How to grow greens for a rodent and a rabbit?

Germination of grain: which one is suitable?

For rodents and rabbits, the following seeds are usually chosen:

• oats;

• millet;

• barley;

• clover;

• wheat;

• sunflower, and others.

Seeds for sprouting are best bought at pet stores. Ideally, if it is a grain mixture in the form of food for rodents and birds. You should not collect seeds yourself in the fields or purchase them in gardening stores: the seeds can be treated with chemicals. In professional feeds, they are purified and completely safe.

Buying seeds for sprouting in bird markets is a bad idea. Although the seeds there are much cheaper than in the store, but not all of them will sprout, and some may not be the first freshness: with a bunch of parasites and mold. Therefore, you will give the grass obtained from such seeds to a rodent or rabbit at your own peril and risk, if it comes up at all.

Pay attention to grain mixtures from Fiory – they germinate perfectly at home and will be a great delicacy for a rodent or rabbit. But if the feed contains biscuit or herbal granules, they must first be removed so that they do not acidify in the ground.

Fiory also has vacuum feeds that can also be germinated. And their advantage is that, due to the lack of contact with air, they are stored 4 times longer than conventional loose feed, and are protected from moisture and pests.

Any pet store has grain packs. You can buy separately, for example, millet, wheat and oats and germinate them at home in individual pots or one common container.

If you do not want to search and select seeds, you can buy a ready-made kit with seeds and a drainage-nutrient substrate, which is sold in one box with a container. You just have to follow the instructions and do not forget to water the seeds at the interval indicated on the package. Usually such kits are called “grass for cats”, but for rodents and rabbits it is also suitable.

How to germinate grain?

Greens for guinea pigs, rats, rabbits and other pets can be grown right at home without any special equipment. As a substrate, you can use soil, cotton wool, sawdust, sand, paper.

• Soak the grain in room temperature water for several hours. During this time, prepare the containers. It can be plastic food containers, flower pots. The main thing is to make holes at the bottom of the containers so that during irrigation water does not accumulate and does not provoke mold. Under the bottom you need to put a lid or a plate so that excess water comes out there.

• Move the grains to the prepared container. First, lay a layer of cotton wool, soil or other substrate on the bottom and distribute the grains on it, lightly clapping your hand. Next, the substrate must be well moistened with water, but not drowned in it.

• To make the sprouts hatch faster, stretch a layer of cling film over the container. Once a day, the film should be removed for about 20-30 minutes. Do not forget to water the grains daily or spray with a spray bottle and make sure that the substrate does not dry out.

• Each crop takes a different time to germinate, but on average, you can feed your pet with grass in a week. Place a container of greens in front of a rodent or rabbit and watch the baby eat the grass with pleasure. You can also cut the leaves yourself with scissors at the root, offer them to your pet and leave the greens to germinate further.

What else do you need to know?

We figured out how to grow grass for a guinea pig, a rabbit and other lovers of lush greenery. But if you decide to spoil your pet with weed, it is important to take into account a few points so that a tasty treat brings your baby only benefits.

1. Try to choose large and whole seeds. They will germinate faster and give a quality sprout.

2. No lamps, fertilizer and special equipment are needed, but the seeds should be in a warm, lit place. A window sill is ideal for this.

3. Sprouted grains are rich in vitamins and contribute to the prevention of gastrointestinal diseases. But good things should be in moderation: do not give your pet too much greenery at a time, because. a rodent or rabbit may have bloat.

4. If your pet has a tendency to gas, introduce the germinated seeds with care and make sure they are not wet as they will sprout. moisture contributes to the formation of gases in the intestines.

5. Buy seeds only from trusted sellers. If the seeds are of poor quality, the grass will become a real poison for your pet.

6. Read the package of seeds you buy carefully. Usually manufacturers indicate that the seeds can be germinated. If there is no such mark, then, most likely, the grains are processed and will not germinate.

7. It is best not to purchase ready-made pots of germinated seeds that pet stores can offer you, because you do not know in what conditions the herb was grown and whether it is safe to eat.

Growing a beautiful lawn right at home is very easy and interesting, even a child can handle this process. Of course, if you follow all the rules and choose good grain intended for sprouting.