The winter diet of rabbits differs significantly from the summer. Improper nutrition negatively affects the health of the eared ears, so for those who professionally breed them or just keep pets, it will be interesting to learn how to feed rabbits in the winter.

Types of winter food

In the wild in winter, rabbits eat bark, tree branches and grass that they can find. Pet food is more diverse and includes:

• juicy feed - fodder root vegetables, pumpkin, vegetables;
• roughage - straw, hay, branches and bark of trees;
• concentrated feed - cereal and grass;
• compound feed and mixers with a high content of vitamins and minerals, silage, pulp.

Roughage

The composition of roughage includes:

• hay;
• young shoots;
• tree branches.

The value of roughage is that it maintains healthy teeth, maintains urinary tract health and digestion in your pets. Hay is the most important part of the roughage. This is the main source of plant fiber that helps the body function properly. It contributes to the proper development of teeth.

There are many types of hay, but most of all rabbits love alfalfa (bean hay) and young grasses. Bean hay is high in protein and calcium, which makes it useful for young and lactating rabbits. But its excess leads to the formation of sand and stones in the bladder due to the high level of oxalic acid.

Important! Branches and leaves rich in tannin (willow, hazelnuts, oak, ash, fruit trees) perfectly prevent such a common disease as coccidiosis.

Young branches of fruit trees are an excellent tool for grinding teeth, because they constantly grow in rabbits. Chewing branches also causes excessive salivation, which contributes to good digestive system activity.

When offering twigs to pets, make sure that a non-toxic tree is selected. First of all, it should not grow near a busy highway. It is advisable to rinse the branches before dispensing to rabbits. Winter supply of branches differs in that in winter, branches can be given without leaves. The most useful of these branches:

• and you;
• ate;
• ash;
• birches;
• maple;
• juniper;
• poplar;
• apple trees;
• pears
• hazel;
• roses;
• hawthorn.

Trees with single seed fruits (including plum, cherry, apricot and peach) are toxic to hare representatives. Keep in mind that a rabbit that uses only hay and other roughage will suffer from gastrointestinal tract pathologies. And if there is little hay, then the absorption of food will deteriorate.

Daily rate of roughage:

• hay - 175-200 g;
• branches - 70-100 g.

In addition to roughage, rabbits will need more easily digestible foods in winter. But if for some reason the pets eat only hay for several days, then this will not harm their health.

Succulent feed

Most fruits and vegetables are safe for rabbits. In addition to the parts of the vegetable that you eat, animals can eat what you throw away - carrot or beet tops, seeds, leaves of cauliflower.

Important! Bulbs, including onions and garlic (bulbs themselves), should not be given to rabbits due to the high content of toxins in them.

In the diet will be useful:

• vegetables and fruits - apples, zucchini, cucumbers, sweet peppers, raspberries, pears, pumpkins, blackberries, strawberries, pineapples, tomatoes (these are sources of vitamins);
• root crops - carrots, beets, parsnips, turnips (they provide pets with energy and should make up the bulk of juicy food);
• tubers - potatoes;
• seeds - peas, beans, lentils, legumes (this is a source of energy);
• stalks - celery, broccoli;
• leaves - cabbage, spinach, carrots, lettuce, raspberries, strawberries, radishes (leafy parts of vegetables are best for rabbits because of their low calorie content and high fiber content).

Daily rate of juicy feed in the summer:

• fresh greens - 500-800 g;
• tubers and vegetables - 200-250 g.

In winter, fresh greens are absent, therefore, it is replaced by herbal flour (vitamin-mineral part) and fresh vegetables. Instead of greens give silage in an amount of 200-300 g.

Food waste

Food waste is considered products that remain after the organization of human nutrition. These are bread crusts, pasta, cereals, peeling potatoes and other components. Some owners give such products to their animals. This is only true in terms of vegetable waste, such as carrot tops, cauliflower or radish leaves. They can be typed up to 100-150 g in the daily diet.

Important! Cauliflower, despite being an ideal vegetable, is not recommended for rabbits, as it causes obesity.

Rabbits are not recommended to give:

• bread, pasta, cookies, crackers - a high content of carbohydrates causes digestive problems;
• yogurt residues - they serve as a catalyst for the development of pathogenic microflora in the intestine and are one of the causes of anaerobic dysentery, which can lead to the death of the animal;
• cereals, including flakes of corn, peas, grains and seeds, cause tooth problems;
• g nuts and peanuts are high in fat and cause intestinal upset;
• oatmeal or cereal is not a junk food, but the rabbit has no benefit from it;
• chocolate and any sweets are poisonous to pets;
• potato is not poison, but it is not ideal for eared pets - a high content of carbohydrates and starch can cause diseases of the digestive system;
• rhubarb - very toxic for a rabbit, especially if it is raw rhubarb;
• meat and any products based on it are prohibited.

