Advice please

[rebeccalyn7]

What can i feed my rabbit
Im struggling with food ideas,
and food costs.

can anyone tell me some things they can eat,
at the moment shes getting a carrot a day and two hand fulls of pellets, i know..... horrible.
need to change her diet,
advice please.

 

[Azerane]

If you have a feed or fodder store anywhere near you, you can get a bag or bale of hay that will last you a long time, and rabbits need hay available at all times. If you think you don't have the space for a bale of hay, there are ways of getting around it. I bought a packet of three large garden/tough bags (the woven plastic kind, this is pretty much the exact packaging http://i00.i.aliimg.com/img/pb/902/294/511/511294902_904.jpg ) from bunnings for around $5-6. A bale of hay cost me roughly $12. I dumped the bale of hay in the boot of the car (put down a sheet or tarp to prevent mess) and then when I got home I transferred it to the bags, which I keep tied up and store in the shed. Keeps bugs out etc. I've had that bale of hay since 23rd April (almost two months ago) and I'm only just over halfway through it! To break that down, that's basically $18 for more than two months worth of hay. If you're going to buy hay, get meadow if you can, it's the best. Otherwise you can get oaten though you may have to pull all the big seed heads out because they can cause problems sometimes.

As for what else I feed my rabbit, I think he's about 2.5kg and he gets 1/4-1/2 cup pellets per day along with free-range hay. I'm only just reintroducing him to greens so he only gets tiny pieces every day. But if you can't afford the greens, she doesn't have to have them, though it's best if you can. But there are the cheaper options of the hay and pellets.

A whole carrot every day is not good for her, too much sugar and can lead to digestive upsets and stasis, which can become an expensive vet visit!

 

[curiouscarrot]

Leafy greens. I have a vietnamese supermarket quite near and they sell pak choy, bok choy whatever for 69c a biggish bunch. The bunnies like that and it's not hugely expensive. Have a look at what's on special at the greengrocers. Mine also get stuff out of my garden, rosemary and herbs and veges, grass. As long as it's vegetation, (and not stuff they can't have like onions) they seem to like it. Have you got a garden that you don't spray with insecticide? You could also plant some things in pots.

 

[ladysown]

good quality pellets is really ALL she needs.

Others will say she need hay and green leafy veggies. Cut grass works well as a green feed. Also substitutes nicely for hay.

 

[Kittiebot]

Not sure about prices in Australia, but here in the US hay is pretty cheap from either online or a feed store. Think on Amazon I paid $20.00 US for a bale of alfalfa hay and it's lasted 3+ months. Also for greens my guy loves cilantro and parsley, both of which are less than $1.00 US per bunch.

 

[Watermelons]

Ditch the carrot and see if you can locate a farm or feed store that sells horse hay by the bale (not cow, usually poor quality), and if you have the room, purchase a bale, or ask if you can purchase half or a quarter of a bale if you don't have a lot of room. Ensure that if your rabbit is over 6months in age, you use Timothy or Orchard, Botanicle, Meadow, Oat hay, etc... NOT Alfalfa/Lucerne hay as this is too rich in protein/calcium.

I purchased an 80lb bale of Orchard grass 2 summers ago for my 4-5lb rabbits. They are still working through it. That $10 went a LONG ways.

You can supplement with pellets, 1/4 - 1/2 cup per 5lbs or rabbit, or so, per day, so you don't need much. Would preferably be timothy based lower protein pellets but so long as the hay IS NOT alfalfa, some alfalfa based pellets wouldn't be the end of the world as these are usually easier to find. But the bulk of the diet should be hay, and since that's really inexpensive, youre not spending a whole bunch of pellets.

You can also slowly introduce leafy green vegetables and herbs.



Maybe some locals can pinpoint good stores in the OP's area?

 

[Zeroshero]

If you are feeding fresh carrots you could give her the carrot tops for greens. (adds moisture to the gut) I am an advocate for free choice grass hay in my bunny and horse. (They have the same digestive system) Until I started feeding my sisters bun hay and greens she was eating free choice timothy pellets since she was 8 weeks old and hasn't had major GI issues. I have noticed she self regulates her pellet intake now and has trimmed up a bit since adding hay. She was a little fatty!