Can rabbits be given nettles without harming the animals?
Nettle is not only a weed plant that can be found on almost any home garden, but also an excellent green food for farm animals. It is for this reason that many livestock breeders are interested in whether it is possible to give rabbits nettle and in what form it is best added to the diet of animals.
Nettle properties
A plant as a green food can be an excellent source of vitamin and mineral substances, as it contains:
- vitamins A, B, C, E, K;
- macro- and microelements - zinc, copper, selenium, iron, sodium, magnesium, potassium;
- fats;
- starch;
- proteins.
In terms of nutritional value, nettle is in no way inferior to clover, alfalfa and other common herbal supplements. The protein found in green foliage and shoots is absorbed much better and faster than animal proteins and is retained after drying.
Is it possible to give rabbits nettles and in what form
Experienced breeders know perfectly well if nettle can be fed to a rabbit and add a herbal supplement to the animal's diet. It is allowed to give it to rabbits already at 20-30 days of life, to rabbits after giving birth and during lactation.
Nettle food is very useful for rabbits, which are raised for valuable meat, quality fur, as well as decorative breeds for active muscle building.
Useful properties of nettle for a rabbit:
- saturates the rabbit's body with useful vitamins and minerals, fighting against spring beriberi;
- strengthens the immunity of animals;
- has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects;
- increases lactation in lactating rabbits;
- improves the functioning of the digestive tract;
- normalizes intestinal microflora and stool;
- accelerates growth and muscle gain in young animals.
Livestock breeders need to know not only if rabbits eat nettles, but also how to properly feed the herb. Improper feeding of rabbits leads to diarrhea and digestive disorders, and the increased amount of formic acid in the plant causes burns of the intestinal mucosa. This is why nettles are given to animals in limited portions or mixed with other herbal supplements.
Fresh nettle
In order not to harm the body of animals, you need to know how to give nettles to rabbits. This plant is useful both fresh and dried, since after drying it retains all the vitamin and mineral substances.
Nettle should not be the mainstay of rabbit food. It is allowed to give it to animals no more than once every 2-3 days, combining with herbs, potato tubers, hay and roughage. Combined meals are the foundation of rabbit health.
Before feeding the rodents, you need to consider not only whether it is possible to give nettle to a rabbit, but also when it is better to add it to the diet. The optimal time for the introduction of green food is considered the end of June and mid-July, before the grass begins to bloom.
Nettle buds are not used as feed for rabbits.
Freshly picked nettles are high in acids that can harm the digestive system of animals.
Therefore, the grass must first be prepared:
- pick the nettle along with the stems and foliage, with unblown buds or before they form;
- rinse raw materials under running water;
- Dry the grass in a shaded area for 2-4 hours.
This preparation removes the stinginess from the nettle and makes it completely safe for the tender gastrointestinal tract of rabbits.
Nettle for feeding rabbits is prepared in another way. Chop the freshly picked plant finely, pour boiling water over and leave for 3-4 minutes. After that, drain the liquid, and give the plant mass to the rabbits in pure form or by stirring with potato pieces or bran.
Dried nettle
Dried nettles are just as healthy for rabbits as fresh plants. The grass is harvested before flowering - finely chop the plucked nettle, spread it in an even layer in a well-ventilated room or in the shade, under a canopy. Turn the plant over from time to time to avoid mold.
Before feeding the nettle to rabbits, steam it with hot water and mix with potatoes or bran. This treat can be given to animals no more than three times a week.
Collecting nettles for animal feeding
Nettle for feeding rabbits should not be collected in polluted places - near highways, industrial enterprises. This plant absorbs toxic substances, so this food can only harm the rabbits. Therefore, it is best to collect nettles in forest clearings, in gardens, in fields or personal plots.
Basic rules for collecting nettles:
- Only nettle stems and leaves are used for feeding animals, roots and inflorescences are not used for this purpose.
- You need to collect the grass before its flowering, in June-July.
- It is best to harvest nettles in the afternoon or evening, when the dew on the leaves has dried. Also, you cannot harvest the plant after rain. Wet grass causes stool upset and bloating in rabbits.
After harvesting, nettles can be fed to rabbits fresh or prepared for the winter, dried in the shade under a canopy or in a well-ventilated room. Dried raw materials should be stored in paper or linen bags in a warm and dry place.
Combination with other plants
Nettles can be combined with other types of feed. This makes the raw materials more useful and reduces the harmful effects of the acid contained in the nettle.
To combine with nettles are used:
- potatoes;
- bran;
- compound feed;
- wheatgrass root;
- sunflower;
- grape leaves;
- Jerusalem artichoke;
- Birch tree;
- ash;
- Linden;
- dandelions;
- branches of fruit trees - apple, plum, cherry.
Nettle is a useful plant that must be included in the diet of rabbits. It is given fresh and dried, combined with other types of feed. Nettle leaves and stems strengthen the immunity of rabbits, improve their digestion and accelerate muscle gain. This food additive is indispensable for both agricultural and decorative rabbits.