How to introduce corn into the diet of rabbits and is it possible to give leaves, cobs
Corn is a valuable cereal feed in the diet of rabbits. Livestock breeders actively use it to feed pets for slaughter, as it is rich in proteins, carbohydrates and has a high calorie content. Whether it is possible to give corn to rabbits and in what form, the breeder himself decides, but its benefits are undeniable.
Is it possible to give corn to rabbits
Proper care and adequate nutrition play an important role in raising rabbits. In the diet of furry farmers, corn and cobs play the role of not only nutrition, but also warm-up of the jaw muscles.
The value of corn in the diet of rabbits
Corn is an annual cereal plant. It has a powerful, well-formed stem up to 3 m high and tough, elongated leaves with jagged edges. In the axils of the leaves during fruiting, cobs with grains are located.
The value of corn in the form of forage lies in the fact that it is rich in everything necessary for the normal development and growth of rabbits. It contains the following elements:
- proteins - 8-13%;
- fats - 5-9%;
- carbohydrates - 65-78%;
- fiber - 2-5%.
In addition, the described product contains vitamins of group B, vitamins A, E, C, PP, H, as well as potassium, strong, sulfur, copper, phosphorus and iron.
Corn kernels are well absorbed by rabbits and contribute to their normal digestion. Due to its high fiber content, the product enhances intestinal motility.
Harvesting corn for the winter
In addition to the cobs with grains, green tops of the plant are also used for feeding livestock. The stems and foliage are harvested after the cobs are ripe and fed to rabbits or harvested for the winter. Silage is harvested from the cobs at the stage of milk maturity, stems and leaves. In addition to corn, it can include clover, alfalfa, meadow grasses and young winter wheat.
Salt or lactic acid is used to preserve the green silage.
They help to preserve all the beneficial properties of plants. For the preparation of feed, trenches are dug up to a depth of 2.5 - 3 m and a width of 4 m. The walls are made at an angle and finished with concrete, bricks or planks. You can also dig concrete rings into the ground. The green mass is tightly placed in silo pits and covered in such a way that air and water do not get inside. You also need to make sure that the soil does not get on the feed, since contaminated silage is not suitable for food.
Before crushing the shoots, it is necessary to sort them, remove all rotten and diseased plants. With the correct harvesting of corn for silage, it is perfectly preserved until the new season of young greenery.
In addition to silage, it is recommended to prepare dry leaves as well. To do this, they are separated from the tough stems and dried in the shade. Young corn leaves can be fed to rabbits in unlimited quantities.
How to feed rabbits with corn
Good nutrition for rabbits is a guarantee of good health and their normal development. Rabbit breeders strive for nutritious meat and quality rabbit skins.Fur is in great demand in the modern market. Feeding rabbits with corn promotes smooth, shiny fur with a good undercoat.
Corn should be introduced into the diet gradually, allowing the animal's digestive system to get used to the new food. There are a few things to keep in mind:
- Grain and corn cobs are given to young rabbits whole or in ground form at 70-150 g per individual. The animals eat crushed cereals more readily.
- Adult rabbits can be given whole ears, it is recommended to feed young animals with crumbled grain.
- The stems of the plant can be eaten at any stage of its development, but it is not recommended to give very tough stems to rabbits. They do not digest cellulose well and there will be no sense from such food.
- The leaves of this culture are easy to harvest for the winter. They will be a great addition to hay in the autumn-winter period.
It is believed that corn for rabbits is the main component of the diet, but this is not the case.
Its use in the form of a monoform leads to obesity and metabolic disorders. Females tend to grow a fold of fat on the chin, eating only one grain feed. This is helpful during birth as it increases the area of the sternum. It is from this part of their body that the rabbits tear down the fluff to insulate the nest and warm the rabbits. Otherwise, the excess fat collar can irritate the animal. Rabbits can bite themselves, causing injury and injury.
Before feeding, the grain must be prepared:
- the cobs are washed and chopped if necessary, crushed corn cannot be harvested for future use, since it can turn rancid due to its high fat content;
- whole grains are soaked for 2-3 hours, it should not be left in water for a long time, it can sour;
- corn leaves are slightly wither and crushed.
It is recommended to give decorative rabbits corn no more than 2 times a week, in order to avoid the formation of obesity of internal organs. In small quantities, it is good for digestion, and rabbits eat it with pleasure.
Corn in the diet of rabbit bunnies
Corn cobs are given to rabbits throughout the day in tandem with vegetables, grass, or hay. Feline rabbits need increased nutrition. In the third stage of pregnancy, the largest mass of embryo growth is observed. If the breeder wants to get healthy and strong offspring, he should take care of the rabbit's diet at this stage of pregnancy.
Fresh corn is not recommended for mating animals. Due to the high calorie content of grain feed, the pet quickly gains weight and loses interest in breeding. The question of whether rabbits can eat corn during the mating season remains controversial.
Can rabbits be given corn after spawning? During the first week after giving birth, the rabbit needs to recuperate, and the babies need nutritious milk. During this period, corn cobs of rabbits will come in handy. It is better to give crushed corn together with other cereals at the rate of 100-170 g per individual.
Corn in the diet of young animals
In addition to mother's milk, the diet of young rabbits should also include vegetable feed, starting from 1.5-2 months of age. At this age, they willingly eat young juicy shoots of corn. It is rich in vitamins and fiber and is very beneficial for the growing body. Rabbits are given corn leaves in small quantities. Do not give boiled corn to rabbits.
Like any new food, young corn is introduced to rabbits gradually, observing the reaction of the cubs. It is necessary to exclude the plant from the diet if:
- feces become too soft or diarrhea has begun;
- vomiting is observed;
- the animal became lethargic and lethargic;
- allergic reactions are observed.
Is it possible to feed farm rabbits with young corn, milk? Most breeders prefer not to feed dairy corn to rabbits.The fact is that young ears contain a high level of corn, which can negatively affect the digestion of furry.
Farmer rabbits don't always like boiled corn. But if you introduce such a product, gradually starting from the age of two weeks of fluffy, then you can make it part of the diet.