets of collection and preparation |
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Dandelions are best given in combination with other herbs, but not more than 30% of the total. Exceeding the volume of feeding dandelions to rabbits leads to growth retardation. | |
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Grows in forest clearings between bushes. It begins to bloom in June-July. Only leaves are used as food for rabbits. | |
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Nettles are given fresh (without flowers) and stored for the winter. When used as green mass, leaves and stems are scalded with boiling water, crushed and added to dry food. Nettle hay is fed to pregnant females in the spring. Nettle leaves collected in late June - early July have a medicinal effect. | |
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Coltsfoot plants begin to produce green mass from mid-May. Preparation for the winter begins in June. Leaves, flowers and roots are dried. | |
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Leek rhizomes are used as feed, which must be thoroughly washed. Dried rhizomes are stored in a jar for 2-3 years. | |
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Grows on roadsides, in meadows and field boundaries. | |
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In the fall, by eating wormwood, rabbits cleanse their bodies of worms. Consumption of a large amount of wormwood (with its share in the feed structure of more than 40%) causes nervous excitement in rabbits. |
If the grass is harvested for hay, then mowing is carried out before the buds appear or at the very beginning of flowering. The grass does not dry for long. The hay should have a green color and a fresh smell.
Attention - dangerous herbs!
What grass should you not give to rabbits? Rotten or moldy grass is, without a doubt, harmful to the digestion of rabbits.
You should not feed animals greens collected from the sides of large and busy roads - the dust and exhaust gases they contain can lead to digestive disorders. As a last resort, it is necessary to thoroughly rinse such grass.
Among the variety of wild herbs, there are many that are frankly poisonous to rabbits. Knowing which grass should never be fed to rabbits, it is important to prevent it from getting into the feed mixture. Eating poisonous herbs can be fatal for these animals.
| Herb name | Signs of poisoning |
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Fighters or aconites  |
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Colchicum autumnale (winter meadow)  |
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Poisonous herbs often grow in shady, damp places and most, after drying, completely or partially lose their toxic properties.
Therefore, when preparing food for rabbits in new, untested places, it is better to start by using it in the form of hay. And only after making sure of their safety should you offer green mass to rabbits.
Kira Stoletova
The diet has a huge impact on the health and productivity of the furry inhabitants of the rabbitry. Only the breeder can decide what grass can be given to rabbits and what should be avoided. Properly selected green food and the preparation of a balanced diet help improve the reproductive qualities of livestock and the taste properties of meat.
It is grass that is the main element of nutrition for eared pets. In the summer they provide fresh, juicy, healthy greens, in the winter - harvested herbs dried from the summer. Greens and hay are the main sources of proteins, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients needed throughout the year. If you understand what kind of grass your wild rabbits like, you will always know how to please your pet.
Advantages
- Advantages that make the herb an important component without which no meal is complete:
- By introducing green complementary foods into your daily menu, you can reduce the amount of grain food and dry feed you consume.
- Legume shoots are rich in proteins and amino acids; they provide rapid weight gain.
- Thanks to plant fibers, digestive processes go faster.
- Grass stems are not only tasty food, but also an excellent teeth sharpener.
Green food helps increase the amount of milk in females during lactation and effectively fights inflammatory processes.
In order not to spend money on sowing clover and other useful grass for rabbits, you should look for food for pets in the wild. A lot of tasty and healthy things grow there: wormwood, porridge, dandelions and so on.
Knowing what grass is acceptable to feed rabbits, you can easily prepare hay for future use.
Conditions
- As food, rabbits are given only young grass, which contains large quantities of protein and little plant fiber. The older the grass, the less nutrients it contains. In addition, feeding animals late can cause problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
- You can’t feed the same plant for a long time, as this will cause health problems for the fluffy ones. You need to achieve variety in your diet, for this it is advisable to mix several types of fresh, complementary raw herbs.
- Once you know what kind of grass rabbits can eat, you don’t need to rush to treat your pets to it. You should not feed your fluffies freshly cut or wet herbs: this will lead to stomach upsets. The green delicacy is given slightly dried.
- You should not cut the grass with a haymower, otherwise oxidative processes will begin in it and the food will turn from healthy into poisonous, causing indigestion.