Concentrated feed

Ready-made feeds (concentrates) are a very practical and quick way to feed animals in winter so as to get good productivity with minimal cost. A concentrated form of nutrition contains a lot of nutrients in a small amount. They are manufactured industrially and are delivered in granules of various sizes.

The Research Institute of Fur Breeding and Rabbit Breeding (Moscow Region) considers the term "concentrates" as a concentrated form of a certain food group and distinguishes 3 types:

• cereal grains - a source of carbohydrates;
• legumes - a source of vegetable protein;
• sunflower seeds or other oilseeds - a source of energy.

Concentrates are manufactured industrially and delivered in granular form packages. The daily rate of concentrates and their composition are indicated on the package. Dry food satisfies the body's nutritional needs, but does not provide enough vitamins and fiber. And an excess of such food leads to the appearance of excess weight in the pet.

Learn how to keep rabbits in their cages.

To avoid problems, rabbits need to move a lot. Most often, concentrates supplement the main diet of pets, since the natural main food of long-eared pets are herbs that are inaccessible in winter.

In English literature, the term "concentrates" means the same as our "feed" - a dry, dehydrated mixture of various ingredients. In the distribution network for decorative pets, the name "rabbit food" is also found, indicating the type - grain mixture, granular mixture, fruit.

If you decide to buy concentrated feed, then the stores are ready to offer you a huge selection of brands labeled “premium”, “contains all natural ingredients”, “enriched with vitamins”. Do not respond to advertising and get acquainted with the composition. You need only a few parameters:

• fiber content - not less than 18%;
• protein content - not lower than 12-14%.

For young animals, the protein should be at least 16%. It provides good growth and development. On the packaging of good dry food you can definitely read the list of herbs and grains included therein. These feeds are more expensive, but they always need less. On average, the daily rate of dry (concentrated feed) is 25 g per 1 kg of live weight. If vegetables are present in the diet, then only 10 g per 1 kg of weight will be needed. It may seem to you that this is not enough, but remember that we are talking about concentrate. For young animals during fattening, you can increase the protein rate - this will accelerate weight gain.

Compound feed

Combined feed (compound feed) is a dry mixture of plant and animal components, which is well balanced in composition in order to provide the animal with a complete set of nutrients in winter for optimal development and growth of productive indicators.

Did you know? For the distribution of granular feed (feed and concentrates) there are special balls-feeders. Granules that are showered inside can spill out through the hole. To get food, the pet must push the ball. At the same time, the rabbit eats and receives the necessary minimum of physical activity.

The composition of the mixture depends on the purpose of breeding: to obtain meat, skins or decorative qualities. The use of animal feed increases productivity by 10-12%. The composition of the feed includes:

• cereal grains - among them are often mentioned oats and less often - barley, wheat, corn;
• legumes - usually fodder beans, less often - peas, soybeans, lentils;
• sunflower seeds or other oilseeds;
• bran;
• meal and meal - flaxseed, from sunflower or hemp;
• bagasse.

The share of cereals in the composition of the feed is 30–40%, meal and cake - 10–15%, meat and bone meal and yeast - 1–2% each. The composition also includes chalk and salt.

For rabbits, several types of industrial feed have been developed, such as:

• K 92-2 - for young animals older than 3 months (the composition includes cereals, a vitamin-mineral complex and grass meal);
• K 92-1 - compound feed for animals of all ages.

Among the varieties there are also compound feeds for rabbits, puppet and lactating rabbits, fattening rabbits and others. The daily rate is indicated on the package. In the feed for all ages, consumption will be indicated for rabbits at rest, pregnant and lactating females.

Read also about rabbit feed.

Some farmers use compound feeds as the main component of the diet, but there are also those who simply supplement their diet so that their nutrition is balanced. If you feed animals with natural food and they receive enough nutrients, then the addition of animal feed is not necessary.

Winter rabbit diet

Rabbits are well adapted to winter frosts. But they need more to satisfy increased energy needs and maintain normal body temperature. This is why the amount of feed increases during the winter months. In severe frosts - up to 3 times. Supplemental food should consider the extra calories needed to maintain temperature.

The main part of the winter diet should be vegetables. They provide the necessary vitamins and minerals for health. Since green herbs are not available in winter, vegetables become an important product during all the cold months. They need to be given twice a day - in the morning and in the evening in large portions, so that the rabbit can make several approaches. This helps organize the proper digestion process. The norm of vegetables in winter is 10% of body weight.

So, for a two-kilogram pet this will be 200 g. Try to ensure that at least 5 different vegetables are present in the diet. The second component is hay. It is great for maintaining healthy teeth and digestion, but is not a major component, as the intestines are tuned to absorb vitamins from fresh and succulent plants. In the absence of grass, hay should always be available to pets. The daily norm is about 200 g.

Did you know? Domestic rabbits need temperature control and protection from hypothermia and heat. Their wild counterparts have no such problem, as they build tunnel houses. European rabbits can build one huge hole with many entrances for a population of more than 200 individuals. The depth of the hole reaches 3 m.

