Cereals - an indispensable component of rabbit nutrition. These include such a cheap and affordable product as barley.
But these animals are quite whimsical in nutrition, so owners of eared pets should first find out the features of such food.
Can rabbits give barley
Barley is obtained from barley grains by grinding them. It is possible to give barley to rabbits, so there is no direct harm from barley, and it can also be included in the diet. It is digested better than pure barley, due to the lack of a shell.
In addition, compared to whole barley, such a product has a lower protein and fat content, but surpasses it in carbohydrate content. Therefore, its main purpose is to fatten animals. With the help of barley, nursing rabbits and youngsters gain weight faster.
Did you know? Rabbit eyes are practically on the sides of the head, so the animals can even see what is happening behind them. But to look straight ahead, they need to turn their heads slightly.
Such food is also useful for pet hair - it becomes smoother and thicker.
Feeding rules
Even healthy foods can harm animals if not properly introduced into the diet. Therefore, when feeding it is necessary to follow certain rules.
From what age can
Rabbits are weaned when they turn 45-60 days old. It is believed that at this age they are already able to eat normally. But steamed cereals, including pearl barley, are beginning to give more monthly rabbit. 
The rules for baby rabbits are as follows:
- maximum daily dose - no more than 2 tablespoons;
- cereal should be steamed with boiling water;
- Barley give in the morning.
Familiarize yourself with the feeding characteristics of rabbits with silage, quinoa, parsley, watermelons, potatoes, wheat, apples, sorrel.
How to give
Pearl barley is usually given in the composition of mixed feed - both industrial and domestic production. For adults, its content in the mixture is no more than 40%, for young animals up to 5 months - no more than 19-20%, in general no more than 14 grams. 
The rate of pearl barley for adults:
- in usual time - 80 g;
- sodny season - 90-95 g;
- pregnancy - 85 g;
- feeding - from 90 to 160 g.
Important! During lactation, the amount of cereal grows from less to more within 10 days.
For better digestion and enrichment of vitamins, grains should be germinated within 2-3 days. Along with cereals, animals need to be given clean water. The water temperature is slightly lower than the air temperature in the rabbit. 
Contraindications and harm
Contraindications as such, this product has not. It is only necessary to take into account that cereals should not form the basis of the diet of rabbits - after all, during processing, many nutrients are lost. Therefore, you need to plan a diet so that one day a week the animals do rough or juicy food, without grain.
Find out which herbs can be given to rabbits, and which are dangerous for these animals.
What else can feed the rabbits
In addition to barley, eared pets are happy to eat such cereals:
- oats;
- corn;
- buckwheat;
- oat-flakes (oatmeal);
- rice
Grain in its various forms is an obligatory component of the proper nutrition of rabbits. With cereals come vitamins and other substances necessary for the full life of animals. The most important thing is not to overdo it with feeding and not to reduce the entire diet to one product. It is useful to diversify, feeding other types of food to pets - grass, hay, twigs, vegetables and fruits.
