Can rabbits be given wheat: how to feed and contraindications

Experienced livestock specialists always know whether wheat can be given to domestic rabbits or not. Beginning rabbit breeders first need to read the theory. After all, if the animals are fed incorrectly, they can get sick and even die. It is allowed to feed the animals with wheat, but only in small quantities. Grain feed is subject to the same requirements as other nutrients (quality, absence of pests).

Can rabbits be fed wheat

Grain feed is the staple food for pets such as rabbits. Wheat is an integral part of compound feed or cereal mixtures along with oats, corn and barley.It is allowed to feed domestic animals with this grain. Indeed, cereals contain many useful vitamins and elements, as well as vegetable protein and carbohydrates.

Rabbits, although they are herbivores, they need protein food for normal development. Thanks to the carbohydrates contained in cereals, animals gain weight faster. And the wheat grains themselves are good for the teeth of rabbits. After all, when animals gnaw on something hard, they grind down their front incisors.

The problem is different - sometimes animals just don't want to eat wheat food. In taste, raw grains are inferior to sweet fruits, juicy grass or fresh vegetables and root crops. More willingly, the animals eat s alted and steamed or germinated wheat. Grain feed is introduced into the diet of domestic animals, mainly in winter and early spring. During this period of the year, there is a shortage of fresh fruits and vegetables. Animals eat only hay, so cereals are eaten with great pleasure.

Pets are taught to grain feed from infancy.Animals are fed cereals after they are weaned from their mother. During this period, grain is the only source of protein for them. At first, the animals are given crushed cereals, then they switch to whole ones. The main thing when feeding is to observe the dosage.

Important! You can not give animals only one wheat. In addition to this, grains of rabbits are fed with other cereals. Dry feeding is practiced in the morning and evening. The composition of the grain mixture should include an equal amount of different cereals. If animals are given dry grains, then a container with water for drinking must be placed in the cage.

How to feed properly

It would seem that there is nothing complicated in feeding rabbits with wheat feed. I poured grain into the feeders - and no more hassle. It turns out that not everything is so simple. Animals may not even look at such food. You need to know how to properly feed the animals with this useful cereal crop.

Raw

Animals willingly eat raw wheat grains. True, it is necessary to accustom them to grain feed from the first months of life. First, the animals are given crushed grain. Rabbits can eat such food at 1.5 months. Whole grains are best for adult pets.

Wheat is fed to rabbits every day. True, mixed with other grains. The composition of the dry mix should also include equal proportions of barley, oats, corn. It is not recommended to feed the animals with only wheat. An excess of such grain crops adversely affects the he alth of animals. It is advisable to give one animal no more than 10-30 grams of wheat feed per day.

Germination

Animals love germinated wheat grains. Such food is given to animals in the winter, when their diet is poor in vitamins. Sprouted grain is recommended for pregnant rabbits and females nursing young.Preparing food is very easy. You need to take a little dry grain from the bag, pour it into a wide basin and pour just a little bit of ordinary cool water. The container must be covered with a cloth and placed in a warm place for several days.

When the grain sprouts, you can feed the animals with it. The main thing is not to give too much germinated wheat at one time. The recommended amount is 10-30 grams per animal per day.

Steaming

Wheat grains can first be steamed and then fed to rabbits. Steamed cereals are better absorbed by the animal food system. Preparing such food is very simple: you need to take some grain from the bag, pour it into a pot or bucket, pour boiling water so that the water completely covers the wheat. It is recommended to s alt the food for the animals a little. For half a bucket of wheat feed, take a spoonful of s alt.

Steamed cereals under a closed lid for 5 hours. Then the cooled grain is poured into animal feeders. For one rabbit, 10-30 grams of such wheat per day is enough. Both whole and crushed grains are steamed.

Harm and contraindications

There are many benefits to feeding rabbits with wheat food: the animals fill up and gain weight quickly. In addition, grain is not so expensive, it can be bought as a whole or immediately crushed. Labor costs are also reduced: the feed is simply poured into the animal feeders. True, in addition to the unconditional advantages of dry feeding, this method has several disadvantages and unpleasant moments.

The fact is that sometimes animals are allergic to wheat feed. The organism of animals simply does not tolerate such food. True, this happens very rarely. However, before pouring grain into the feeder, you must first see how the animal reacts to this cereal crop. To begin with, the animals are given 10-20 grains. If the rabbits don't scold, they don't bloat, they don't foam at the mouth, then the wheat will do them good. Otherwise, it is better to exclude this cereal from animal nutrition.

If you feed rabbits only wheat, they will quickly get better and get fat. The use of such grain feed must also be dosed because a large amount of cereals can lead to bloating. To avoid eating disorders, livestock experts recommend mixing wheat with other grains, and giving no more than 10-30 grams of this crop per day.

Important! It must be remembered that the norm of any cereal crop per day depends on the age of the animal and its well-being. If there is an excess or lack of wheat in the diet, then rabbits can get sick. Animals in a state of physiological rest need no more than 10 grams of wheat feed per day. For pregnant rabbits, the dose can be increased to 35 grams. In winter, grain feed is always given more than in summer.

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