Baby Bunny Not Eating Hay

[CantBlink]

Hi! I just got my baby bunny yesterday, he is 10 weeks old. I give him the same pellets as the breeder and the same hay she gave me. Both alfalfa and Timothy hay.

I put these hays in his litterbox and in the hay feeder above the litter box. But he doesn't seem to be eating it. He's eating his pellets enthusiastically, will even eat when I'm sitting next to him. He's been grazing the pellets through the day, and is actually almost out of pellets in his bowl now and I wonder if I should refill it tonight.

I'm nervous about not refilling it as I know baby Buns should have limitless pellets, but I want to have him eat his hay when he realizes there's no pellets left. Is this a good, safe option to get this picky boy to eat his hay?

 

[MeggyM]

I don't think baby rabbits get quite unlimited pellets...? Does the back of your pellet bag say so? Might want to research that, I wouldn't trust a breeder or someone at a regular pet store.
You could try putting down a pile of hay and sprinkling his pellets on top to encourage eating the hay as well. You could remove the bowl of pellets for a short time and observe if he eats any hay. Also could try throwing in an herb mix for rabbits on top of the hay, or simply sprinkle some parsley, basil, or cilantro, etc from your pantry on top of the hay.
I'd refrain from feeding him any treats until he starts eating enough hay (not sure you even are but just in case).
Also try toys/hidy huts made exclusively of timothy hay - they love breaking those things down and then realize they're tasty as well!

 

[Blue eyes]

At 10 weeks, he shouldn't be getting anything other than the hay and the pellets. Don't introduce any new foods yet. Normally, yes, the pellets can be free fed at this age. The exception would be in a case like yours -- where the rabbit neglects his hay in favor of the pellets. In this case, the pellets must be limited in order to encourage him to eat his hay. The hay should make up the vast majority of his diet.

If you can provide a bit more detail on your rabbit's size (or breed) - a photo perhaps - than we can advise on an approximate amount of pellets to feed.

 

[MeggyM]

At 10 weeks, he shouldn't be getting anything other than the hay and the pellets. Don't introduce any new foods yet. Normally, yes, the pellets can be free fed at this age. The exception would be in a case like yours -- where the rabbit neglects his hay in favor of the pellets. In this case, the pellets must be limited in order to encourage him to eat his hay. The hay should make up the vast majority of his diet.

If you can provide a bit more detail on your rabbit's size (or breed) - a photo perhaps - than we can advise on an approximate amount of pellets to feed.

Ah, good catch, I didn't know that about young rabbits. I adopted mine at a year and just assumed they could have other foods younger. Thanks for stepping in.

 

[CantBlink]

Thanks for the replies! Now on the third day of having the baby. I limited the amount of pellets I gave him to 1/4 cup morning and night. During the night after I posted, he ate hay! The breeder also told me that as long as his poops are normal, he's nibbling hay every now and again. His poops are normal, thankfully, dry and round. I think he's eating them at night, as I don't see him staying long in his litterbox during the day.

About the feeding other things, the breeder told me that she introduced veggies to the baby already (saying she started to because new bunny parents were killing her babies by feeding a ton of veggies, so she started incorporating veggies to her babies so they'll be used to it by the time they get home). I haven't given him a lot of veggies, only the occasional tiny pieces I use more as treats than anything. I'm a bit nervous about giving him the proper portions you'd give to an adult. Should I stop giving him the pieces? I just want him to like me and he comes running when called when I have a piece.

Oh, and he's a holland lop, described as being smaller than the rest of his litter-mates. I dunno how big a 10 week old should be, but I hope these pictures help.

 

[MeggyM]

Yay! What a cutie! Try sitting in the pen with him and petting him to gain his trust and affection!

 

[Blue eyes]

If the baby was already being fed greens along with her momma when baby was nursing, then that is the occasion that allows small amounts of greens to be fed now. More often, that is not the case and the sudden intro can kill a baby (as the breeder explained). But if a baby is fed greens along with a nursing momma who's fed greens, then they develop the enzymes needed to digest them.

Just keep the amounts small. Introduce only one new type at a time. Here's some further explanation:
https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/greens--veggies.html

 

[CantBlink]

Yay! What a cutie! Try sitting in the pen with him and petting him to gain his trust and affection!

Thanks! I'm still worried about moving too fast with him. He was socialized from birth and was even taught to come on command, which was a pleasant surprise! I attached a video of it, I hope it works so you can see!

When I'm in the enclosure, he will usually stay out while he's eating his pellets and I sit by him on his hide (it's sturdy enough for me to sit on), but then goes into that hide after he finishes eating. I haven't attempted to pet him yet, you think I should make that step?

If the baby was already being fed greens along with her momma when baby was nursing, then that is the occasion that allows small amounts of greens to be fed now. More often, that is not the case and the sudden intro can kill a baby (as the breeder explained). But if a baby is fed greens along with a nursing momma who's fed greens, then they develop the enzymes needed to digest them.

