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Breeding rabbits at home is considered a very profitable business. These animals have juicy meat, soft wool, 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 the rabbits not to get sick, they must have a balanced diet. Green feed is especially important for rabbits.
Is it possible to feed burdocks
In the wild, the rabbit chooses the grass itself, which it is ready to eat. These can be alfalfa, dandelions, legumes, sainfoin, etc. Can you give burdocks to rabbits? Burdock can be added to 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 it is not only possible to give burdocks, 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, an acid that improves intestinal peristalsis.
Rabbit diet
You can add not only green leaves to the rabbit's diet, but also plant roots, which also contain many useful trace elements. But you need to know the measure in the amount of burdock eaten. Despite all the useful properties, it can harm the rabbit, since this animal has a rather weak digestive tract. Therefore, burdock must alternate with other green feed. It is enough for an adult to eat one leaf of medium-sized burdock several times a week. Even if it seemed that the rabbit is ready to eat another dozen sheets, it is not recommended to exceed the indicated dose, since these animals cannot control the feeling of hunger.
Useful properties of the plant
Young burdock is extremely useful for eating decorative rabbits. It contains 55% inulin, thanks to which their coat becomes soft and shiny, the skin is healthy, and immunity improves. Small amounts of weekly inulin increase the weight of the rabbit. According to statistics, rabbits that eat burdocks when feeding, on average, weigh 34% more than those that are limited in this delicacy. Burdocks also contain resins, fats, which in moderate quantities contribute to better digestion.
Young burdock is good for rabbits
Vitamin C and mineral salts that make up the leaves increase immunity and have a general strengthening effect on the body as a whole. In addition to the beneficial properties that burdock leaves have, its roots also affect 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, have a mild laxative effect, diuretic and choleretic properties.
Burdocks go well with other types of herbs.
They can be mixed in the diet with foods such as:
- Dandelion;
- Clover;
- Alfalfa;
- Legumes, etc.
When consumed together with dandelion, the growth rate of rabbits increases.Compatibility with clover provides emotional relaxation, animals become calmer.
It is not recommended to mix greens with mixed feed or cereals. The rabbit eats separately. It can be eaten both dry and fresh leaves.
Compound feed
At what age is burdock given
Rabbits use burdock from a very early age. The most useful will be the leaves, which are shaped like a heart. They have juicy stems. Before giving the rabbit a burdock leaf, the dust is washed off and it withers 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 so that the body feeds on a variety of vitamins. If it is fed exclusively with burdock leaves, the body will malfunction, 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 collect burdock correctly
When collecting burdock, you should pay attention to some factors. First, the grass should not grow near dusty roads and motorways. The best place to grow is considered to be a forest edge or garden plot. Otherwise, burdocks absorb a lot of chemicals and oxidants, which will not have a good effect on the health of the animal that uses them. Secondly, you should pay attention to what grasses this plant grows next to, since there is a risk of feeding the rabbit with poisonous grass, which will fall when mowing burdocks.
Burdock
Poisonous for rabbits are:
- Tobacco;
- Datura;
- Buttercup;
- Celandine;
- Belladonna and others.
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. Mowed burdocks can be found in any dry basement that is ventilated. Before putting the grass in the basement or underfloor, 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 introducing burdock into feed
Burdocks are introduced into the rabbit's diet gradually. First, the animal can be given a small bite to taste. If he reacted well to the proposed treat, after a few days you can offer him a whole leaf. It is preferable if the leaf is 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 irrepressible appetite, a large amount of the same herb used by it can have a very bad effect on the functioning of the intestines and gastrointestinal tract. The animal may develop diarrhea, with impurities of foam and blood. In this case, the introduction of burdock into the diet should be slowed down, and the rabbit's stomach should be cleared and put on a kind of diet that will last for several days.
What are burdocks combined in the diet
You can combine burdock leaves with any kind of green plants. Any grass that is considered bitter to humans is perfect for an animal like a rabbit. Food is given to him according to a certain scheme. First, green food is crushed, then it is seized with compound feed or grain feed. The next day, you can give the rabbit hay. He will rest a little from the grass. By the way, burdock has a quick healing effect on lichens.
At the end of spring, burdock can be given in a mixture with mother and stepmother. This mixture can be used to feed rabbits that are not very good at gaining weight. Also, these herbs improve appetite, remove inflammatory processes in the body.
In order for the animals to have no worms, they are fed burdock leaves with tansy. This is an old folk remedy for parasites.
Plantain is rich in proteins, complex carbohydrates and minerals. It is very low in 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.
As a diuretic, you can feed rabbits with burdock leaves and wheatgrass. Wheatgrass has a very high nutritional content. The herb quickly saturates the body, is digested for a long time, blocking the feeling of hunger.
Since burdock can sometimes cause mild stomach upset, it is recommended to use it with millennial. It improves the digestive process and has astringent properties.
Rabbits take 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 a plant in large quantities can greatly harm the health and well-being of the animal.
Due to the high content of vitamins and minerals, their reserves in the animal's body are replenished when burdock is consumed. In the summertime, 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, respectively, the rabbit's body needs more strength in order to digest this product.
