The health and life span of a rabbit directly depends on its diet. The food for these animals must contain a sufficient amount of vitamins, be nutritious and varied. It is important to understand that rabbits are a type of rodent, so they need to constantly chew on hard enough food to keep their teeth healthy.
The main diet of rabbits
The main place in the rabbit's diet is hay. Dry grass must be kept in the cage at all times. Controlling the amount of hay consumed by animals is not worth it. This type of food has a beneficial effect on the digestion process and at the same time carries out the so-called cleansing of the stomach.
You can buy hay for rabbits at specialty stores or make your own. When collecting herbs, special attention should be paid to its varieties. It is likely that plant seeds that are poisonous to animals can get into the hay.
In addition to hay, rabbits need to be given other types of roughage - leafy-branch mixtures and straw. The most optimal branch feed for these animals is the shoots of birch, linden, maple and aspen.
Green food
All types of plant foods are called green food. Rabbits must be given fresh foliage, grass and tops of garden plants. The diet should contain potato tops, strawberry leaves, young nettle, dandelion, sedge, plantain and wild clover.
Juicy feed
Juicy foods include fruits and vegetables. The main products that rabbits need for normal development are carrots, cabbage leaves, green beans, peas, pears and apples. There are some individuals who take an interest in bananas and apricots.
Rabbits should not be fed with wet grass. Otherwise, the animal will suffer from indigestion.
The amount of cabbage in the diet of rabbits must be controlled. If this product is given to animals too often, rabbits may develop diarrhea.
Rabbits can be given almost any garden crop. The animals love to feast on, for example, Jerusalem artichoke, beets and turnips. It is better to give potatoes boiled to rabbits. Pre-knead the tubers, turning the mixture into a puree.
Concentrated feed for rabbits
Concentrated rabbit food is sold in almost every specialty store. These foods are high in protein and carbohydrates. In the diet of rabbits, they should be used as additives to the main food. Concentrates include corn, oats and barley. By the way, many experts recommend giving flakes of "Hercules" to female rabbits during the feeding period.
Obesity can develop in rabbits from excessive consumption of concentrated feed.
Along with concentrated feed, it is recommended to give rabbits special vitamin supplements and granular feedings. In appearance, such products resemble ordinary dry food.