- Fresh stems and leaves contain a large amount of protein, so you need to switch to grass-fed food slowly, from an early age. Every day you need to little by little increase the percentage of greens in the diet, while being sure to monitor the reaction of your wards.
- For winter harvesting, grass is used that is mowed at the moment when it has just begun to gain color, that is, immediately after the formation of buds.
- Properly dried hay, which is given to rabbits in winter, should be green in color and smell fresh.
Sev
If you don’t have time to walk through meadows and fields in search of what kind of grass to feed your rabbits, there is an excellent alternative: you can sow and grow it in your garden plot. What grass can you feed rabbits in this case? You need to buy any several types of seeds from the proposed list:
- red clover (contains the most protein, approximately 20-22%, during the period of bud setting;
- alfalfa (a rich source of protein and amino acids, necessary for females during breastfeeding and rabbits);
- green peas (eared peas are very fond of peas, especially if you first slightly wilt their stems and young pods);
- vetch (served along with oats or rye, cut either in early June or in the first half of autumn);
- corn (best mixed with legume tops in a ratio of 70% corn to 30% other grass);
- sida (a useful perennial crop that can be mowed several times during the year);
- sulfia (it manages to grow twice over the summer, contains many nutrients, and is similar in composition to alfalfa and clover);
- rhubarb (the earliest, but no less useful herb; harvest should be from late spring to mid-summer);
- a feed variety of lupine (contains a lot of protein, is a legume, should be fed mixed with other herbs: as a stand-alone feed it can cause stomach problems);
- kashka (a hybrid type of clover, rich in proteins, blooms in late May-early July, an excellent alternative to mountain clover and honey plant growing in groves).
Particular care must be taken when adding legumes to the diet; this should be done gradually in small portions, preferably after mixing with some kind of grain. Rabbits prefer to eat grape, plum, bird cherry leaves and elderberries as food. You can pamper your pets by feeding them carrot and beet tops from the garden, mixing them with other herbs in equal proportions.
Before serving beet tops, you need to mix them with a small amount of ground chalk to neutralize their laxative properties, and only then add them to the rest of the hay. But you shouldn’t feed potato leaves to fluffy babies: they contain a lot of poisonous solanine.
Beneficial wild species
The most popular wild food variety is considered to be medicinal dandelions. They contain a huge amount of proteins that stimulate muscle growth and some fiber that increases the appetite of fluffies. Everything should be in moderation: an overdose of dandelions will lead to a decrease in the growth of young animals.
To increase the milk production of lactating females, some leaves of Siberian hogweed are added to their menu; it can be found in forest clearings. The stems are not suitable as food.
Nettle, both fresh and dried, is beneficial for rabbits. The grass is not only rich in protein, but also has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the digestive organs. Effectively relieves stomach problems coltsfoot. This medicinal herb ripens at the end of May.
Mowing is a very useful plant, which is often found among the weeds in the garden. Forest species of grass that do not bloom are considered the most useful.
Complementary feeding is also carried out with nutritious wheatgrass rhizomes. When dried, they can be stored for 3 years. You can combine wheatgrass with fresh plantain, which contains a lot of proteins and minerals, but, on the contrary, less fiber than most other herbs.
Common thyme, or Thymus vulgaris, is a very tasty herb that even picky decorative rabbits love.
For deworming, you can feed animals wormwood collected in early autumn. In large quantities, the grass causes overstimulation of the nervous system of pets, so it is better that the amount of this plant does not exceed 40% of the entire daily diet: this way it will be possible to effectively treat worms without harming the internal organs of the rabbit.
There are other beneficial wild herbs. You can diversify your pet's diet with yarrow, fireweed, tansy, shepherd's purse and even burdock. Fluffy rodents are very fond of carrot grass, sweet clover and American grass.
Drying the harvest for the winter should take place in the shade in the fresh air. To do this, lay out the grass on a stretched net or on sticks, folding them into a hut.
Junk food
Knowing what grass should not be given to rabbits is very important, because one mistake during feeding can lead to illness in the entire livestock.
The following plants are considered poisonous and harmful to the health of fluffy animals:
- stale, moldy, rotten;
- dirty ones, especially those collected from areas where dogs and cats are walked;
- freshly cut and damp from rain and dew,
- growing near busy roads and highways
- those in which the norm for the content of substances harmful to rabbits is exceeded;
- decorative poppy, jasmine and ranunculus varieties;
- most indoor flowers;
- canned and frozen greens for the winter.
