During the warm season, when there are many fruits and vegetables, you can enter them in the diet of rabbits in order to enrich the body of animals with vitamins. One such product is melon skins. Is it possible to give them to rabbits and in what volumes, read below.
Can rabbits get melon crusts
The melon peel in the rabbits menu is allowed to be introduced in minimal quantities, because it is difficult to digest by the stomach. With an increase in the recommended norm, products can have a negative effect on the state of the digestive tract of the animal.
Did you know? The rabbits have a bifurcated uterus, so it can simultaneously carry 2 offspring conceived at different times with different males.
Before giving the pet such food, you need to evaluate its beneficial effect on the animal organism and possible harm. Based on these indicators, you can make a complete pet diet, enriched with fortified feed.
Beneficial features
The products in question are the source of:
- vitamin A, C, E, group B;
- tocopherol;
- copper;
- gland;
- zinc;
- iodine;
- phosphorus;
- manganese;
- sodium;
- potassium;
- calcium and others
Melon skins and pulp contain a large amount of fiber, which helps to clean the digestive tract, improve digestion. In addition to a positive effect on the digestive tract, melon crusts have a restorative effect on the entire organism of the animal. Helps strengthen bone tissue. B vitamins are involved in the construction of muscle tissue and the central nervous system.
Important! Before giving melon or its crust to rabbits, be sure to have no problems with the digestive tract. If the rabbit has recently been treated for diseases associated with an indigestion, the product is contraindicated.
Possible harm
If the product is intolerant or exceeds the recommended norm, the following can be observed:
- flatulence;
- digestion, accompanied by a complete refusal of food and lethargy;
- diarrhea or, conversely, constipation.
At what age can I give
Rabbits can start to feed melon and its peel from only 4 months old. During this period, the digestive tract of animals is already fully formed, and they will be able to digest such heavy products.
Video: Can rabbits have melon and melon peel
How correctly and in what quantity can melon peel be given to rabbits
More often than 2 times a week, crusts and flesh can not be entered in the animal menu. 15-30 g of food is fed per day, depending on the age of the pet, in the morning and afternoon. At night, melon crusts do not feed, as this can cause digestion and bloating.
Before serving crusts they need to be prepared. The fruit is washed, cut in half. Then the peel is cut off, leaving 2-3 mm of pulp on it. The first time they give a very small piece of the skin - no more than 5 g in the morning. For 2 days, monitor the condition of the pet. If there is no bloating, diarrhea or constipation, the next time increase the serving by 5 g. So gradually bring the serving to 15 g, then to 30 g as the animal grows older.
Important! The smaller the weight of the rabbit, the smaller should be the portion of melon crusts.
The right combination with other products
Not all rabbits eagerly eat melon cleanings. It is better to chop them and give along with hay, but not with juicy herbs or fruits / vegetables. The combination of the considered dietary supplement with other juicy fruits will adversely affect the digestive tract.
Harvesting and storing melons for rabbits for the winter
Enriching the diet of pets with melons can also be done during the cold period, if you know how to store it. Late varieties of this crop are suitable for long-term storage. Slightly not ripened fruits are stored longer, with a dim mesh. To spoil the melons less, they are treated with hot paraffin in the tail area. You can save the fruits by hanging them in nets one at a time or placing them in a box with sand.
Optimal storage conditions:
- temperature - +2 ... + 6 ° С;
- humidity - 75–80%;
- lack of lighting.
The fruits of early crops are stored for no more than 1 month, later - 3-6 months.
Crusts can be dried in an oven at a temperature of + 90 ° C. The dried products are ground into powder and placed in a glass container. Store at room temperature in a dark, dry cabinet. Powder from melon crusts is also given 2 times a week, 30 g each, mixing it with grain.
Melon peels are a source of a large amount of vitamins and minerals for rabbits. The main thing is to give them correctly and not exceed the recommended dosage.
