Breeding rabbits at home is considered a very profitable business. These animals have juicy meat, soft wool, and good skin. All this is used in industrial and food production. Rabbit meat is a dietary meat that is suitable for children from a very young age. The only drawback is the frequent rabbit diseases, which cause a lot of inconvenience to the farmer. In order for rabbits not to get sick, they must have a balanced diet. Green food is especially important for rabbits.
Is it possible to feed burdocks?
In the wild, the rabbit himself chooses the grass that he is ready to eat. This could be alfalfa, dandelions, legumes, sainfoin, etc. Is it possible to give burdocks to rabbits? Burdock can be introduced into the diet of rabbits that have reached the age of 3 months. There are many different opinions about giving burdock to these animals. But most veterinarians, observing a large number of these animals, agree that giving burdocks is not only possible, but also necessary. It all depends on the desire of the animal. This plant is very useful for animal consumption. It contains a large amount of vitamin C, a variety of essential oils, and acid, which improves intestinal motility.
Rabbit diet
You can add not only green leaves to your rabbit’s diet, but also plant roots, which also contain many useful microelements. But you need to know the limit in the amount of burdock you eat. Despite all the beneficial properties, it can harm the baby rabbit, since this animal has a rather weak digestive tract. Therefore, burdock must be alternated with other green food. For an adult, it is enough to eat one medium-sized burdock leaf several times a week. Even if it seems that the rabbit is ready to eat another ten sheets, it is not recommended to exceed the indicated dose, since these animals cannot control the feeling of hunger.
Harvesting burdocks
Like any other greens, burdocks are collected before the plant begins to flower, when the most useful substances are concentrated in its cells. Suitable places to collect herbs are:
- forest edges;
- meadows;
- forest belts;
- landings away from highways and factories.
The greens are collected, washed with water, then dried, spread in a thin layer on paper or clean cloth under a canopy. Dried herbs are stored in a room with good ventilation.
Attention! It is important to ensure that the hay does not contain large quantities of poisonous herbs.
Burdock can be given to rabbits in limited quantities, both fresh after a short drying period, and in the form of hay. This plant will support pets’ immunity, improve intestinal function, help cope with body intoxication and avoid the development of vitamin deficiencies.
Useful properties of the plant
Young burdock is extremely useful for decorative rabbits to eat. It contains 55% inulin, thanks to which their coat becomes soft and shiny, their skin is healthy, and their immunity improves. When inulin is consumed weekly in small quantities, the rabbit's weight increases. According to statistics, rabbits that eat burdock when feeding weigh, on average, 34% more than those that are limited in this delicacy. Burdocks also contain resins and fats, which in moderate quantities promote better digestion.
Young burdock is useful for rabbits
Can rabbits be given nettles?
Vitamin C and mineral salts contained in the leaves increase immunity and have a restorative effect on the body as a whole. In addition to the beneficial properties that burdock leaves have, its roots also have an effect on the health of the animal. The roots of this plant have an effect on the genitourinary system, on the functioning of the liver and kidneys, and have a mild laxative effect, diuretic and choleretic properties.
Note! It is recommended to consume the plant no more than twice a week.
Burdock goes well with other types of herbs.
They can be mixed in the diet with feeds such as:
- Dandelion;
- Clover;
- Alfalfa;
- Legumes, etc.
When consumed together with dandelion, the growth rate of rabbits increases. Compatibility with clover provides emotional release, animals become calmer.
It is not recommended to mix greens with feed or grain crops. The rabbit eats separately. Both dry and fresh leaves can be eaten.
Compound feed
Can rabbits eat burdock?
Rabbits are very popular in Russia. Many livestock breeders keep them as pets. In their natural environment, they feed on green food. These include tree branches, grass, grain. A rabbit breeder needs to know what is best to feed his pet. Whether rabbits can eat burdock raw or dried depends only on the rabbit’s desire.
Can rabbits eat burdock?
Burdock is considered a beneficial plant and promotes natural cleansing of the body. You can give burdock leaves without restrictions. Small rabbits are given burdock leaves from the age of 3 months.
You should also add dandelion, wheatgrass and quinoa to your diet. Rabbits are considered picky eaters because they have a sensitive and weak digestive system.
It is recommended to carefully select green food for them.
How much burdock leaves should you give?
Pets don't eat much. It is recommended to feed burdock 2 times a week. For an adult animal you will need one sheet. Do not overfeed rabbits, as excessive consumption of any plants can harm your pet.
