Grass is the main element in the diet of rabbits. In the warm season, there are no difficulties with feeding these animals - almost at hand, a huge number of various herbaceous plants are growing, which will help bring diversity to the rabbit diet, while great saving the breeders budget. But how to choose the right food, so as not to harm our eared pets? Is it possible to give rabbits, for example, wormwood? In this article we will deal with this issue.
Is it possible or not?
Wormwood contains many beneficial substances - vitamin C, carotene, essential oils, glycosides and tannins. What is useful bitter grass for eared pets:
- removes accumulated gases from the intestines;
- improves the gastrointestinal tract;
- increases appetite;
- is an excellent natural remedy for worms.
Improving appetite is especially important at the stage of raising eared pets, for example, for sale. Therefore, if you are wondering if it is possible to feed rabbits with polynya, the answer is unequivocal - you can!
Important! Tearing the plant for feeding rabbits, do not rush to put it in the feeder. Let the collected grass take a dried look.
How to give wormwood to rabbits
Let's find out what wormwood can be given to rabbits - fresh or dry.
Did you know? In Queensland (Australia) for the maintenance of rabbits laid a fine, reaching 30 thousand dollars. The fact is that fluffy eared ears annually cause enormous harm to agriculture. In Australia, these animals are treated very negatively.
Fresh
Fresh wormwood is especially relevant in the summer months. A young plant contains the maximum amount of carotene, more mature - is full of essential oils. However, it is advisable to include in the diet of the plant at all stages of its growth - since at each stage the chemical composition of the plant changes. The fresh plant brings the maximum benefit in the event that both the first spring shoots of the plant and the mature grass are eaten.
Important! Not every type of wormwood is suitable for feeding rabbits. For example, fresh wormwood is bitter (Taurida) harmful to eared fish. Completely remove harmful substances can only be carefully dried plant.
Dry
Dry wormwood comes to the rescue in the winter. After drying, the nutrients in the plant retain their properties, which is especially important for the formation of a complete diet. In this case, only young plants that have not started the budding period or at the very beginning of their flowering are subjected to drying. Since wormwood for rabbits is also used as a medicine, it is very important not to lose its beneficial substances when drying. Properly dried, you can save the bitter taste and tart smell. To do this, the collected grass spread out a small layer under a canopy. This method will help your animals in the winter to enjoy the "summer" grass.
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Collecting grass for rabbit
To make your pet eat delicious and healthy grass, the place of gathering plays an important role. For example, plants collected from the road or near industrial enterprises, certainly will not bring benefits. This herb can be saturated with carcinogens and harmful substances, which can cause a pet to poison or cause serious illness. Do not forget about her appearance - dirty wormwood, spoiled and affected by any diseases is definitely not a place in the feeding trough. Also, if possible - tear it with your hands.
Rabbits also love plants like clover, alfalfa, nettle, dandelion, sorrel, sow thistle, and among grains - oats, barley and corn.The fact that the metal (scissors, sickle, lawn mower) when in contact with the grass causes its oxidation, which already casts doubt on the usefulness of the latter. And, of course, when collecting it for food, pay attention to what kind of grass you are picking. There are varieties of plants that are strictly forbidden to be eaten, including humans, nightshade, hemlock, celandine, dope and marsh horsetail.
After reading this article, you learned that wormwood for rabbits is a very useful herb, but experienced breeders give recommendations on how to give it to food - for a day the rabbit should not eat more than 40% of this plant as a percentage of other food.