Common signs indicating food poisoning include any disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract: diarrhea, vomiting, bloating, etc.; decrease or increase in body temperature; numbness of the hind limbs; increased salivation, heart problems. There can be as many symptoms as there are variants of poisoning.
We've looked at what grass rabbits shouldn't eat, even if it doesn't contain poison, but there are other plants that are poisonous even when harvested and prepared correctly.
Wild harmful species
- Swamp whitewing. Animals begin to panic, their stomachs swell, other problems with the functioning of the digestive tract appear, and drool constantly flows from their mouths.
- Spotted hemlock. Externally similar to parsley and carrot tops. The high content of cicutin, ethylconicin and methylconicin in the grass leads to paralysis of the hind limbs and respiratory organs of the animal that tastes it. Some time after eating, the animals begin to have severe convulsions and the body becomes cold.
- Common St. John's wort. Due to the fact that it usually grows along highways, the plant absorbs a lot of toxic exhaust, dangerous not only for animals, but also for humans.
- Poisonous milestone. Those who are poisoned stop breathing, in addition, their hind legs become paralyzed and convulsions begin.
- Common dope. It also leads to paralysis, but at the same time it also negatively affects the functioning of the heart.
- Milkweed stems. The toxic white liquid that each branch of this plant contains provokes gastrointestinal disorders and convulsions.
- Celandine. Eating grass in large quantities by rabbits leads to them becoming lethargic and inactive. Problems with bowel function may occur.
- Kukol. A weed that often grows between rows of noble crops. Accidentally getting into the food of rabbits, it leads to disruption of the heart and kidneys, gastrointestinal disorders and increased salivation.
- Marsh marigold. Poisoning leads to the development of severe diarrhea, stomach colic, continuous urination and gastrointestinal disorders.
- Buttercups. These beautiful bright yellow flowers are very harmful to eared animals. This is all due to the high content of protoanemonin in them. This component causes diarrhea, severe weight loss, and bloating.
The above is only a small part of the plants that can harm the health and life of eared animals. It would take a long time to list the types of greenery that are very dangerous for your furry pets, and it is almost impossible to remember them all.
The secret to successfully raising rabbits is developing a balanced diet that will allow these gentle animals to grow and reproduce quickly. It is very important for a farmer to learn to distinguish healthy foods from harmful products that threaten the life and health of long-eared rodents. What you shouldn’t feed rabbits, and what food will keep them healthy – we’ll look at this in this article.
Unlike cats, dogs and some other pets, rabbits should not be fed scraps from your table. Their diet should include green, juicy, roughage and concentrated feed.
Green food
The group called “green food” includes wild and cultivated grasses, beans and cereals, leaves of root crops and tubers. These foods form the core of the rabbits’ diet in the warm season, or more precisely, from mid-spring to mid-autumn.
The following wild and cultivated herbs are suitable for feeding rabbits:
- peas (vetch);
- fodder clover;
- feed corn;
- sweet lupine;
- alfalfa;
- young green oats;
- young greens of winter rye;
- barley.
Beans and grains are rich in vitamins and minerals, but their use as a staple diet (in their pure form) can cause flatulence in rabbits. The greatest effect from these plants can be obtained as part of feed mixtures.
Rabbits love to crunch on the tasty and juicy tops of root and tuber crops:
- nightshade (potato);
- tuberous sunflower (jerusalem artichoke);
- fodder turnip (turnip);
- fodder and sugar beets;
- rutabaga.
4-5 days before the potato harvest, its above-ground part is carefully cut off, dried and fed to the rabbits. In the total mass of green feed, the proportion of tops should not exceed 15%.
Video - Useful plants for rabbits
Roughage
Roughage is dry food of plant origin, rich in fiber. These foods include:
- quality hay;
- twig food;
- flour made from hay and various herbs.
Roughage should provide approximately 25% of the diet of eared animals. Due to their significant fiber content, they give rabbits a feeling of fullness and make digestion as comfortable as possible.
For the winter, farmers store 40 kg of hay for each adult rabbit. If a litter is planned during the winter months, then you will need to stock up on 10-15 kg of hay for each newborn baby. If for some reason there was not enough hay, then the remains are distributed between nursing rabbits and young animals, and the main herd is transferred to oat, lentil, pea or millet straw. This measure is temporary, since such straw has little nutritional value.
