Can you give dandelions to rabbits?
Rabbits are the sweetest creatures that bring only joy and laughter to the family. For children, these are the best furry friends, and parents do not need to walk with them. Of course, keeping rabbits requires adherence to the rules of care and feeding. When pet owners begin to compose a diet for him and the conversation comes about fresh greens, they often do not know if dandelions can be given to rabbits.
Can rabbits have dandelions
Advantages and disadvantages
Many farmers with experience, when asked whether it is possible to give dandelions to rabbits, will answer that it is not only possible, but even necessary, because such food will only benefit animals. At the same time, you should carefully feed the fluffy with this product, gradually introducing it into the diet.
Many veterinarians claim that dandelion is a treasure trove of vitamins and calcium, which little rabbits and adults need for good growth and development of the body. It is allowed to mix dandelion with different herbs (dill, parsley, hay).
If it became noticeable that the pet's urine turned red, you should not worry: this is all because of the special substances that are part of the dandelion. This does not affect the life of a fluffy in any way.
Dandelion should only make up 30% of the total diet. All other 70% are dry food, vegetables and various vitamin supplements. In addition, the animal must always have hay in the cage.
Dandelion benefits
Due to the fact that dandelion contains a fairly high percentage of calcium, this can negatively affect the development of the animal. An excess of calcium has a bad effect on juveniles and adults. That is why veterinarians, when asked whether rabbits can have pure dandelions, always say a categorical no. It is best to always mix this product with other foods, such as:
- vegetables;
- hay;
- greens, which do not carry a large amount of calcium.
Feeding ornamental rabbits
For decorative rabbits in its pure form, it is better not to add dandelion to food. They love to eat stems, leaves and flowers from it. It is best to begin administering the product when pets are four weeks old.
There is debate about how much to feed and how often. The opinion is divided into three.
- Dandelion should never be fed, as it can cause infertility in the animal and permanent stomach problems. So far, the theory of infertility has not been confirmed, but if you feed a dandelion to rabbits that are not even a month old, they will really have intestinal problems.
- Such greens cannot carry a strong threat, but it is better to avoid them if possible. If the animal needs calcium, then it is best to replace the dandelion with parsley or dill (once every few days, 2-3 petals).
- The dandelion cannot carry any danger to the eared eared. The main thing is to remember that it should be added to food only from 4 weeks of age, and better - from 6 weeks of age. In this case, it should be constantly mixed with other food products. It is advisable to exclude roots and flowers.
Features of feeding rabbits
Rabbits, by their very nature, are very fond of learning and trying something new, which is why they constantly need to add new foods to their diet.
When introducing a new product, it is necessary to monitor the animal's stool, the general state of its health. If, after introducing a new product, your pet has problems with stool or cannot pee, dandelion should be immediately excluded from the diet.
The dandelion must be harvested in a clean area and properly handled. It is forbidden to include roots in the eared menu.
Complementary feeding rules
As mentioned above, it is not recommended to give dandelion in its pure form; it is best to mix it with other food products. You can give it with herbs such as tansy, wormwood, plantain. A mixture of different greens will have a good effect on the pet's immune system and will have an excellent parasitic effect. The main thing is not to forget about hay: it should always be present in the diet, since coarse fiber is an important component.
Before giving the animal grass, you need to rinse it with cold water or sprinkle it with hot water and let the plant cool down. With hot water, you need to be especially careful so as not to spoil the plant and not kill all the vitamins in it. However, it is better to rinse the dandelion with hot water to kill all possible germs on it.
After rinsing, you need to let it dry, you can even dry it a little. In the video above, you can see how to properly process a dandelion and how pets eat it.
After the plant dries up, it is mixed with hay and the animal is placed in a cage.
The main purpose of this flower is to make the kidneys and liver of the rabbit work well. With its help, they successfully remove toxins from the animal's body.
Dandelion is a very healthy treat. You can feed your pet with such greens a couple of times a week, this will be enough for the excellent growth and development of the pet. It is sometimes permissible to mix the plant, like a vitamin. For this, one stalk will be enough. It is better not to give roots.
Is it possible to give flowering tops
The dandelion, when ripe, produces two fruits of flowers. Rabbits can be given the very first fruit, but they rarely eat it and in small quantities. Experts believe that many animals simply do not like their taste. When ripped off, it releases a yellow juice with an unpleasant odor, which can also repel.
Can you feed juicy dandelions to rabbits? Of course, but it is better to give only the stem and leaf. Such a product should be carefully introduced into the food of the animal and the behavior of the furry should be monitored. The breeder should be very careful, because rabbits eat whatever you offer them, which can negatively affect their health. So, the roots and flowers of dandelion accidentally clinging to the menu can seriously harm.