If rabbits willingly eat the leaves, you can gradually increase the dosage. Pets digest burdock well when combined with fresh herbs. You can cut into small particles and mix. The mixture of herbs must be served fresh.
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It is important to monitor the condition and behavior of the animal. Rabbits do not always control themselves and do not know when to eat
When you start introducing a new plant to a new plant, it is recommended to do it gradually and in small doses. Any new product can cause indigestion in pets at the beginning.
Beneficial features
Burdock contains 45% inulin, some essential oil, resin, protein, vitamin C and mineral salts. The fruits contain fats. The maximum concentration of nutrients will be present in young plants.
Please note that burdock roots have beneficial properties only for the first year, then they become hard and the healing effect no longer has a pronounced effect. The root has a diuretic, choleretic and analgesic effect
If you periodically feed your pets with healthy herbs and plants, the animals will have strong immunity and good health. A proper and healthy diet directly determines how high-quality and healthy the offspring will be.
The root has a diuretic, choleretic and analgesic effect. If you periodically feed your pets with healthy herbs and plants, the animals will have strong immunity and good health. A proper and healthy diet directly determines how high-quality and healthy the offspring will be.
Compatibility with other products
To ensure that animals get a variety of food, you can experiment with beneficial plants and mix them.
Is it possible to feed rabbits burdock and nettle in one mash? Yes, different plants can be mixed with each other.
Only with a systematic change of diet is the supply of the body with all necessary minerals guaranteed. Even super healthy herbs, in large quantities, can harm animals.
Animals should be fed fresh or dried grass. After the plant has been cut, you can put it in a ventilated room for a day.
During this time, the beneficial properties will remain in it, and the bitterness and harmful substances will disappear.
Harvesting burdocks
Collection of burdocks should be carried out only in ecologically clean areas. The edge with plants and herbs should be located away from roads and factories. When you pick grass, be sure to ensure that plants that are poisonous to pets are not included in the same bunch of useful herbs.
Dangerous plants for rabbits:
- dope
- buttercup
- celandine
- belladonna
- tobacco
These plants contain huge amounts of alkaloids. If animals eat a lot of these plants, they may get indigestion. The best option for harvesting burdocks is to mow meadow grasses on clean forest edges. The farther the grass grows from civilization, the healthier and cleaner it is.
Rabbits love clover, dandelion, plantain, sorrel, coltsfoot, fireweed, mouse peas, reed, horse sorrel, sage and quinoa. Similar plants, as well as burdock, are easy to find in gardening communities and forests.
In garden plots, many of these grasses grow as weeds and have to be pulled out. Before giving it to the rabbit, any herb should be washed with running water and cut into small pieces.
If the pet has not eaten all the grass that was left for him, then this portion should not be removed from the cage. When the rabbit gets hungry, he will eat the leftover food.
At what age is burdock given?
Can rabbits be given quinoa?
Rabbits consume burdock from a very early age. The most useful leaves will be those that are shaped like a heart. They have succulent stems. Before giving the rabbit a burdock leaf, the dust is washed off from it and it wilts a little in the sun. This process will take no more than a day.
Burdock is fed to rabbits in mixtures with other herbs. This is done to ensure that the body is fed with a variety of vitamins. If you feed him exclusively with burdock leaves, a malfunction will occur in the body, and it will be saturated with some vitamins, while others will simply be lacking. Such assorted masses can be given both dried and dried in winter.
How to properly collect burdock
Can rabbits be given dill?
When collecting burdock, you should pay attention to several factors. First, grass should not grow near dusty roads and highways. The optimal place for growth is considered to be a forest edge or garden plot. Otherwise, burdocks absorb a lot of chemicals and oxidizing agents, which will not have a good effect on the health of the animal that consumes them. Secondly, you should pay attention to what herbs this plant grows next to, since there is a risk of feeding the rabbit poisonous grass that comes across when mowing burdocks.
Burdock
The following are considered poisonous to rabbits:
- Tobacco;
- Datura;
- Buttercup;
- Celandine;
- Belladonna et al.
The plant can be stored for up to 12 months. After a year has passed since the mowing, the plant must be disposed of, since it no longer contains anything useful. Mown burdocks can be found in any dry, ventilated basement. Before putting the grass in the basement or subfloor, it is recommended to rinse it well under running water and pour boiling water over it to destroy all bacteria. Then the grass is dried and laid out on a dry surface. You can immediately divide the plant into portions.
