Experienced livestock specialists always know whether domestic rabbits can be given wheat or not. Beginner rabbit breeders first need to read the theory. After all, if animals are not fed correctly, they can get sick and even die. It is allowed to feed the animals with wheat, but only in small quantities. The same requirements apply to grain feed as to other nutrients (quality, absence of pests).
Is it possible to feed rabbits wheat?
Grain feed is the basis of nutrition for domestic animals such as rabbits. Wheat is an integral part of feed or cereal mixtures along with oats, corn and barley.It is allowed to feed domestic animals with this grain. After all, cereals contain many useful vitamins and elements, and also contain vegetable protein and carbohydrates.
Although rabbits are herbivores, they need protein food for normal development. Thanks to the carbohydrates contained in cereals, animals gain weight faster. And the wheat grains themselves are good for rabbits’ teeth. After all, when animals chew something hard, they grind down their front incisors.
The problem is different - sometimes animals simply don’t want to eat wheat food. The taste of raw grains is inferior to sweet fruits, juicy grass or fresh vegetables and root vegetables. Animals are more willing to eat salted and steamed or sprouted wheat. Grain feed is introduced into the diet of domestic animals mainly in winter and early spring. During this period of the year there is a shortage of fresh fruits and vegetables. Animals eat only hay, so they eat grains with great pleasure.
Pets are accustomed to grain food from infancy. Animals are fed cereals after they are weaned from their mother. During this period, grain is their only source of protein. At first, the animals are given crushed cereals, then they switch to whole grains. The main thing when feeding is to follow the dosage.
Important! Animals should not be given only wheat. In addition to this grain, rabbits are fed other grains. Dry feeding is practiced in the morning and evening. The grain mixture should include equal amounts of different grains. If animals are given dry grains, then be sure to place a container of water in the cage for drinking.
How to feed correctly
It would seem that there is nothing complicated in feeding rabbits with wheat food. I poured the grain into the feeders - and no more hassle. It turns out that not everything is so simple.Animals may not even look at such food. You need to know how to properly feed animals with this healthy cereal.
Raw
Animals readily eat raw wheat grains. True, they need to be accustomed to grain feed from the first months of life. First, the animals are given crushed grain. Rabbits can eat this food at 1.5 months. It is better to feed adult animals whole grains.
Wheat is fed to rabbits every day. True, mixed with other grains. The dry mixture should also include equal proportions of barley, oats, and corn. It is not recommended to feed animals only wheat. An excess of such grain crops has a negative impact on animal health. It is advisable to give one animal no more than 10-30 grams of wheat food per day.
Germination
Animals love sprouted wheat grains. This food is given to animals in winter, when their diet is poor in vitamins. Sprouted grain is recommended for pregnant rabbits and females lactating young animals. Preparing the food is very simple. You need to take a little dry grain from the bag, pour it into a wide basin and pour in just a little bit of ordinary cool water. The container must be covered with a cloth and placed in a warm place for several days.
When the grain germinates, it can be fed to the animals. The main thing is not to give too much sprouted wheat at one time. The recommended amount is 10-30 grams per animal per day.
Steaming
Wheat grains can be steamed first and then fed to rabbits. Steamed grains are better absorbed by the animal's food system.Preparing such food is very simple: you need to take a little grain from a bag, pour it into a pan or bucket, pour boiling water so that the water completely covers the wheat. It is recommended to add a little salt to animal food. For half a bucket of wheat feed, take a spoonful of salt.
Steam the cereals under a closed lid for 5 hours. Then the cooled grain is poured into animal feeders. For one rabbit, 10-30 grams of this wheat per day is enough. Both whole and crushed grains are steamed.
Harm and contraindications
There are many benefits from feeding rabbits with wheat food: the animals get full and quickly gain weight. In addition, grain is not so expensive; it can be bought whole or immediately crushed. Labor costs are also reduced: the feed is simply poured into the animals’ feeders. True, in addition to the unconditional advantage of dry feeding, this method has several disadvantages and unpleasant moments.
The fact is that sometimes animals are allergic to wheat feed. The animals' bodies simply cannot tolerate such food. True, this happens extremely rarely. However, before you pour grain into the feeder, you must first see how the animal reacts to this cereal crop. To begin with, the animals are given 10-20 grains. If the rabbits do not diarrhea, they do not have bloating, or foam at the mouth, then wheat will benefit them. Otherwise, it is better to exclude this cereal from animal nutrition.
If you feed rabbits only wheat, they will quickly gain weight and gain weight. The consumption of such grain feed also needs to be dosed because a large amount of grains can lead to bloating. To avoid eating disorders, livestock specialists recommend mixing wheat with other grains and giving no more than 10-30 grams of this crop per day.
Important! It must be remembered that the rate of any cereal per day depends on the age of the animal and its well-being. If there is an excess or deficiency of wheat in the diet, then rabbits can get sick. Animals in a state of physiological rest need no more than 10 grams of wheat feed per day. For pregnant rabbits, the dose can be increased to 35 grams. In winter, grain feed is always given more than in summer.