Making hay for rabbits
Step 1. The grass is mowed before flowering begins.
Step 2. The cut grass is laid out in the sun and slightly dried.
Step 3. Leave the hay under cover in a well-ventilated place.
Step 4. Check the readiness of the hay: it should be green, slightly dried, with a pleasant herbal aroma.
Step 5. The hay is transferred to closed hay barns and placed on dry pallets 0.5 m from the ground.
In winter, when rabbits are deprived of fresh green grass, they are offered branches of deciduous plants, including fruit trees and berry bushes, harvested in the fall.
Alder and oak strengthen the stool for diarrhea. The branches of these plants will help cope with indigestion and diarrhea in rabbits.
You can learn more about twig food for rabbits in the article:
The benefits of twig food for rabbit health. How to collect, dry, prepare branches and how to feed them to rabbits.
There are also poisonous plants, the branches of which should not be fed to furry pets. This:
- wild rosemary;
- bird cherry;
- elder;
- wolf's bast (wolfberry);
- magpie berry (buckthorn);
- apricot.
Stone fruit trees and birch branches contain hydrocyanic acid, a high concentration of which can be dangerous for rabbits. The branches of these trees can be fed to rabbits rarely and little by little.
The branches are harvested for future use at the beginning of summer. To do this, cut thin, fresh branches no longer than 0.5 m and no thicker than 0.5 cm, tie them into brooms with a diameter of about 10-12 cm and hang them in well-ventilated areas for drying.
In winter, instead of greens and dried branches, rabbits are given branches of coniferous trees. Needles are gradually included in the diet of long-eared rodents, as shown in the following table.
After 15-20 days of regular use of pine needles, rabbits are transferred to a regular diet, then the “pine menu” can be repeated again. Eating pine needles increases the rabbits' appetite and promotes their rapid growth.
Juicy feed
Succulent feeds are products of plant origin with a high water content. They include roots, tubers, vegetables, silage and food industry waste.
In succulent feeds, water takes up from 65% to 90%, the rest is protein, fats and fiber. They are rich in vitamins, are easily digested and absorbed.
| Types of feed | Beneficial features | Feeding recommendations |
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| Potato |
| Rabbits are given mashed potatoes with the addition of bran and animal feed. Peelings and raw potatoes are given rarely and little by little |
| Cabbage |
| They are given raw, pickled, or boiled. It can cause the formation of gases in the intestines, so introduce complementary foods gradually and monitor the animals |
| Carrot |
| Raw carrots are thoroughly washed, frozen ones are thawed. Serve whole or cut into sticks 3-4 cm high |
| Pumpkin |
| Served raw or boiled. Pumpkin puree is prepared for the kids. Pumpkin seeds are used to prevent worms |
| Zucchini |
| They are given raw. Has a short shelf life |
| Kuusika |
| For adult rabbits, vegetables are cut into cubes; for children, they are grated. |
The diet of rabbits can include turnips, melons, radishes, tuberous sunflowers, watermelons and turnips, but the nutritional value of these root crops and melons is low.
Juicy feed can be used to make silage for rabbits, which improves digestion, has a good taste and high nutritional value. Silage is prepared from tops, grass, melons, vegetables and vegetable waste. This type of food increases lactation in nursing rabbits and accelerates the development of babies.
Many people think that making silage for future use is the privilege of large farms. However, it can be easily prepared at home. Here's what you need for this:
- Prepare a spacious container, for example, a wooden barrel or an earthen pit, reinforced with wooden boards or cement.
- Take the necessary ingredients and cut into 1x1 cm cubes.
- Place the silage in a container and compact it thoroughly.
- Insulate the container so that oxygen does not enter it.
- Leave the silage to mature for 2 months.
To increase the nutritional value of silage for fattening meat rabbits, mashed potatoes and legumes are added to it.
Concentrated feed
Concentrated feeds are characterized by high nutritional value and low fiber and water content. These include:
- legumes (lentils, peas, soybeans, beans);
- cereals (corn, oats);
- industrial crop waste (bran, cake, meal, pulp);
- feed;
- animal feed (bone, blood, fish meal).
Concentrated feed should make up 30-40% of the rabbits' diet. Their use promotes intensive growth of animals and increased lactation in nursing rabbits.