Just keep the amounts small. Introduce only one new type at a time. Here's some further explanation:
https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/greens--veggies.html

Thanks! I will keep the amounts small, more of a treat than anything until he's old enough to have proper portions. Thankfully, the breeder gave me a small baggie of veggies showing what he's already used to, I plan to stick to those to be safe.

Something weird happened though! I read that I should try to mimic bunny behavior, and I notice when I pretend to groom my face, he starts to groom himself. I just got done feeding him his dinner moments ago. And during this feeding, he was nosey about me replenishing his hay (he's getting better eating it, yay!) but then hid again and waited to eat his pellets till I got out of his enclosure.I sat outside it beside him while he ate, and then, the strangest thing happened. I got myself in a loaf position, all tucked up and low to the ground and he stopped eating, looked at me, then turned his back to me and loafed too! Then that loaf turned into a sploot, with his feet kicked back. He stayed like that until I got uncomfortable enough to move and sit on my chair nearby. He then got up and went back to eating his pellets like nothing happened.Is he mimicking me? Anyone translate what he was telling me in his bunny language?

 

[Catlyn]

He seems comfy if he's mimicking you.
Here's a great and quite a detailed dechiper on lagomorphic languages:
https://language.rabbitspeak.com/

 

[CantBlink]

He seems comfy if he's mimicking you.
Here's a great and quite a detailed dechiper on lagomorphic languages:
https://language.rabbitspeak.com/

Thanks a bunch for the link!

Today, he peed on his bunny bed, so I went into his pen to get it out and my boy flicked his feet at me. I just wanna clean the bed, I'll give it back, I assured him. He did get it back and I gave him a small piece of green, which he took from my hand. I hope that means he forgives me.

I'm at a bit of a wall, though. He's fine with me outside his pen, and when I come in to feed him. But when I'm in there without his pellets or when he's done eating his pellets, he doesn't seem to want anything to do with me and goes into his hide until I leave. What do I do from there? I'm still not sure if he (or I) am ready to jump into physical contact yet.

 

[JBun]

My rabbits flick their feet at me all of the time in annoyance. Feel privileged and loved. It means he feels comfortable and safe enough around you to let you know he's annoyed with you.

I would try removing the hide. Sometimes they're good for new rabbits to have a safe place they know they can retreat to, but once a rabbit is settled in and is starting to feel comfortable in their new home, a hide can sometimes just be a place they go to avoid the process of bonding with you. Which really isn't ideal. A new rabbit needs a chance to learn that you can be trusted, and form a closer bond, which won't happen if he always goes and hides/avoids. So I would try removing the hide so he can't just avoid contact. Then see how it goes. If you feel it makes him too stressed, you can always put it back.

An alternative would be to train him to go into a pet carrier(using his treats) and move him to a different location. Then you can move him to another small room or area, like the bathroom(use rugs if he doesn't like slick floors), where you can sit and have bonding time with him. You just don't want an area that's too large or has places he'll hop away and hide or avoid contact. It could be he just isn't ready for you to be sitting in his space, as he's not sure enough of you yet for that.

Also, try different times when you sit with him. Rabbits are most active in the morning and evenings, so those may be good times to sit with him, when he'll be most active and maybe more curious about you. Or you may find that during the day when he's less active and is sleepy, that he does better with you during these times.

Don't be afraid to switch things up and try something else if you feel one approach or method isn't working out well. Rabbits all have different personalities, so what works well for one rabbit, may not work as well for another.

With knowing when to start trying to pet and give head rubs, first he needs to feel comfortable approaching you and coming near you. Once he is consistently doing that, you can start slowly offering a hand out when he's near, and let him sniff your hand. Once he feels comfortable with that, then you can try a little head scratch. Just brief, to gauge his reaction and if he's comfortable with that. Then once you can consistently do that, he may be ready for full on head rubs.

When he settles down near you in a loaf or flop, or he presses his head under your hand, or gives you a head nudge, then those can be signals he's ready and will accept mutual grooming from you(eg. head rubs). Once he does accept head rubs, I would stick with that until he's very comfortable, as head grooming is most often how rabbits start mutually grooming each other. Then when he's comfortable with that, you can try other places like cheek rubs, ear rubs, and the body. Though you may find there are certain places he doesn't like to be petted. Like some intact males don't like to be petted near their rump, as that can be a place of attack when confronted by other unneutered male rabbits.

https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/bonding-with-your-bunny.html

 

[CantBlink]

My rabbits flick their feet at me all of the time in annoyance. Feel privileged and loved. It means he feels comfortable and safe enough around you to let you know he's annoyed with you.

I would try removing the hide. Sometimes they're good for new rabbits to have a safe place they know they can retreat to, but once a rabbit is settled in and is starting to feel comfortable in their new home, a hide can sometimes just be a place they go to avoid the process of bonding with you. Which really isn't ideal. A new rabbit needs a chance to learn that you can be trusted, and form a closer bond, which won't happen if he always goes and hides/avoids. So I would try removing the hide so he can't just avoid contact. Then see how it goes. If you feel it makes him too stressed, you can always put it back.

