Decorative rabbits are cute animals that are often kept at home. Rabbits are completely indiscriminate in their choice of food, and if the owner gives harmful products, he will eat everything. Can Rabbits Love People? This is very dangerous, it can lead to various health problems or even cause the death of a furry pet.
Feeding a decorative rabbit: peculiarities of rodent digestion
Decorative rabbits have some peculiarities in the structure of organs of the digestive tract. There are only two sections in the gastrointestinal tract – in the first, fermentation of incoming food takes place, in the second – digestion under the action of the enzyme pepsin.
Rabbits have a fairly long intestinal tract, where a stable balance of bacteria is maintained. Hunger is contraindicated for them, food must be constantly available. This is due to the fact that the progress of already digested food in the intestines occurs only at the expense of new food entering the body.
With long breaks in feeding a rabbit, there is a high probability of excessive fermentation of food with rotting of fecal masses. Pathogenic bacteria will multiply massively in the body. The animal will experience severe abdominal pain. BREEDS OF DECORATIVE RABBITS: The result of such an unfavorable experience can be the death of the pet.
Proper nutrition of a decorative rabbit: a list of products
Rabbits do not have a specific diet. Food should always be freely available in the cage. We will tell you what he is fed, what products will be useful for the body.
Rough feed
An important part of the diet of decorative rabbits is solid coarse food. It is necessary not only for maintaining healthy digestion, but also for natural teeth grinding.
What roughage should be given to a rabbit:
dried hay;
straw (pea, lentil, oat, bean);
steppe and meadow grasses;
branches of young trees and shrubs (apple, acacia, raspberry, maple, willow, etc.);
herbal flour
Roughage contains many useful vitamins, minerals, fiber, carbohydrates, vegetable protein and other micronutrients.
Juicy products
Rabbits are given juicy food twice a day. These products should be alternated and changed approximately once a week.
What juicy food is given to rabbits:
tops of beets, carrots, corn and other silage;
sweet bell pepper;
tomatoes;
zucchini;
pumpkin;
fodder watermelon and other melon crops;
broccoli, cauliflower, leafy and white cabbage;
turnips, beets, potatoes, carrots and other root crops, vegetable tubers.
Do not overfeed rabbits with juicy feed. Ego is served in limited quantities. For example, when an animal overeats carrots, gas production increases, intestinal pains occur. SHAMPOO TO WASH A DECORATIVE Abdominal bloating and other digestive disorders are also caused by cabbage consumed in excess.
Fruits and berries
Decorative rabbits are very fond of various berries and fruits. They contain many useful substances, as well as sugar, the consumption of which should be limited. Veterinarians do not recommend constantly giving these delicious ingredients to rabbits, but use them only as a treat. The optimal rate of treats is calculated according to the following formula: no more than 25 grams of fruits and berries per 1 kg of animal weight.
What can be given:
apples;
bananas;
cherry;
grape;
raspberry;
blackberry;
blueberries;
strawberries;
prunes;
quince;
peaches;
pineapples;
papaya;
Green
To maintain excellent health, domestic rabbits should be fed with fresh greens, which have a beneficial effect on the work of the gastrointestinal tract and reproductive system. Such food contains many vitamin and mineral components, vegetable protein, which helps to improve the growth of small rabbits. This nutrition also allows maintaining the beauty of the coat.
What green fodder is given to rabbits:
corn cobs, leaves;
green grass;
cereals;
alfalfa;
leaves of trees and shrubs;
bean greens;
fennel;
thyme;
leafy salads;
fresh tops of potatoes, beets, carrots;
celery, parsley, basil;
mint;
sunflower leaves and seeds.
Green fodder is given to rabbits after the end of winter. But even when there are enough juicy herbs, there should always be hay in the pet’s cage, which supports the healthy work of digestion.
How much food does a decorative rabbit need?
The optimal amount of feed for feeding a rabbit is determined individually, taking into account the weight and age of the animal. DECORATIVE RABBITS
Specialist recommendations:
roughage should make up approximately 60–70% of the total diet;
grain mixtures – 20–30%;
green, juicy food – 10–20%;
in the winter season, the amount of green fodder is reduced by 5–10%, and grain mixtures are increased by the same amount, which allows to cover the energy costs of the animal.
The owner will be able to independently determine the optimal daily portion of food for the pet. Some rabbits eat 50 grams a day, others eat up to 200 grams. Watch your pet and control the supply of feed in the cage.
What feed is best for feeding a rabbit: how to choose a ready-made ration
Some owners feed decorative rabbits with ready industrial fodder. This is a concentrated food, often having a granular structure.
When choosing a factory ration, be sure to study the composition. Priority is given to natural components, without synthetic additives.
The optimal ratio of the components of the finished feed:
20–25% – plant fibers;
15% – proteins of natural origin;
up to 2% fat.
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The composition of factory feed for rabbits usually includes various cereals, meadow hay, corn, legumes, etc. When buying, read the composition and look at the date. Do not give your pet stale food that has expired.
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