General characteristics of concentrated feed for rabbits
| Feed | Submission form |
|---|---|
| Oats | Whole, crushed, flattened |
| Corn | Crushed, pre-soaked in water, sometimes in the form of porridge. Give with other concentrates |
| Barley | Crushed or flattened |
| Wheat bran | Pre-moistened. Together with rough, succulent and green feed |
| Compound feed | In loose or granular form. If necessary, vitamins and medications are mixed into the granules |
| Cake, meal | Steamed or crushed. Mixed with boiled potatoes |
| Acorns | Fresh, dried, in briquettes. Pre-soaked in 2-3 changes of water |
Thus, the range of “allowed” food for rabbits is quite wide. Now let's talk about what foods can harm the health of furry pets.
Food prohibited for rabbits
Poisonous plants and herbs
Some types of herbs can cause severe digestive upset and, in some cases, food poisoning in rabbits. A novice farmer should know the list of these herbs and prevent their presence in the diet of their pets.
Herbs that can cause poisoning in rabbits
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Rabbits, with their delicate digestive systems, should not be given plants and herbs collected along highways. Exhaust fumes and dust, which generously cover these greens, can cause digestive upset in rabbits. Pre-rinsing the grass in running water will help partially neutralize this problem.
Conditionally permitted types of feed
Rabbits are unpretentious animals with an excellent appetite. But despite their apparent omnivory, they are very sensitive to the content of food. Even among vegetables, fruits, grains and legumes familiar to rabbits, there are species that should be consumed with caution.
Vegetables. Everyone knows that rabbits love vegetables. However, some types of vegetables should be given to long-eared rodents in limited quantities, since their excessive consumption can lead to intestinal dysbiosis. These vegetables include:
- tomatoes;
- cucumbers;
- bulb onions;
- red cabbage;
- radish;
- table beets;
- eggplant;
- green potatoes.
Fruits. Rabbits can be given fresh and dried apples and seedless pears. Store-bought dried fruits belong to the category of conditionally permitted feed, since they are treated with sulfur to increase their shelf life. After eating such dried fruits, rabbits will not die, but they will not receive any benefits either.
But exotic fruits should be completely excluded from the pets’ diet. They should not be given:
- mango;
- avocado;
- oranges;
- figs
Cereals. Some grains, when entering the digestive system of rabbits, significantly increase the amount of mucus in the stomach, and at the same time do not bring any benefit to the animal. Other grains are too hard or contain little insoluble fiber, which is essential for improved intestinal function and feed digestibility.
Here is a list of grain crops that will not benefit the animal:
- rye;
- millet;
- millet.
Legumes. Some types of legumes can cause gas, bloating, and severe pain in rabbits. “Prohibited” types of legumes include:
- black beans;
- red beans;
- green pea.
Also, rabbits should not be given ready-made porridge and pea puree, especially those cooked in milk with added sugar.
Dairy products. Some inexperienced farmers feed their pets milk and dairy products, justifying their actions by saying that rabbits need protein for normal development. Protein is indeed necessary, but not animal, but vegetable, which is found in abundance in dry yellow peas and barley.
Baking, sweets. If you feed your rabbits cakes, crackers, yeast breads, cookies, crackers, ice cream or other sweets, you are doing them a disservice. Modern baked goods and sweets contain dyes, flavor enhancers, refined sugar, large amounts of fat and yeast - all of this is harmful to rabbits and can cause obesity if consumed regularly.
If you decide to pamper your pet with something tasty, buy him special dry treats at the pet store. Such treats are harmless to eared babies and will not harm their health.
Compound feed. Rabbits enjoy eating mixed feed. Some breeders, wanting to quickly fatten their herd, give the animals feed for pigs and cattle. While feed for pigs does not harm rabbits, feed for cattle contains a significant concentration of salts, which obviously will not benefit rabbits.
Never give your rabbits poultry feed. They add ground shells and small pebbles, the sharp edges of which are very dangerous for the delicate rabbit stomach.
Potatoes in the diet of rabbits: pros and cons
Rabbit breeding specialists cannot unequivocally answer the question of whether potatoes can be added to the animals’ diet or not.
