Is it okay to give rabbits fresh nettles
Everyone knows about the benefits of nettle, but when deciding to get rabbits, a person reasonably asks the question, is it possible to give rabbits nettle. If so, in what form and how much?
Is nettle good for rabbits?
It is clear that juicy greens are the basis of the summer diet of pets, but any person involved in breeding eared ones understands their responsibility.
Allow or Deny
Fluffy animals are the most popular animals for breeding. They are easy to care for and unpretentious. However, the health of the fluffy depends on the right food. Do rabbits eat nettles and is it dangerous for them? Can rabbits really have nettles?
Vitamins and minerals are found in abundance in various herbs that need to be fed to rabbits. From the first month of life, babies are given nettle on a par with the rest of the green mass, due to the fact that it solves frequently occurring digestive problems.
Nettle promotes the growth and development of rabbits
The animals really like the burning plant, and it also contributes well to their growth and development. The protein it contains helps to build mass.
Rabbits are happy to consume both fresh and dry nettles, with some breeders making them a staple of their diet. Can nettles really be fed to rabbits? Yes you can!
Allowable rate
Wild herbs are not only useful for animals, but also provide benefits for the owners, therefore, nettles can and should be given to rabbits. Pets grow faster, and their meat and fur only get better from this. In addition, rabbit nettle provides undeniable health benefits. The main advantages of such food are:
- high content of substances useful for the body of animals;
- high antibacterial properties;
- improved lactation in females;
- restoration of blood;
- promoting high-quality digestion of food;
- accelerate growth and aid in weight gain.
Nevertheless, certain restrictions must be observed, it is permissible to give a treat strictly according to the scheme.
Also, the nettle needs to be washed and scalded with boiling water before feeding it to the pets: this will relieve the plant from stinging. Before giving the plant to feed, it must be dried, otherwise indigestion cannot be avoided. One chopped twig a day is enough for adult animals; it can be mixed with other grass. For young animals, it is advisable to prepare this valuable plant for the winter. Overdrying nettles is also not recommended.
Nettle for rabbits should be combined with solid types of feed and each time make different mixtures, which perfectly diversifies the diet. It is also necessary to remember about the branches of trees, which not only bring a lot of useful things to the animal's body, but also help to sharpen its teeth and prevent the formation of tartar.
Procurement process
Not everything is so simple with nettles as it seems. Only clean, growing away from the road and plants, as well as properly harvested grass will bring benefits. How to collect? If we are talking about the shoots of a plant, then its harvesting is carried out until the moment of flowering.You can also dry the leaves and stems, but not the flowers.
Wood nettle is the most suitable variety for dry food, as it has many beneficial properties. It is easy to grow it yourself on a personal plot. Almost none of the animals consume deaf nettles, but it is not dangerous for rabbits, however, only in dry form: it cannot be given fresh.
Forest nettles are best for rabbits.
It is advisable to collect the grass in the second half of the day, when there are no dew drops on it and in no case give it wet, otherwise the rabbit may get sick. When harvesting, you must be careful and careful, because there is a risk of accidentally plucking celandine or euphorbia, which is dangerous for the animal.
It is necessary to harvest the plant from June to July, evenly drying it, for this it is laid out in a thin layer. It is in the summer that the grass has the maximum concentration of nutrients. The already finished plant must be carefully folded into boxes or boxes.
Dry leaves crumble very much, literally crumbling into dust. Each time you need to take out as much as you need, and the rest should be stored in tightly closed containers. Nettle can be given to rabbits all year round, therefore, the longer it lasts, the better the nutrition of animals will be during a difficult cold period. This means that the rabbits will continue to grow rapidly, despite the unfavorable environmental conditions.
When to start giving
Nettle appears before any other greenery, which will replenish the vitamin stores in the rabbit's body after long cold weather. They will gladly eat it, the main thing is to cook the plant according to all the rules. It is necessary to pick the plant, cut it, and then pour it with hot water. The last step is to dry your pets with healthy food. Just remember that the burning grass must be kept in boiling water until it softens. When this happens, it should be mixed with boiled potatoes or other food.
Nettle for rabbits should be introduced into the diet gradually, at first it is enough 3 times a week and little by little at a time. An organism that has become unaccustomed during a long winter must get used to food that is new to it. Otherwise, of course, they will eat as much as they are given, but it will end with diarrhea and flatulence, due to the fact that the intestines of rabbits are naturally weak.
So, can rabbits really have nettles? You can, but only by adhering to certain rules. In addition, the diet should be thought out so that it is varied and healthy, regardless of the season.