The branches of the trees are rough feed, which must be introduced into the diet of rabbits. This is especially useful in the autumn and winter, when green grass and hay is not enough.
However, not every tree is suitable for food to furry animals. This article describes the rules for feeding rabbits with branches and harvesting branch feed for the winter.
Is it possible to give branches of cherry to rabbits
The use of stone tree branches as food for rodents is a controversial issue. Many people believe that cherry branches contain prussic acid, but this is not the case. Strictly speaking, it is not even in the bones of cherry berries - there is a substance amygdalin, which disintegrates during digestion, releasing hydrocyanic acid. There is no amygdalin in wood or bark.
Novice rabbit breeders should know how to feed the rabbits correctly and what better to include in their diet in winter.
However, the branches of stone trees are rich in tannic and astringent substances, which in high concentrations can harm the health of rodents. Given this fact, Cherry branches should not be added to the diet. 
For the same reason, rabbits are not recommended to give:
- apricot,
- peach,
- plum,
- cherry,
- pear branches.
Important! To poisonous plants that are toxic and cause the instant death of rabbits include elderberry, bird cherry, wild rosemary, wolf lyk and lilac.
Possible consequences
When rodents use shoots of stone trees, tannins accumulate in their bodies, which provoke severe constipation that affects the general health of rabbits. Astringent substances found in large quantities in stone trees can cause digestive problems in animals. 
The digestive system in rabbits When the concentration of harmful substances in the body reaches its maximum, rabbits may experience:
- digestive disorders in the form of vomiting, bloating, diarrhea, colic, the appearance of feces with mucus and blood;
- nervous disorders in the form of an excited state, anxiety, continuous movement, seizures, violence, seizures; soon the agitated state goes into depression, apathy, obstructed movement, paralysis; breathing quickens, shortness of breath occurs, urine excretion can be minimized, blood appears in the urine.
Did you know? Breeding rabbits in Australia is prohibited by law. The thing is that the country has an excessively large population of these animals, which affects not only the local population, in which rabbits annually destroy most of the crop, but also state reserves, where unique plants die because of rodents.If the animal’s health condition is accompanied by vomiting and colic, it is necessary to give milk or a liquid starch paste to rodents to drink, until the symptoms disappear.
If symptoms of the affected nervous system occur in the form of pupil dilation, anxiety, or oppression, rabbits need to be given astringent agents — a decoction of oak bark or leaves that can form with plant-derived poison hardly soluble precipitates that are eliminated in a short time from the animal’s body naturally.Find out whether you can give the rabbits burdock, nettle, bread, wormwood, pumpkin.
What is better to give the rabbit from the branches
Since the shoots of the trees are excellent roughage for rodents, it is necessary to consider which ones are suitable as food and do not cause side effects:
- Willow and aspen leaves are a good nutritional food, as well as a means to prevent various diseases.
- The branches of coniferous trees allow you to maintain the health of the rabbit, affecting the strengthening of immunity, as they are rich in vitamin C.
- A good and popular food is the shoots of apple and grapes, which can be given to animals along with the fruits.
- Linden shoots have a good effect on the state of health - for rodents who are sick with cystitis, they have an anesthetic effect.
- As a parasite prevention, the animals are given walnut shoots.
- Alder and oak can cope with indigestion, as they have a fixing effect.
Did you know? Rabbits can gnaw not only tree branches, but also their own wooden dwellings, therefore, if they are not provided with a sufficient amount of roughage, animals can gnaw a hole in one day and escape. In one minute, the rabbit is able to perform 120 chewing movements.Fresh branches give rodents in the amount of 300 g per day per individual. In winter, the branches dry out and significantly lose weight, so at this time the animals are given 200 g per day.
It is recommended to regularly offer the rabbits branches of different trees so that they receive all the necessary vitamins and nutrients regularly and in the required quantity.Harvesting the branch feed for the winter
In winter, the root system of trees and shrubs contains the maximum proportion of nutrients; at the same time, the branches of the trees are just a dry mass, which is absolutely not useful for rodents. That is why the breeders prepare food for animals in the summer.
The best time for preparation: the end of June - the beginning of July. On the branches at this time the leaves are most strongly attached to the shoot, which allows them after drying to hold tight and keep the maximum amount of nutrients. Best for cutting young shoots that have a small length; it is also better to choose the thinnest raw material (up to 1 cm in thickness) so that the animals eat it completely.
Read about which branches can be given to rabbits.
Fresh shoots must be collected in bundles of small size, tying them together with a rope or thread. It is necessary to dry such bunches, hanging up from the ceiling in the attic or in the shed. After drying, the bunches are untied and given to rabbits. 
If fruit tree branches are harvested, you should definitely pay attention to whether they were treated with chemicals from parasites. Trees that have been treated are not suitable as feed. Trees that are near the road should also be avoided, as they can absorb toxic substances. Also avoid shoots that have a web and caterpillars on their surface.
Important! For drying, collect shoots in small bunches that can evenly dry - large bunches can cause dangerous mold.Harvesting occurs in as dry as possible so that the leaves and shoots are not wet.
Thus, the branches of some trees can be an excellent feed for rabbits, which will feed the body with essential vitamins in the winter. But, in order not to harm the health of animals, choose shoots of trees from the allowed list and follow the basic recommendations for their preparation for the winter.