The following facts speak in favor of tuberous nightshade:
- this inexpensive food product significantly reduces the cost of a rabbit diet;
- Potatoes contain vitamins B and C;
- Potatoes are rich in microelements, in particular calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and phosphorus.
On the other hand, raw potatoes do not bring any benefit to the rabbit. Firstly, starch without preliminary heat treatment is not well absorbed by animals and provokes the appearance of gases in the intestines and indigestion. Secondly, raw potatoes cause blockage of the milk ducts in rabbits nursing babies. Therefore, raw potatoes and potato peelings cannot be classified as foods that are healthy for rabbits.
As for boiled potatoes, they consist of 20% starch, from which rabbits rapidly gain weight. This property of potatoes is successfully used by farmers when raising meat rabbits. Their main goal is to accelerate the growth of the animal and make a decent profit from the sale of rabbit meat.
But domestic rabbits, which are not raised for meat, should not be given potatoes. Such rabbits lead a sedentary lifestyle, so eating potatoes can lead to accelerated formation of subcutaneous fat, obesity and death of the pet.
- meat rabbits that are fattening should be given up to 200 g of potatoes per day;
- give pets and everyone's favorites 50-70 grams of potatoes if they lead a sedentary lifestyle and 80-10 grams if they have physical activity;
- Potatoes should be excluded from the diet of breeding males and nursing rabbits.
Please note: potato tops, even the most juicy and appetizing ones, cannot be fed to rabbits. It contains solanine, a toxic substance that can cause severe poisoning in animals.
Fodder beets, table beets, sugar beets: which ones can be given to rabbits and which ones cannot?
In Russia, three types of beets are widely used: fodder, table and sugar. Table beets are not suitable for feeding rabbits. If they eat such beets, they may die.
Remember! Beetroot, which we use to make borscht, should not be included in a rabbit's diet. It can cause serious damage to your pet's digestive system.
Or maybe it's fodder beet. Its name alone – “fodder” – indicates that it is suitable for feeding animals. Being a juicy and nutritious product, fodder beets are suitable for fattening meat rabbits, feeding nursing rabbits and restoring the strength of weak and sick animals.
But sugar beets are considered the healthiest, as they are well digested by rabbits. Such beets are dried, made into silage, and served raw or boiled.
No less useful are beet tops, which are offered to rabbits in a slightly dried (withered) state. The tops of this plant have antiseptic properties.
Beets can be prepared for future use. To do this you need to do the following:
- Harvest root crops.
- Place the fruits under a canopy on a tarpaulin or net.
- Sort the beets, remove damaged areas.
- Place dried beets for storage in a basement with an air temperature of at least 10-15 ◦C.
Rabbits that regularly eat this juicy root vegetable have meat that becomes very tasty, tender, soft and healthy.
Video - Little rabbits eat beets with pleasure
Watermelon and other berries
To feed rabbits, you can use watermelons and other berries, which are a valuable source of vitamins and microelements. It is necessary to take into account that:
- berries are given not as the main food, but as a supplement;
- the pulp of the berries can cause gas formation in the intestines of rabbits;
- In the process of eating berries, the rabbits' muzzle gets wet, and subsequently dust and dirt stick to the wet fur.
Berries are perishable products. Having fallen to the bottom of the cage, the soft berries quickly rot and become moldy. If an animal finds such a berry and eats it, it will suffer from indigestion.
Of the available berries, you can give rabbits raspberries, strawberries, watermelon, currants, gooseberries, rose hips, blueberries, sea buckthorn and very little grapes. During the cold season, rabbits are fed both dried and frozen berries.
Table of allowed berries for rabbits
| Berry | a brief description of |
|---|---|
| Grape | The concentration of sugars is off the charts. Berries are given without seeds |
| Blueberry | Low in calories, rich in minerals. Overfeeding causes diarrhea. Can be given as a whole bush |
| Melon | It has a mild diuretic effect and relieves fever. Berries are given without seeds |
| Blackberry | Helps relieve inflammation of the respiratory tract. Contains tannins, vitamins A and C |
| Cranberry | Strengthens the immune system. Relieves bladder inflammation |
| Strawberry | Contains many vitamins and is juicy. Can be given to animals as a whole bush |
| Gooseberry | Improves appetite and strengthens the immune system. Contains a lot of sugars and vitamin C. Can be given as a whole bush |
| Raspberries | Low in calories, rich in vitamins. Reduces temperature, restores appetite. Can be given as a whole bush |
| Sea buckthorn | Strengthens the immune system, contains a lot of sugar, vitamins A and B |
| Currant | Strengthens the immune system. Contains a lot of sugar. Affects the color of urine. Can be given as a whole bush |
| Rose hip | Strengthens the immune system. Contains minerals and vitamins B and C. You can feed rabbits with fresh and dried seedless berries |
Many breeders offer their pets not berries, but juicy leaves of berry bushes. Rabbits can consume strawberry, currant, wild strawberry, and raspberry greens raw and slightly dried.
