Can potatoes be added to the diet of farm rabbits?
Sooner or later every rabbit breeder asks the question, is it possible to give raw potatoes to rabbits? Roots and vegetables make up half of the furry's daily diet, especially in the summer. Can rabbits be fed raw potatoes or boiled root vegetables?
Is it possible for a rabbit to have potatoes
Any natural complementary food should be given special attention, because the digestive system in rabbits is extremely weak. What potatoes are fluffy animals allowed to add to their diet?
Rabbit diet
Feeding pussies is carried out up to 4 times a day, and water change - up to 6. The health of pets depends on the quality of the feed. What is allowed to feed fluffy animals, and what is not allowed? It is harmful to cook only dry mixtures for rabbits. Even if such food is saturated with useful substances, it will not be possible to organize a diet without greenery.
Rules for introducing potatoes into the diet
Can rabbits be fed potatoes? Even experienced rabbit breeders disagree about potatoes as a valuable additive. Some farmers argue that adding a root crop is not only allowed, but even needed to diversify the diet. Other people who are engaged in breeders of eared, are against the fact that potatoes often fall into the feeder of fluffies. Can boiled potatoes be given to rabbits?
Potatoes are a healthy root vegetable that is easy for the farmer to grow. Feeding potatoes is a cheap alternative for breeders. For collecting and cleaning vegetables or waste, the easiest way is to use special grinders or cut the potatoes by hand.
Types of potato supplements:
- raw root vegetable;
- boiled potatoes;
- combined mash.
It is permissible to feed rabbits with potatoes at least 2 times a week. But before that, you should observe how the root crop affects the animal.
How to give potatoes to animals? Raw or cooked potatoes must be selected and properly processed. For cleaning, only whole root crops that are not damaged by pests are sorted.
Potatoes must be whole
First of all, the root crop is cleaned of eyes and skins. No peel should remain on the potatoes. Without processing, neither raw nor boiled root vegetable is given. The water in which the tubers were cooked must be drained; in no case should it be added to the feeders. Only light shades of potato peel are used. The green and blue peel contains a lot of poisonous substance that will cause poisoning in the furry. A useful root vegetable contains B vitamins, calcium, phosphorus and potassium, so you should not refuse such a supplement either.
How can farm rabbits be fed potatoes without harming domesticated pets? Cooked in water and raw potatoes are given to adult rabbits, which have grown stronger and grown up. Potatoes are used medicinally when animals have loose stools. An emergency measure is not a cure, but it can save the life of the rabbits.
Reasons for restricting use
Feed the rabbits with potatoes only when their diet is scheduled and planned. A balanced diet to cleanse the body of furry animals will help get rid of weakness and strengthen the immunity of each rabbit. Is it possible to feed rabbits with raw potatoes immediately after jigging the young?
Rabbits up to 2 months of age are not fed with potatoes. A diet with a constant addition of root vegetables is dangerous for animals. Reasons why you should not rush to add potatoes to your pets in unlimited quantities:
- Substances contained in it. Solanine is toxic to rabbits and can kill young animals. Potatoes can only be added to the feeder in a peeled form.
- A sharp change in diet is fraught with serious consequences for the rabbit's body. It is impossible to feed raw or boiled potatoes in large quantities: the rabbit may develop an individual intolerance to the substances contained in the tubers, therefore, complementary foods should be introduced gradually, observing the reaction of the eared to changes in nutrition.
- Any negative reactions in the body of animals to a new complementary food is a good reason to refuse a potato supplement. Rabbits should not be given tops or boiled tuber that cause diarrhea or weakness. Better to find another healthy vegetable feed.
It is important to pay attention not only to the quantity of the product, but also to the quality. It is unprofitable to give waste to whimsical eared people. Boiled or raw grated potatoes are fed as a staple for diarrhea.
The rabbit assimilates potato complementary foods better in autumn and winter, but in the summer it is necessary to refuse such an additive. Greens or twig food will help feed the animals.
Potato mash
Can rabbits have potato mash? The remnants of vegetables and potatoes mixed into a common mash can replace a complete dry food. Such a mash contains all the necessary vitamins and mineral complexes that ensure the growth of animals. The type and composition of the mash can vary depending on the capabilities of the farmer and the benefit with which wet feed replaces dry mixes. You should not rush to feed young animals with a mash. It is more profitable to dilute nutrient mixtures with herbs and herbs.
Potato tops
Can rabbits have potato tops? Root crops and green juicy tops are especially appreciated when feeding rabbits. The starch in potatoes helps with weight gain. The animal organism is so arranged that in favorable conditions, when there is a lot of food and clean water, the pet quickly gains weight. By adding root crops, the farmer not only saves on feed, but also ensures the rapid growth of rabbits.
Potatoes help rabbits gain weight
Even a boiled root crop is not worth giving up to 4 months of life.
Is it okay to give rabbits boiled potatoes to a pregnant rabbit? Introducing a special diet for the female is the primary task of the breeder. It is allowed to add rabbit potato mash only in small quantities. An animal that overeats potato food can get sick. Excessive amounts of starch lead to blockage of the milk ducts.
Usage rates
The norm for the use of root crops for an adult healthy animal is no more than 10% of the total daily diet of a rabbit. A male can consume no more than 40 kg of tubers per year. In a boiled product, the indicators for the substances contained are lower, therefore, mash with boiled potatoes can be given in large quantities.