Approximate daily norms of winter nutrition at rest:

• meadow hay - 200-300 g;
• branches - 50-110 g;
• cereals - 100 g;
• vegetables - 200-300 g;
• greens (cabbage, lettuce) - 200-300 g;
• bran - 50 g;
• meat and bone meal - 5 g;
• salt - 2 g.

A healthy rabbit should be smooth, but you should feel the ribs under the skin without a thick layer of fat. If fatty folds are felt in the hind limbs, this means that the pet is overfeeding and the proportion of tubers and cereals should be reduced.

During the mating season

Energy consumption during mating is significantly increased. Accordingly, the calorie intake increases. The desired effect is provided by grains and oilseeds (sunflower). Concentrates are very effective, which can replace part of the hay and leafy greens.

Male winter diet:

• meadow hay - 100–150 g;
• branches - 50–80 g;
• concentrates and compound feeds - 50–80 g;
• vegetables - 150-200 g;
• greens (cabbage, lettuce) - 150-200 g.

For sucral females they buy special feed. Their composition is balanced so as to ensure the bearing of healthy offspring.

Female winter diet:

• meadow hay - 150–180 g;
• branches - 50–80 g;
• concentrates and compound feeds - 60–80 g;
• vegetables - 200-300 g;
• greens (cabbage, lettuce) - 150-200 g.

Decorative rabbits

The digestive system of decorative long-eared pets absorbs root crops worse. Because of this, their diet may contain more granular feed and fewer foods that can cause obesity.

Winter ration of a decorative rabbit:

• meadow hay - 200 g;
• branches - 50–80 g;
• concentrates (grain and grass) - up to 50 g;
• succulent feed (carrots, banana, apple) - 100-150 g;
• greens (cabbage, lettuce) - 150 g.

Since a decorative rabbit cannot eat a lot of vegetables, the presence of concentrates in his diet is necessary.

You will be interested to know what and how to properly feed a decorative rabbit at home.

Rabbits

For broiler rabbits, the presence of compound feed and food rich in vegetable proteins is mandatory, therefore, the winter diet of the broiler rabbit at the age of 1 month consists of:

• meadow hay - up to 50 g with a gradual increase in the norm by 2 times by 4 months;
• compound feed - 30–35 g with an increase of up to 50 g by the end of the fourth month;
• carrots - up to 150 g.

The composition of vegetables changes during the subsequent period of development of the animal: beets, pumpkin, apple, banana, leafy parts of cabbage or salad should be added there. As a mineral additive, add 0.5 g of chalk.

What you can not feed rabbits in winter

Both hay and vegetables in winter should not have signs:

• mold
• mustiness and old age;
• fermentation;
• mud.

Among the products not recommended in winter are:

• potatoes - due to the high content of carbohydrates and starch;
• spinach, parsley, mustard greens - due to the high concentration of oxalic acid;
• bulbs of spring flowers (daffodils, snowdrops, tulips and other bulbs) - due to the fact that they can accumulate toxins;
• branches of single-peeled fruit trees - because of the danger of developing diarrhea;
• lettuce leaves are also considered toxic due to oxalic acid, but some owners still give them to their pets.

Did you know? The busiest time for rabbits is at dusk and dawn. The faint twilight light allows them to hide from the eyes of predators. The pet keeps the same activity schedule.

Features of drinking rabbits in winter

Water should always be available and change daily, as the water tank becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. Use a nipple drinker or a bottle of water that will not create additional moisture.

Recommendations for winter drinking regimen:

• make sure that water bottles or other containers do not freeze;
• check if the water is frozen at least 2 times a day, and change as it freezes;
• cover the bottle with insulating material or arrange heated drinkers.

Important! If you need to give an aqueous solution of vitamins or medicines - the animal is forced to drink, because rabbits refuse to drink water with a changed color / taste.

Useful Tips

Rabbits are one of the most cold-resistant animals, but in winter they still need care that takes into account cold weather:

1. Make sure that they have enough hay so that they can hide in it completely - this gives additional protection from the cold.
2. The rabbit's ears can freeze when the temperature drops below -10 ° C, so insulate the rabbitry so that the air temperature in it remains above 0 ° C, and trap the cracks.
3. Provide pets with regular access to water at least 2 times a day.
4. Include oats and sunflower seeds in the winter diet - this will give the animals the energy necessary for warming.
5. Any changes in nutrition must occur within a few days for the body to undergo a restructuring: for example, start with a combination of 10% of a new product and 90% of an old one, gradually bringing it to the desired level.
6. Animals should walk for at least 1 hour per day, but do not need to do this during rain, since moisture is dangerous for rabbits.

So that in winter there are no problems with keeping pets, you need to prepare for it in advance by warming rabbitry and harvesting hay, vegetables and grass flour. Then keeping and feeding rabbits in winter will be very simple, and your pets will be cheerful and still productive.