Video - How to make food for rabbits with your own hands
Video - What to feed rabbits to gain weight quickly
Video - Feeding little rabbits. What and how to feed
The well-being and productivity of farm inhabitants depends on the conditions of detention and nutrition. The breeder's decision about which grasses can be given to rabbits and which varieties are poisonous will determine the health and size of the future herd. The correct choice of green feed will ensure the reproduction and quality of livestock production.
The herb contains many beneficial substances
Grass feed makes up a larger percentage of the animals' diet. These are herbs harvested and dried in summer and freshly cut crops.
It is grass that is the main element of nutrition for eared pets. In the summer they provide fresh, juicy, healthy greens, in the winter - harvested herbs dried from the summer. Greens and hay are the main sources of proteins, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients needed throughout the year. If you understand what kind of grass your wild rabbits like, you will always know how to please your pet.
Varieties that are beneficial for animals contain proteins and other nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. They are used from early spring to autumn, and hay is used all year round.
- Grass for rabbits is characterized by a number of advantages that make it an indispensable component of the rabbit diet:
- you will save on wild-growing useful varieties from forests, fields, meadows and vegetable gardens (clover, dandelion and others) without spending money on sowing alfalfa and other crops;
- by introducing green food into the diet, the consumption of grains and ready-made dry food is reduced;
- on the stems and leaves of legumes, which contain proteins and amino acids, animals quickly gain weight;
- plant fiber helps digestive processes;
- while eating grass stems, the animals simultaneously grind down their teeth;
Such food also has a therapeutic effect: it affects the volume of milk during lactation, and is effective against inflammation.
Knowing what grass is acceptable to feed rabbits, you can easily prepare hay for future use.
Grass is an important part of a rabbit's diet.
- There are general requirements for plants that can be fed to animals:
- animals are given only young grass, which contains more protein and less plant fiber (late harvests reduce the nutritional level and cause digestive problems);
- You should not feed your pets the same plant species for a long time: diversify the rabbit’s diet, create mixtures;
- Animals are not fed freshly cut or wet grass - this causes stomach upset. Before feeding, the stems and leaves are withered;
- do not use a hay mower for mowing (oxidation processes in such grass make it poisonous and cause indigestion);
- fresh stems and leaves are rich in protein and, if consumed abruptly, cause indigestion. This type of food is given after concentrates;
- accustom animals to green food from an early age, offering little by little and carefully observing the reaction;
- if they are preparing for the winter, then they mow at the very beginning of flowering, after the formation of buds;
- The drying process itself is short - the healthy hay is green and smells fresh.
Young grass is the most beneficial
Sev
If you decide to sow green food, then give preference to the following herbs:
- red clover (protein content up to 21.7% at the bud setting stage);
- alfalfa – it contains protein (the level is higher than in clover), amino acids. It is useful to offer to nursing rabbits and young animals to improve lactation;
- green peas - the animals willingly eat the stems and young pods, which are slightly withered before feeding;
- vetch - served in combination with oats, which are first mowed in the first ten days of June and a second time in the autumn;
- rye – fed in combination with vetch;
- corn – young is used as a green food along with legumes (corn content does not exceed 70 percent);
- Sida is a perennial crop, mowed 2-3 times during the season;
- sulfia - mowed 2 times in the summer, rich in nutrients, like alfalfa and clover;
- rhubarb - leaves are cut in spring and summer, while it is too early to mow other grass. Perennial, rich in vitamins (which is important for spring and early summer), sometimes grown specifically for rabbits;
- fodder lupine is a legume with a high level of protein (not to be confused with yellow lupine, which causes lupinosis). You should not feed animals only this so as not to cause stomach upset.