Rules for collecting plants
How to properly collect burdocks:
- Collect plants away from the roadway. You will protect your pet from toxic substances that the leaves absorb. It is advisable to collect grass in plantings or forests where there are many trees. As a last resort, in your own garden.
- Burdocks are collected before flowering (from June to September), when its cells are saturated with a large amount of vitamins and microelements.
- The plant should not be more than a year old.
- After collecting, the grass should be washed under running water. If you have rabbits, then it is advisable to pour boiling water over the burdock and dry it.
Rules for introducing burdock into food
Burdocks are introduced gradually into the baby rabbit’s diet. First, you can give the animal a small piece to try. If he responded well to the offered treat, after a few days you can offer him a whole leaf. It is preferable if the leaf comes from a young plant, since in this case it is more juicy.
The portions given to the animals should be carefully monitored. Due to the fact that the animal does not control its insatiable appetite, a large amount of the same herb consumed by it can have a very bad effect on the functioning of the intestines and gastrointestinal tract. The animal may develop diarrhea, mixed with foam and blood. In this case, the introduction of burdock into the diet should be slowed down, and the rabbit’s stomach should be cleaned and put on a special diet that will last for several days.
On a note. Since burdocks have a high water content, it is recommended to give them in the summer.
Using nettles as rabbit food
Nettle harvesting can begin immediately after it appears, but it must be softened before using it as feed.
To do this, the plants are chopped into small pieces, about two to three centimeters, and poured with hot water (boiling water). After the nettle has softened sufficiently, you need to add a little bran or feed to it, and after cooling, give it to the rabbits. You can also mix nettles with potatoes, after mashing them and adding a little feed. This food is very effective for accelerating the growth and weight gain of rabbits, and in females, nettle increases the amount of milk, which affects the growth of the offspring. Nettle can also be prepared for future use by collecting the plants and drying them in the shade. To store dried nettles, you need to select special containers, such as bags or boxes, as they easily crumble and lose leaves.
It is possible to use sunflower as food for rabbits, but rabbits eat it with appetite only before flowering. When sunflowers begin to bloom, rabbits do not eat them well, and besides, they do not digest them well enough. Therefore, it is better not to use it during this period!
What do burdocks go with in the diet?
You can combine burdock leaves with any type of green plants. Any herb that is considered bitter to humans is perfect for an animal like a rabbit. Feed is given to him according to a certain pattern. First, the green food is crushed, then it is eaten with mixed feed or grain feed. The next day you can give the rabbit hay. The grass will give him some rest. By the way, burdock has a quick healing effect on lichen.
On a note. Rabbits really like the combination of burdock and nettle. This mixture is very useful for pregnant rabbits and during lactation. If the mixture is dried from last year, even better. It collects a significant amount of protein, which is very necessary for female rabbits during the period of feeding their offspring. Burdock mixed with nettle has a laxative effect and removes waste and toxins from the body.
At the end of spring, burdock can be given in a mixture with coltsfoot. This mixture can be fed to rabbits that do not gain weight very well. Also, these herbs improve appetite and eliminate inflammatory processes in the body.
To prevent animals from having worms, they are fed burdock leaves with tansy. This is an old folk remedy against parasites.
Plantain is rich in proteins, complex carbohydrates and minerals. It has very little fiber. Burdock comes to the rescue, which, in addition to vitamins, contains a large amount of fiber.
Plantain is good for rabbits
In moderation, you can combine burdock with wormwood. These herbs are used for intestinal disorders.
Burdock and wheatgrass leaves can be fed to rabbits as a diuretic. Wheatgrass has a very high nutritional content. The herb quickly saturates the body and takes a long time to digest, blocking the feeling of hunger.
Since burdock can sometimes cause mild stomach upset, it is recommended to use it with millennial. It improves the digestion process and has astringent properties.
Rabbits accept burdock leaves and roots very well in their diet. The main thing is not to forget to carefully monitor the portions that the animal absorbs, since the plant in large quantities can greatly harm the health and well-being of the animal.
Due to the high content of vitamins and useful minerals, their reserves in the animal’s body are replenished when burdock is eaten. In the summer, eating burdock, rabbits feel less thirsty. It is recommended to harvest grass for the winter at the beginning of the season, since at the end of growth and flowering the leaves absorb a certain amount of toxins, and the fiber content in them increases, accordingly, the rabbit’s body requires more strength to digest this product.
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