Is it possible to introduce sorrel into the diet of rabbits
Can rabbits eat sorrel? Which one to choose, garden or wild (horse)? To correctly introduce sorrel into complementary foods, you need to know a few simple rules for its dosage, processing and storage.
Can rabbits eat sorrel?
Experienced farmers say that a rabbit's diet should be predominantly green fodder. In the summer, these are fresh plants, and hay is harvested for the winter. One herb that can be given to a pet is sorrel. This product contains a lot of nutrients and vitamins. In addition, oxalis tastes good due to its juiciness. Animals are happy to eat it in large quantities.
What is horse oxalis and is it possible to feed rabbits with sorrel
Horse sorrel, or horse sorrel (Latin name - Rumex konfertus Willd), is a perennial plant that has a strong stem 90-160 cm high and wide dense leaves. This plant species is distributed throughout the Eurasian zone. Basically, the places of growth of wild oxalis are forests and steppes. On a chemical level, the composition of the herb is extremely curious. Flowers contain up to 68 mg of ascorbic acid. Almost the entire stalk of acidwood contains a high level of calcium oxalate, which is known in medicine for its antibacterial properties.
Horse sorrel, unlike ordinary sorrel, has no nutritional value for humans and is considered a weed. However, among domestic animals, oxalis is a tasty and juicy addition to the main feed. Due to the unique healing properties of such a plant, decoctions and ointments are also made for the treatment of vitamin deficiency and getting rid of parasites. And yet, is it possible for domestic rabbits to have sorrel?
Many owners of these animals believe that it is worth feeding the rodents only 1-2 types of grass. Dandelions or clover are usually green complementary foods. However, this is a misconception. If a domestic rabbit does not receive a sufficient amount of important components, then it noticeably lags behind in growth, so sorrel can be given to rabbits, and sometimes it is simply necessary. As for horse sour, this herb contains a lot of useful properties:
- With the correct dosage, oxalis promotes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Rabbits love this herb for its juiciness, and besides, this plant perfectly compensates for the lack of vitamin C.
- The leaves of such greenery have an antibacterial effect on the animal organism.
Wild sour cherry is eaten by both field fluffs and farmers. But if field subspecies of eared rodents can eat such grass without preparation, then pets can be poisoned by a fresh plant.
Before introducing wild acid into the pet's diet, you should check how it reacts to small doses. So the rabbits can be given only 2-3 leaves to try and observe how they will feel after such a treat.
How to give sorrel to rabbits correctly
You can feed sorrel to rabbits both in pure form and in combination with other plants.
Sorrel is best combined with herbs such as plantain, clover, meadowsweet, etc. For young rodents 60-120 g of pure sorrel per day is considered the norm. For adult animals, the dose of acid can be increased to 100-180 g. Sorrel has a beneficial effect on the body of a pregnant rabbit, therefore, during gestation, the dose can be increased to 150-220 g per day.
Sorrel should be introduced into complementary foods in small portions. You also need to monitor the reaction of pets to the new supplement. If the rabbits liked the treat and no digestive system disturbances were noted, then grass can be fed weekly, alternating with other plants.
It is important to remember that pure sorrel should be given to rabbits carefully. Wrong dosage can lead to sad consequences, including:
- violation of the metabolism of minerals in the rodent's body;
- poor kidney function;
- high blood clotting and the appearance of blood clots;
- increased acidity of the stomach.
If the rabbit has the above problems, then you should immediately contact a veterinarian and review the animal's diet. You may have to exclude this herb from the fluffy menu.
To be on the safe side, ask your veterinarian if it will be possible for rabbits to be given sorrel later. Sometimes, having ripped off an allergy to a certain product, a fluffy is no longer able to eat such grass.
Collection, methods of processing and storage of sorrel
When collecting horse sour, you need to inspect each leaf and stem of the plant. The leaves should be free of plaque, mold or disease.
The stem is whole and flexible, bends well in the hands. The grass must not be rotten or infested with insects.
Fresh
Horse sorrel can be fed to rabbits fresh, in some cases even necessary. The main thing is to remember the correct dosage of the plant. Old sorrel contains ingredients that can taste bitter, so young shoots should be harvested.
Spring is considered the best period for harvesting sorrel; at this time of the year, young leaves have not yet absorbed enough sun and contain the maximum amount of vitamins. Plus, spring sorrel is juicy and full of nutrients.
Unfortunately, under the influence of ultraviolet radiation from direct sunlight, the plant quickly loses its properties. This should be taken into account when collecting grass.
Dried
After drying, sorrel loses the bitterness that is present in fresh grass, and becomes pleasant to the taste. The domestic rabbit eats horse sour hay with pleasure. It is best to harvest the plant in spring, it is during this period that the leaves and stems contain the maximum amount of liquid.
Before harvesting, horse sorrel is washed from pollen and earth. If this is not done carefully, there is an increased risk of mold. Next, the sour should be thoroughly dried by laying out the future hay on a cloth made of natural materials. As soon as the canvas absorbs excess moisture, the sorrel must be moved to fresh air. The grass is dried on a sunny warm day, but it should be placed in the shade: direct rays destroy the nutrients in the acid. Leaves must be placed in one layer, otherwise mold or rot may form.
The signal that the sorrel has dried well is the fragility of the leaves.
When the plant stops bending in the hands, it should be moved to a dry place with good air circulation. It is advisable to store acid in a wooden room; an attic is well suited for this. Under the right conditions, the grass is stored for 2 years or more, but veterinarians say that rabbits' hay should be fresh and harvested annually.
Conclusion
So, horse sorrel for rabbits is great as a complementary food. The plant contains many vitamins and has a beneficial effect on the health of the pet. Also oxalis is not only healthy, but also tasty food for rodents. For a good result, remember the correct dosage and storage conditions of acid.However, we must not forget to alternate grass in complementary foods, combining sorrel with clover or plantain. Following these simple rules, you can provide your rabbit with good immunity and long life.