As options for a protein-enriched forage crop, farmers use both hybrid clover (popularly called kaska), which blooms from the second half of May to early July, and mountain clover, a perennial honey-bearing flower that grows in groves.
Clover is rich in proteins
Add legumes gradually to avoid bloating. It is better to mix them with cereals. Animals can also be fed grape leaves (given along with the vine). They willingly eat leaves from plums, bird cherry, and elderberry. Give them tops of garden crops: carrots, beets (mixed with other green food options). Avoid eating potato leaves, which contain the poisonous element solanine. Sprinkle beet tops with crushed chalk before serving to deprive them of their laxative effect.
Beneficial wild species
Among the wild food varieties for rabbits, medicinal dandelion is collected or mowed. It is characterized by a high protein content and a reduced fiber content, which increases appetite. At higher doses, growth in young animals decreases.
To increase milk production, mother rabbits are fed Siberian hogweed, which is collected in clearings in the forest. Only the leaves are edible.
Nettles are given fresh or dried for the winter. In addition to its high protein level, this plant has medicinal effects for digestive system disorders. Coltsfoot, which is collected in late spring, will help with problems with the stomach and respiratory organs.
Coltsfoot is good for the stomach
Nutritious wheatgrass rhizomes are also used for feeding, which can be stored in dried form for up to 3 years. Plantain leaves are rich in protein and minerals, but the fiber level is reduced.
Wormwood is used for deworming in the autumn. The percentage of this plant in the nutritional structure does not exceed forty, otherwise the animals become nervous and overexcited.
A number of other wild species are added to the feed: yarrow, fireweed, tansy, burdock and shepherd's purse. It is better to dry the collections in the shade, spread out on a stretched net or on sticks folded in the form of a hut.
Junk food
It is important for a breeder to know what grass should not be given to rabbits. The following plants are considered poisonous and hazardous to the health of rabbits:
- covered with mold, with rotten rot;
- dirty, collected from dog and cat walking areas;
- wet or freshly mowed;
- collected near busy roads and containing harmful substances;
- decorative varieties: poppies, jasmine, buttercups;
- indoor flowers: azalea, begonia, amaryllis and others (breeders sometimes give them to decorative rabbits);
- canned or frozen greens.
Signs of poisoning are disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract (bloating, diarrhea, vomiting), increased or decreased temperature, paralysis (hind limbs, heart) and salivation.
Ornamental poppies should not be given to rabbits.
Wild harmful species
The main plants that are poisonous to animals are:
- marsh whitefly: causes restlessness, indigestion, bloating and drooling;
- Spotted Hemlock: Contains cicutin, ethylconicin and methylconicin. It is sometimes confused with parsley or carrots. An animal poisoned by it paralyzes its hind limbs and respiratory organs, convulsions run through its body, and its temperature drops;
- St. John's wort: grows on roadsides, in direct sunlight, dangerous for animals and humans;
- Vekh is poisonous: causes respiratory arrest, paralysis of the hind legs, convulsions;
- Datura common: signs of poisoning - interruptions in heart function, paralysis;
- Euphorbia: its stems contain caustic white juice, which causes gastrointestinal disorders and convulsions;
- celandine: poisoning causes apathy, lethargy and intestinal dysfunction;
- cockle: this variety grows between crops, after eating it causes disturbances in renal and cardiac activity, gastrointestinal disorders, and salivation;
- marsh marigold: the rabbit begins to have diarrhea, stomach cramps, continuous urination and intestinal upset.
These and a number of other plants (horned cornflowers, horse dill, foxglove, etc.) are dangerous to the health and life of animals.
Avoid introducing them into the diet or accidentally ending up in mixed hay.
- Kukol is poisonous to rabbits
- Despite the beneficial properties and high protein content of clover, do not feed it in large quantities;
- Mow alfalfa immediately after the first flowers appear - late mowing is rough and has a reduced content of nutrients;
- after the first mowing of oats, sow the area again - this way you will get fresh oat feed twice a season;
- sida is an ornamental plant that is characterized as a honey plant (when planted on the site, bees will pollinate other crops);
- parsley and celery are used to stimulate appetite;
- mint, cumin, dill improve the taste of rabbit meat and make it aromatic;
- Do not feed your pets grass from the lawn;
Before feeding, pour boiling water over fresh nettles, chop finely and mix with feed.
