In addition to grass, hay, branches, root vegetables and silage, cereals must be present in the rabbit’s diet for the full development of the body. What cereals can be given to a rabbit, and which ones are strictly prohibited? Barley, pearl barley, wheat, corn and oatmeal must be present in a rabbit’s diet, but grains of rice, millet and rye are not only not healthy, but can harm the animal’s body.
What grains can be given to rabbits?
Whole and cooked cereals of a certain type form the basis of a balanced and healthy diet for rabbits. They need to be added to the diet wisely, combining them with other types of feed. Many rabbit breeders are interested in the question of what kind of cereal can be given to decorative rabbits and meat breeds. Only certain grains are suitable for animals - wheat, barley, corn and oats.
Wheat groats
The grain crop, due to its nutritional value, promotes weight gain and also increases the growth of rabbits, which will be an indispensable addition to the diet of growing individuals and animals with underweight. Wheat contains selenium, manganese, phosphorus, copper, folate, fiber, B vitamins and a huge number of nutrients.
Pearl barley and barley cereals
These cereals are rich in plant fiber, vitamins B, PP, E, H, choline, phosphorus, chlorine, sulfur, sodium, calcium and potassium. Barley contains iron, iodine and zinc, chromium and fluorine, copper, selenium and molybdenum, silicon and manganese, aluminum, titanium and zirconium. Grain in the diet is needed to maintain the necessary intestinal microflora and general health of rabbits, as well as to stimulate active growth.
Corn grits
The product, due to its nutritional value, forms the basis of many combined mixtures. Cereals contain phosphorus, calcium, iron, zinc, sodium, potassium, magnesium, as well as antioxidants, healthy fiber, vitamins E, C, D, A, B1, B2, B6 and PP.
Oat groats
The grain crop will help rabbits improve metabolism, increase immunity, tone the body of individuals and remove harmful substances from it. Oats are a good source of carbohydrates, fiber and beta-glucan. The grains contain the highest amount of proteins and fats compared to other grains. Oats are rich in manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, iron, zinc, thiamine, folic and pantothenic acid.
Benefits and harms
The benefits of certain types of cereals are invaluable. Wheat, pearl barley, oatmeal, barley and corn cereals can be safely given - when rabbits eat any of these cereals, their body receives the required amount of vitamins, useful micro- and macroelements. If you exclude these cereals from the rabbit menu, this can lead to a slowdown in their growth and deterioration in their health. On the contrary, rice, rye and millet cereals should not be present in the diet.
Due to a weak digestive system, the consumption of such cereals increases the volume of mucus secreted in the stomach in rabbits and provokes further inflammation of the mucous membrane.
What should you not give?
Due to the characteristics of the gastrointestinal tract of rabbits, their diet should exclude the following foods:
- food from your table;
- frozen and stale food;
- root crops chemically treated during cultivation;
- grain crops affected by fungi;
- excessive salt;
- sprouted or green potato tubers;
- mango, avocado, persimmon, quince, orange, fig;
- rice, rye, millet;
- varieties of faba beans, red kidney beans and green peas;
- any dairy products;
- baked goods and sweets;
- poisonous plants;
- feed not intended for rabbits.
List of conditionally permitted products that can be given only occasionally and in limited quantities:
- tomatoes;
- cucumbers;
- onion;
- red cabbage;
- red beets;
- eggplant;
- unroasted sunflower and pumpkin seeds;
- dried fruits.
Feeding rules
Basic rules for feeding rabbits:
- Exceptionally high quality food.
- Balanced diet.
- Mandatory constant presence of water in the drinking bowl.
- Constant nutrition schedule.
- If the portion is combined, cereals are given first, then succulent types of food, and lastly grass or hay.
- New foods should be given in small portions at first, gradually increasing the volume. Transferring an animal from summer to winter nutrition is done in a similar way.
Daily norm
When determining serving size, consider the breed, weight and health status of the animal:
- for decorative breeds, 20 grams of cereal will be enough;
- growing individuals should be given 50 grams;
- for adult animals you need 60 grams;
- 100 grams is the required daily requirement for pregnant and lactating rabbits.
Regardless of what cereal to give to rabbits, they can only be fed by alternating different types of grains, otherwise it will not be possible to avoid such negative consequences as bloating and indigestion.
The table contains the required norms for cereal consumption:
| Barley % | Wheat % | Corn % | Oats % | Bran % | |
| Growing young | 15 | 10 | 30 | 30 | 15 |
| Adults | 20 | 20 | 10 | 40 | 10 |
| Meat breed | 40 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 10 |
