To bring up baby rabbits and get a healthy livestock is not difficult if you work hard. After birth, babies in the first weeks of life receive good nutrition with the rabbit's milk. Then they go to the lure. There are some differences in the diet for toddlers and adults. Properly selected nutrition will improve the quality of fur and meat, and for this you need to know how to properly feed differently aged youngsters. In this article you will learn how to feed the little rabbits, as well as consider all the nuances of artificial feeding.
Table of contents
How to feed a rabbit from the moment of birth to feeding
From birth to rabbits and before feeding, the main food they serve as mother's milk. When a rabbit behaves normally and she is healthy, there are no reasons for feelings. At that time care rabbit breeder to provide them with good conditions. This wealth in high-quality food and water. At this time, the female is experiencing a large load on the body, so you should increase nutrients in the diet. She produces 170 g of milk per day, or even more. And with it, 25 grams of protein. Therefore, it needs more nutrient feed to replenish more than before the lactation period. For rabbits with an average weight of 5-6 kg, the consumption rate of feed units is 330-700 grams (1 feed unit equals 1 kg of oats). The menu should be changed every week.
At this time, the rabbit should be fed:
- in summer: clover, alfalfa, oatmeal mix, herbs;
- in winter: bean hay, boiled potatoes, silage, carrots.
Also in the menu add pea mix, oats, bran and oil cake.
How much feed is needed for the rabbit per day
- 100-300 grams of hay;
- sunflower oil cake 40-60 grams;
- sunflower grotto 30 grams;
- fodder yeast 5 grams;
- fish oil 4 grams;
- meat and bone meal 7 grams;
- bone meal 4 grams;
- chalk - 3 grams;
- salt 2 grams.
During the feeding period for the female, it is better to make feed mixtures,%:
Recipe 1:
- oats - 60;
- alfalfa - 30-40;
- mineral supplements.
Recipe 2:
- from bran - 12;
- corn - 10;
- alfalfa - 10;
- mineral supplements -2.
During the day, the rabbit should be given from 20 to 500 grams of feed mixture. On day 20, the amount of food is increased, because the babies begin to eat with their mother.
To increase lactation during this period pour milk in addition to water. In the morning 0.5 liters and in the evening 0.5 liters. To teach her, use a 5 gram syringe. Pour a little in your mouth and then offer it in a bowl. Be careful with milk in the summer, so as not to make it sour.Otherwise, there may be intestinal problems. Cow or goat's milk can be replaced with dry or mixtures.
How to bring out rabbits without rabih at home
Sometimes there are cases that newborns of rabbit are left without rabbit milk. How to get out of this situation? In this position, they can be fed artificially, even at home.
Up to 7 days
Kids up to 7 days of age You can feed the cow, goat milk or use dry milk mixtures. Cow's milk is diluted 1: 1 with condensed unsweetened, milk mixture is made in double concentration, and goat is given in pure form. Inject milk using a syringe or make a nipple. We wash the penicillin vial and put a pacifier on it. The pacifier is made of a pipette rubber cap.
To feed the rabbit per day you need from 3 to 5 times.
- once in the early morning;
- 3 times a day;
- once in the evening.
One feeding leaves about 1 ml.
After 7 days
Up to a week old only dairy food. After 7 days old double the amount of food, and reduce feeding to 3 times a day. By 15 days portions tripled.
In the first days of the baby's feed is difficult, so take a cotton swab, moisten it and gently wipe the mouth cavity with it. Wait for him to lick and continue. When the rabbit gets used, go to a syringe or nipple.
From 20 days to a month
Rabbits from 20 days of age can already independently drink milk from a bowl. We follow the dairy menu until one month of age. After that it will be possible to give them small quantities of high-quality hay, grated carrots and wetted feed. Mixed feed mixes in small portions, not allowing souring. Herbal pellets for feeding rabbits can be purchased at the vetaptek. How much food to give rabbit? The portion is calculated by weight of the baby and should be 3% by weight.
Monthly and older
From the moment milk is reduced, they must be given additional water. First, drink water with the help of a nipple.Later, when they start drinking on their own, the water should be constantly in the bowl. Lack of water threatens rabbits with kidney disease. Up to the age of 45 days, milk feeding and a smooth transition to an adult diet are possible.
