Can rabbits have sorrel? Which one to choose, garden or wild (horse)? To correctly introduce sorrel to lure, you need to know some simple rules for its dosage, processing and storage.
Can rabbits eat sorrel
Experienced farmers argue that the rabbit's diet should consist primarily of green fodder. In the summer, these are fresh plants, and hay is harvested for the winter. One herb that can be given to a pet is sorrel. This product contains a lot of nutrients and vitamins. In addition, sour taste good, due to its juiciness. Animals are happy to eat it in large quantities.
What is horse acid and is it possible to feed sorrel rabbits
Horse sorrel, or horse sorrel (Latin name - Rumex konfertus Willd), is a perennial plant that has a strong stem 90-160 cm tall and wide dense leaves. This type of plant is common throughout the Eurasian zone. Mostly places of growth of wild acidity - forests and steppes. At the chemical level, the composition of the grass is extremely curious. Flowers contain up to 68 mg of ascorbic acid. Almost the entire stem of sour acid contains a high level of calcium oxalate, which is known in medicine for its antibacterial properties.
Horse sorrel, unlike ordinary sorrel, has no nutritional value for humans and is considered a weed. However, among domestic animals, sour is a tasty and juicy supplement to the main feed. Due to the unique healing properties of such a plant, decoctions and ointments are also made for the treatment of vitamin deficiency and getting rid of parasites. And yet, is it possible to domestic sorrel rabbits?
Many owners of these animals believe that only 1-2 types of grass are worth feeding rodents. Usually dandelions or clover serve as green lure. However, this is a misconception. If a domestic rabbit does not receive a sufficient amount of important components, then it lags noticeably in growth, so sorrel can be given to rabbits, and sometimes it is simply necessary. As for horse acid, this herb contains a lot of useful properties:
- With the right dosage, acid helps the work of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Rabbits love such grass for juiciness, moreover, this plant perfectly compensates for the lack of vitamin C.
- The leaves of such greenery have an antibacterial effect on the animal organism.
Wild sour acid is eaten both by field pussies and by farmers. But if field subspecies of long-eared rodents can use such grass without preparation, then pets can enjoy a fresh plant.
Before introducing wild acid into your pet’s diet, you should check how it will respond to small doses. So the rabbits can be given only 2-3 leaves to try and watch how they will feel after such a treat.
How to give sorrel to rabbits
Sorrel can be fed to rabbits both in pure form and in combination with other plants.
Sorrel is best combined with herbs such as plantain, clover, meadowsweet, etc. Young rodents per day consider 60-120 g of pure sorrel to be the norm. For adult animals, the dose of acid can be increased to 100-180 g. Sorrel has a beneficial effect on the body of a pregnant rabbit, so during gestation, the dose can be increased to 150-220 g per day.
Sorrel should be introduced into lure in small portions. You also need to monitor the reaction of the pets to the new supplement. If the rabbits liked the treat and there were no disturbances in the digestive system, then you can give grass weekly, alternating with other plants.
It is important to remember that giving sorrel to rabbits in their pure form should be careful. Incorrect dosage can lead to sad consequences, including:
- violation of the metabolism of minerals in the body of a rodent;
- poor kidney function;
- high blood coagulation and the appearance of blood clots;
- increased acidity of the stomach.
If the rabbit has the above problems, then you should immediately contact a veterinarian and review the diet of the animal. You may need to exclude such grass from the pussies menu.
For reinsurance, you can ask your veterinarian if rabbits can be given sorrel later. Sometimes, frustrating an allergy to a certain product, the puffy is no longer able to eat such grass.
Collection, methods of processing and storage of sorrel
When collecting horse acid, you need to inspect each leaf and stem of the plant. The leaves should not be plaque, mold or disease.
The stem is whole and flexible, bends well in the hands. Grass does not have to be rotten or insect-affected.
Fresh
Horse sorrel can be given to rabbits fresh, in some cases even necessary. The main thing is to remember the correct dosage of the plant. There are components in the old sorrel that can be bitter, so young shoots should be collected.
The best period for collecting sorrel is considered spring, at this time of year the young leaves have not yet absorbed enough sun and contain the maximum amount of vitamins. In addition, spring sorrel is juicy and full of nutrients.
Unfortunately, under the influence of ultraviolet radiation from direct sunlight, the plant quickly loses its properties. This should be taken into account when collecting grass.
In dried form
After drying, the sorrel loses the bitterness, which is present in fresh grass, and tastes good. A domestic rabbit eats hay from horse acid. It is best to collect the plant in the spring, it is during this period that the maximum amount of liquid is contained in the leaves and stems.
Before harvesting horse sorrel is washed from pollen and earth. If you do not do this carefully, the risk of moldiness increases. Next, the acid should be thoroughly dried by laying the future hay on a fabric made of natural materials. As soon as the canvas absorbs excess moisture, the sorrel must be moved to fresh air. The grass dries on a sunny warm day, but it should be placed in the shade: direct rays destroy the nutrients in the sour. Leaves must be placed in one layer, otherwise mold or rot may form.
The signal that the sorrel has dried well is the fragility of the leaves.
When the plant stops bending in the hands, it should be moved to a dry place with good air circulation. It is advisable to store acid in a wooden room, the attic is well suited for this. In the right conditions, the grass is stored for 2 years or more, however, veterinarians argue that the rabbit hay should be fresh and harvested annually.
Conclusion
So, horse sorrel for rabbits is great as a food. The plant contains many vitamins and favorably affects the health of the pet. Also sour - not only healthy, but also tasty food for rodents. For a good result, remember the correct dosage and storage conditions of the acid. However, we must not forget to alternate grass in complementary foods, combining sorrel with clover or plantain. Following these simple rules, you can provide your rabbit with good immunity and a long life.
