Best pellets to feed & switching over?

[BlueRiley]

My 1 year old rabbit is currently getting 1/4 cup of pellets made by the local feed store. When I got him as a baby from the family that owned his parents (tsk tsk for not fixing their bunnies) this is what he was being fed. It is sold in bulk but I got the guaranteed analysis and it looks like it is too high in protein and not high enough in fiber according to what I've been looking up.
What is your favorite brand of pellets to feed your house rabbit? Also what quantity of greens are you supposed to feed an adult rabbit? I know I don't give enough, but I don't want to give too much. Finally what is the best way to switch over to a new pellet, I know to mix it in and do it slowly but what exactly is "slowly"? Two weeks? A month?
He also gets free fed timothy hay
Thank you!

Current pellets
-------------------
Crude protein: 18%
crude fat: 2.5%
Crude fiber: 16-19%
calcium: 1-1.2%
phosphorus: .6%
salt: 0.6-1%
sodium: 0.1-0.6%
Vitamin A: 3,000 IU/LB
(I won't type out the ingredient list now, but I can if someone wants me to)

 

[Ellie]

I copied this from the house rabbit society:

What quantities of food should I feed mature adults? (1 to 5 years)

Unlimited timothy, grass hay, oat hay, straw
1/4 to 1/2 cup pellets per 6 lbs. body weight (depending on metabolism and/or proportionate to veggies)
Minimum 2 cups chopped vegetables per 6 lbs. body weight
fruit daily ration no more than 2 oz. (2 TBL) per 6 lbs. body weight.

Buster is 6.2 lbs, so he gets a bowl (a little over a cup) of veggies in the morning and evening.

To be honest, I"m kind of a bad bunny mom... The store where I buy my pellets (I live in a small town, so it's limited selection...) constantly changes what they have in stock. So, he tends to always get a new type, but with very similar amounts of protein, etc. The way I switch him is just to mix the last little bit of the old bag in with each scoop I put in, for about 5 days before. But he always goes CRAZY for his pellets when I give him new stuff. I know you're not "technically" supposed to always change pellets, but I think he really enjoys the change.

One more thing, I'm not too sure where I found this... I have a word document full of bunny research I did before I got mine. But it recommends this:
At least 18% minimum fibre, low in protein: 14-15% (or lower), and fat not any more than 3%.

 

[LakeCondo]

I frankly would never buy pellets that were sold in bulk. I'd be concerned about their freshness if they weren't in a plastic bag. As soon as I open a bag, I put the pellets into a plastic container meant to store breakfast cereal. Also, the nutrition sounds as though it'd be most appropriate for rabbits who weren't pets, so longevity isn't an issue.

I have used both Oxbow & KayTee pellets & Honey doesn't have any preference. Until you're sure about that with him & if he doesn't finish the pellets before you refill the bowl, save some of the 'old' pellets to make sure he's not eating only the old brand from the mix.

On the other hand, if 'new' pellets are always more tasty than the 'old' ones, maybe they ARE old & a smaller amount should be bought at a time.

I've cut back on the greens I give Honey, after reading how good pellets are today in Lucile Moore's Rabbit Nutrition & Nutritional Healing. She's been eating more hay since I did that & she's maybe lost an ounce that she'd gained since I got her.

 

[MyBabyHasPaws]

I started using Sherwood Forest pellets. I have the alfalfa ones for mom and babies and the regular one for Bugsy.. so far, so good.. I actually have to order some, thanks for reminding me lol!

 

[mimosa]

I feed Harriet Oxbow hay and pellets because the vet recommended it. I just gave her a bowl of it and that was that. She'll have to eat her old kind for the next few days (Timothy complete) because I forgot to order more pellets on time for them to get here before she ran out.

 

[mdith4him]

We also use Sherwood Natural Rabbit Food. The buns love it!

 

[jace_happy]

I just ordered a sample of Sherwood M/S, but the website feeding directions say: "We do not recommend supplementing the diet with anything else because it will unbalance the diet and dilute the nutrients it provides."

I'm wondering if other bunnies eating Sherwood still get veggies? My 7yrs old male hotot LOVES veggies and will be very angry if I cut that from his meals.

 

[ldoerr]

A breeder friend of mine says to feed a pelit with a protein content of 16-18%. She feeds a 17% and her rabbits all do really good. Most of her rabbits live to 11 or 12 years at least.