A few tips for artificial feeding newborns baby rabbits with milk
If such a trouble happened and the kids were left without maternal care and milk, then it is possible to raise a rabbit artificially. Although this process is troublesome and requires tremendous patience. And the result is not 100%, but rather deplorable, but you need to try. Such crawls usually lag behind in development.
With such feeding keep clean. All nipples and dishes should be boiled over with boiling water. Since the kids are naked, they should be kept warm. It is possible to put a heating pad in the box, where they are kept. When they are covered with wool, it can be removed.
It is better to feed goat milk, but if this is not the case, then in the veterinary pharmacy, you can purchase powdered milk or feed mixtures of puppies.
You need to feed often enough. They must eat 5 times a day in small portions.. Before feeding, the baby needs help emptying.Under natural conditions, the mother does this, but in this case you need to do it yourself.
Wet cotton pad, massage movements, wipe the body. Getting to massage the tummy. Lightly pushing several times from the navel to the tail. We perform this procedure until the baby is empty. Then wipe the anus and feed the rabbit. Massage for emptying to do within 2 weeks. Then it will be emptied by itself.
If it is not emptied, then it does not have enough power. Need to add a little milk. A well-fed baby behaves calmly. Not jumping in a dream. Does not crawl on the box. Tummy plump and elastic.
To 15 days in the box should be allocated a place where it will be dark. Rabbits by this time love to sleep in a dark place. Cover one corner with a rag.
If the feeding process is successful, then to day 20 bunny milk can drink from a saucer. Also, he can be given finely chopped carrots. Green, high-quality hay or dried grass. If this happens in winter, the greens can be grown hydroponically. Kids can also be given hay flour.. Gradually should be in small portions to add to the diet moist feed. Boiled thick porridge.
As already mentioned, cleanliness must be maintained. Feed must be fresh. Without souring, without mold. Prepare the mixture immediately before feeding. Vegetables must be washed.
Perhaps these tips will help you feed a healthy baby.
How to feed the little rabbits after jigging from the mother, how to make food
Deposition of a mother's rabbit takes place at different ages from 28 to 45 days. But the best thing to do is at the age of 45 days. Jigging at this time reduces the mortality of young. Since by this time he has formed a digestive system. Together with his mother, he eats hay and the rest of the food from the adult diet.
In the beginning they are given the same food they fed with their mother. New for rabbit feed, introduced gradually in small portions. It is recommended to drip vitamin B into the water.. For 1 l 50 ml is required.It prevents stress.
In the diet of the rabbit should be present:
- dried greens or high-quality hay;
- boiled potatoes;
- pumpkin;
- zucchini;
- powdered milk;
- vitamin preparationsif it is winter;
- hay flour;
- grated or sliced carrot;
- oats;
- wetted feed;
- rolled grain;
- bone flour;
- fish flour.
- reverse
During this period it is useful to feed:
- chicory;
- yarrow;
- chamomile;
- hunter;
- Dubrovnik;
- burdock;
- branches of trees with leaves.
Rabbit should receive:
45-60 days:
- 70-125 feed units;
61-90 days:
- 145-170 kg;
90-120 days:
- 170-225 ke;
Since rabbits have an intensive growth during this period, the digestible protein should be 18 grams per 100 cu. Grown up rabbit from 4 months transferred to an adult diet.
When distributing hay, carefully inspect to not hit toxic herbs:
- dope
- henbane; and many others.
For older rabbits from 4 months of age, change the diet of feed. Reduce the proportion of feed. It contains a lot of fat, which is large in volume harmful to animals. Provide plenty of vitamin hay, green grass and vegetables.
Winter feeding,%
- 10-20 hay;
- feed 55-65;
- juicy feed 20-30.
Summer feeding,%
- green grass 30-40;
- concentrate 60-70.
Food is distributed 3-4 times a day. At the same time, if some food remained from the previous feeding, then its rate should be slightly reduced. Do not give sour bag. Such feed must be removed. Fresh grass should be loosened before feeding.. Remove dirt from vegetables and cut into slices.
Feed in the feeders should be constantly. The digestive system in rabbits is designed so that in order for it to be emptied, food must push through food. therefore hay must be constantly. Even a small hunger can lead to problems.
For a rabbit breeder, it is important to grow healthy rabbit offspring. After all, it is in the future females, bringing breeding, and hence a good income. So that the bunnies are healthy, they need to provide proper nutrition and conditions of detention.