Many homestead owners choose rabbits for growing meat. A calm and quiet animal can bring considerable income to its owner. In summer this is quite obvious, since animals can feed exclusively on grass in warm weather. But with cold weather problems begin. Liquids freeze. Is it possible to give rabbits clean, powdery snow in winter instead of water?
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Should you replace water with ice or snow?
Winter is a difficult period for all living things. The most essential liquid for any body, water, freezes quickly, even if it is brought outside warm. Since rabbits are equipped with a fur coat, many owners keep them outside during the cold season.Rabbits, indeed, are not afraid of frost, are protected from predators by a cage, and receive guaranteed food.
But, taking into account their purpose, it is necessary to take into account that low air temperatures already drain the animal’s reserve of fat accumulated over the year. This process is compensated by increased caloric nutrition. If the windproof skin and fur of a rabbit serve as a reliable buffer against external influences, then the drink penetrates into the body and must be heated to its body temperature.
When fat reserves run out, muscle mass begins to decrease. So by spring, meat will either become completely dietary, or the cost of feeding the “heating device” will increase exorbitantly. In the spring, animals are not slaughtered, but the degradation of muscle mass will leave a hard mark on the health and reproductive abilities of rabbits.
Features of winter watering
Despite the horror stories stated above, experienced livestock breeders find a way out. The simplest one: walk along the cages 2 times a day and pour water at room temperature into the rabbits’ drinking dishes. After about five minutes, the remaining water is poured out in the same order.
Some owners advise giving hot water. There should be no steam coming from the water. If anyone has worked in the cold, then they know that drinking steaming tea or coffee causes your lips and nose to crust over and peel off for a long time. Even in summer, the respiratory tract of rabbits is sensitive to moisture and infections, for which it invariably serves as a breeding ground.
It is not recommended to melt snow or icicles to water animals. With the snow and on top of it, all sorts of dirt from the atmosphere is deposited. In addition to this, icicles also contain particles of paint or slate dust from the roof, which are pure poison.
