How and how to feed rabbits
Rabbits are rightfully considered real water-lovers: at one time, a decorative eared eared eagle can drink as much as a medium-sized dog, so the animal's drinker should always be full. When asked what to give rabbits to drink, any livestock breeder will immediately answer: plain water. However, sometimes pussies need extra vitamins and minerals that they cannot get from food.
How to give rabbits to drink
In order to replenish the salt balance in the body, pets are often given preventive drinking water. It should also be remembered that during the warm period, the fluffy animal receives a lot of moisture from greens and fresh vegetables and does not need water so much. In the frosty months, the animal feeds mainly on coarse and concentrated feed, therefore, the daily rate of water should be higher. What should be added to water for the prevention of diseases, how to water rabbits in winter and during fertility?
Water rate per day
It's no secret that rabbits drink a lot and do not tolerate heat well. The structure of the organism in animals is connected with this. Furry metabolism is extremely fast, and if you do not provide the pet with clean water and balanced food in time, it will die. The daily norm of water in rabbits is calculated, depending on the following parameters:
- weight and breed of the animal;
- age and gender;
- season and predominant type of feed in the diet.
First of all, the breed of the animal plays an important role. If the natural habitat of the rabbit is arid steppes, then it will consume less water. In addition, large breeds drink more water at a time, while dwarf breeds prefer to make up for the lack of fluid more often, but in smaller volumes.
The next factor in calculating the daily rate of water in the body is age. The animal body of young animals contains more fluids, so the rabbits drink a lot. After the first 6 months of life, the animal's metabolism slows down and the rabbit requires less water. Consumption is influenced by the amount of concentrated feed in the rabbit's diet. On average, the ratio of water and feed rates should be two to one.
In summer, the animal receives a large amount of moisture from green food and fresh vegetables. However, in hot weather, rabbits require a lot of liquid, otherwise they may die. In winter, children can be given snow instead of water, but it is best to use heated water. Rabbits catch colds very easily, and besides, snow can contain harmful components.
If the room temperature of the room does not exceed 20 ° C, then the average rate of water for an adult rabbit is half a liter per day.
Water norm for felted rabbits and rabbits
During pregnancy, females have increased thirst. This is due to the saturation of rabbits and the creation of amniotic fluid. The daily norm of the expectant mother at this time reaches a liter.During this period, the female must be closely monitored: after birth, she needs a lot of water, otherwise she will begin to eat her own offspring in order to make up for the lack of fluid.
Daily water intake
A nursing rabbit consumes at least 2 liters of water per day. In addition, in large farms, females are very often used for mating on the second day after giving birth, therefore, a nursing and pregnant mother needs a lot of fluid to cope with the load.
Young animals need at least two liters per day per kilogram of concentrated feed.
The rabbit does not drink: reasons and methods of solution
Usually, eared people themselves know how much fluid they need per day, and actively demand water when there is a shortage. If the rabbit does not drink, then there may be several reasons:
- dirty water;
- poor drinker design;
- a large amount of greens and vegetables in complementary foods.
It is also important to pay attention to the general behavior of the pet: if, in addition to the reluctance to drink, the rabbit has apathy and poor appetite, then these are the first signs of the disease.
Reasons why the rabbit does not drink
Water must also be checked for the level of bleach: animals are acutely aware of this component and may refuse to drink. The drinking bowl also plays an important role: the liquid in it must be easily accessible, the rabbit must not pull it out with force.
If there are no obvious reasons, the animal consumes too little water, you need to add some special salts. First of all, this will help restore the salt balance in the body, besides, the rabbit drinks such water more often. Sometimes farmers add a little sugar to the water for the same purpose. This component is neutral, but makes the fluffy come to the drinker more often. In winter, the eared eagle can drink more than in summer. This should be taken into account and do not forget to check the drinker in time.
Types of drinkers for rabbits
A rabbit drinker can be made at home, but there are also several types of purchased ones:
- Nipple drinkers for rabbits contain in their design a tank and an iron tube that ends with a ball. When the tongue touches the ball, water under its own pressure enters the pet's mouth.
- Drinking bowls with a shape for a bottle. The liquid enters a special small tray from an inverted bottle.
- Cup types of drinkers are connected directly to the water supply.
All types have their pros and cons. Nipple drinkers usually last for a long time, but you need to constantly check the ball. In some cases, it gets stuck and the rabbit cannot drink. Drinking bowls with open trays are easily contaminated, since eared animals are active animals and scatter sawdust and hay around them.
Rabbit drinkers
On large farms, a complex design of an automatic water supply is most often used with lines from pipes that are taken out into the cages. The water tank is filled with several liters of liquid. Thus, you can water the whole herd at once for more than one day. However, even in these conditions, it is necessary to monitor the purity of the water and change it in time.
How to solder rabbits and how often to do it
Many diseases can be avoided if the eared ones are drunk in time for the purpose of prevention. The soldering procedure is called the replacement of ordinary water with a solution containing the drug in one or another amount. There are many drugs and remedies, but it is especially worth highlighting:
- gamavitis;
- solicox;
- manganese;
- iodine.
It is necessary to water the rabbits with solutions at least 2 times a year, preferably in early autumn or spring. During this period, the immunity of animals is most weakened, so unnecessary prophylaxis will not hurt them.
Particular attention should be paid to pregnant females and young animals. In the first months of life, rabbits are extremely vulnerable to stomach and bloodstream infections.
How to drink properly
If you want to replenish the immunity in the body of rabbits, then you should use gamavit. This drug replenishes the deficiency of immune cells after debilitating cold spells. This medicine is sold in any pet store at an affordable price.The rabbits should be soldered according to the instructions. Usually, preventive treatment lasts several days and approximately once every six months.
Sometimes it happens on the farm like an epidemic of infectious diseases. Very often, eared ears develop coccidosis. Solicox or Baycox will help in the fight against stomach and liver infections. These drugs can be given both during treatment and for prophylaxis. Watering rabbits with Solicox, like any other antibiotics, should only be as directed by a veterinarian.
Prophylaxis
To replenish some mineral components and disinfect the intestines, you can solder the animals with potassium permanganate or iodine. It is correct to do this throughout the week.
Such prophylaxis should be carried out no more than once every 2 months. Water containing iodine should not be poured into a metal drinking bowl: various chemical reactions may start.
Conclusion
Rabbits are very water dependent. The high metabolism of the body of animals leads to the fact that they can die of thirst.
To avoid such problems, you need to monitor the amount of water consumed per day. It is advisable to check the drinker twice a day: it should not be empty or dirty.
With a certain frequency in the year, the eared ears should be soldered with useful solutions. This will help fill the lack of essential minerals in the body and boost immunity after a cold period.
To properly drink your pet, you need to use the instructions for the drugs. Incorrect proportions can seriously harm the rabbit's stomach or even be fatal.