An alternative would be to train him to go into a pet carrier(using his treats) and move him to a different location. Then you can move him to another small room or area, like the bathroom(use rugs if he doesn't like slick floors), where you can sit and have bonding time with him. You just don't want an area that's too large or has places he'll hop away and hide or avoid contact. It could be he just isn't ready for you to be sitting in his space, as he's not sure enough of you yet for that.

Also, try different times when you sit with him. Rabbits are most active in the morning and evenings, so those may be good times to sit with him, when he'll be most active and maybe more curious about you. Or you may find that during the day when he's less active and is sleepy, that he does better with you during these times.

Don't be afraid to switch things up and try something else if you feel one approach or method isn't working out well. Rabbits all have different personalities, so what works well for one rabbit, may not work as well for another.

With knowing when to start trying to pet and give head rubs, first he needs to feel comfortable approaching you and coming near you. Once he is consistently doing that, you can start slowly offering a hand out when he's near, and let him sniff your hand. Once he feels comfortable with that, then you can try a little head scratch. Just brief, to gauge his reaction and if he's comfortable with that. Then once you can consistently do that, he may be ready for full on head rubs.

When he settles down near you in a loaf or flop, or he presses his head under your hand, or gives you a head nudge, then those can be signals he's ready and will accept mutual grooming from you(eg. head rubs). Once he does accept head rubs, I would stick with that until he's very comfortable, as head grooming is most often how rabbits start mutually grooming each other. Then when he's comfortable with that, you can try other places like cheek rubs, ear rubs, and the body. Though you may find there are certain places he doesn't like to be petted. Like some intact males don't like to be petted near their rump, as that can be a place of attack when confronted by other unneutered male rabbits.

https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/bonding-with-your-bunny.html

Thanks you so much for such a detailed reply, I really appreciate it!

I guess it's because I heard them flicking their feet at you is the equivolant of the middle finger, so it kinda hurt to have a bunny I'm trying to win the approval of flip me off. But the way you describe it, I feel a lot better about it now. Reading about what you said about the time of day, I think what upset him was me coming in unannounced in the middle of the day. He was in his hide, so I thought I could slip in and out without disturbing him. Guess that wasn't appreciated!

The hide I have for him is large and cumbersome, would laying down so my body blocks the entrances get the same result, or would the rabbit see that as "this human is blocking the way" and feel threatened by such a move?

I would love to be able to let him out of his pen. His breeder recommends I wait a week or two before I do so, as the bunny will be 'wild' otherwise.

I would also love to announce that tonight was a lot better interaction between us. I gave him his pellets as always, and I decided on an impulse to try sitting down with him again. When he finished nibbling his pellets, instead of going into his hide like he always does, he actually chose to stay out and loaf with me! He even put his head down on the floor. I didn't bring veggies, as I wasn't anticipating to actually stay, so I offered the fluffy part of the hay (dunno if he'll like it, but it looks like a yummy part to me?). He politely declined and resumed resting. We then groomed together (I pretending to do so), and rested some more.

Finally, after a bit, he got up to resume eating pellets and I got up and walked out the pen while he ate. I brought back veggies to give him and show I appreciated the time we had together.

Tomorrow morning, I'm gonna try to do it again, and this time, I'm bringing veggies inside with me to offer him should he stay out with me!

 

[seepath]

Hi, my bunny is a dwarf rabbit, 5 yrs old. He is not at all eating the hay. I tried various types of hay, but nothing is working. How can I make it eat the hay? recently he developed a respiratory issues (that seem to go away) but showing head tilts

 

[Blue eyes]

Hi, my bunny is a dwarf rabbit, 5 yrs old. He is not at all eating the hay. I tried various types of hay, but nothing is working. How can I make it eat the hay? recently he developed a respiratory issues (that seem to go away) but showing head tilts

Please begin a new thread so you can receive answers specific to your situation.

 

[CantBlink]

OMG, Cinnabun let me pet him for the first time since getting him!! I'm so happy! Thank you all so much! I know it's small, but it really does mean so much to me that he would let me touch him! I hope things will continue to get better between us from here!

 

[MeggyM]

I think it's hilarious every time my buns flick their feet at me - such sass and fearless character I can't help but laugh. Bunnies are such suckers for head pets that they will usually forgive you within seconds if you give them some head rubs!
It's only been a few days, it can take a while to bond, but you'll get there! He might get annoyed with you for blocking but it doesn't hurt to try! I was actually going to recommend laying down in there with him and just doing your own things. Bring a book, laptop, etc and just spend time in their. Rabbits are naturally curious little guys so he will most likely want to come out and see what you're up to.

I think that's good advice on the hide, it's good for him too, to bond with you! Since he's so new you may want to put it back when you're away or throw something less cumbersome in there like a cardboard box.

Try hand feeding the pellets! If he puts his head down on the ground when napping that would be a good time to try some head pets! Maybe don't overthink it and just enjoy getting to know the cute little fur-ball!

Side note: Be prepared for him to mark his territory everywhere when you do start letting him out - bunnies like to pee on soft absorbent things so I'd recommend removing anything you don't want peed on from the area once you start letting him out.