Emma Jones
The sensitive stomachs of small mammals react violently to sprayed green. It is, therefore, better to offer untreated fresh feed or even grow it yourself.
Fresh fruit and vegetables not only provide small animals with the necessary vitamins but also with sufficient liquid because most small rodents prefer to get them from their food than to quench their thirst with water. However, with the end of the planting season in our latitudes, you can provide your small pets with either greenhouse food or fresh food that has been treated to preserve it.
Unfortunately, the smallest pets, in particular, are highly sensitive to the pollutants in lettuce and the residues of pesticides and insecticides in fruits and vegetables, with indigestion and even symptoms of poisoning. Therefore, make sure that you use fresh food that is as untreated as possible and wash it well. If you only use treated fruit and vegetables, you should significantly reduce fresh food in winter.
Plant wintergreen for rabbits yourself
You can also plant fresh food for your rabbits yourself, in summer and in winter. You only need:
- a couple of roomy planters
- garden or potting soil
- seed
Wheat and oats are available from pet shops or health food stores. After sowing, the seedlings absolutely need a bright window seat (or a sunlight bulb), plenty of even warmth, and, of course, water. After one to two weeks, you can offer the green vitamin bomb.
Straw by stalk is pure enjoyment
While hamsters, gerbils, rats, and pet mice systematically nibble their way through the green splendor, guinea pigs and dwarf rabbits are extremely temperamental stalk destroyers, who usually pluck the sprout together with the grain from the earth or ruthlessly trample the others when they try to get hold of a particularly tempting stalk. So only let long-eared and Andean animals feast on vitamins or work on the green treat under supervision. For example, by placing the bed in a maze through which the animals have to find their way.
Chinchillas should not be allowed to nibble on more than ten stalks, the grain sprouts are too hearty for stomachs used for frugal food. Of course, the constant grain bed does not replace the hay that must always be available. If you want to offer constantly growing greenery, you can also sow grass seed, but it takes longer to grow and you must protect the soil with stones before offering the greenery. Then you can always let the meadow grow back, whereas wheat and oats – once eaten – are only useful for the compost heap. Or as a digging box in the enclosure of dwarf rabbits and golden hamsters or chipmunks.