can i ask is it possible to have a rabbit on just veggies and fruit

[lucylocket]

hi all/just wondering is it possible to just have a rabbit on just fruit and veggies not pellets

but still give them there hay

varna xxxx

 

[lucylocket]

bump

 

[DownEastFarMiniLops]

You never ever want to give your rabbits justfruit and veggies, they are more like treats and wont give your bun allthe nutrition it needs. They will also give the bun really baddiareha. I reccomend Blue Seal 16% Rabbit Pellets and I'vehave been using them for my show bunnies for 14 years. You should onlygive ur bun Timothy hay and carrots and things like that as a smalltreat every once and a while. Regular Cherrios are good, and so areoats, but only if you have a large breed rabbit such as French lop orFlemish Giant as they make the rabbit gain weight which is good forthose breeds but not other Rabbits. I'm not sure what kind ofpellets you can get in the UK, but feed and grain stores have betterpellets than pet stores and the less protien the better.

 

[dajeti2]

Varna, People'sideas varygreatly on this topic. I feed Apollo on pellets, hay fruits andvegetables. I'm sort of in between.

I believe it's Buck who is thinking of going with a morenatural diet. I'll have to check but I think the longest lived rabbitwas fed just veggies and fruits.

Let me check.

Tina

I bumped it if you want to see it.

Flopsy was given rye grass and clover. They also gavehim about 1 and a half apples a week. For vegetable they gave him acarrot. He never had pellets.

 

[DownEastFarMiniLops]

It's probaly possible, but I wouldnt recommendit. My unckle a respected ARBA judge helped me when I was firststarting out, but most show rabbits are on pellets.

 

[Pet_Bunny]

My vet told me to feed hay, vegs,pellets in that order. Because of Pebbles size, she only gets1/8 cup of pellets per day, but thats the first thing(pellets) she goes for.

Rainbows!

 

[Spiced77]

i think it could work along with lots of hay ofcourse. but you'd have to be careful to make sure that the variety waslarge enough to get them all the nutrition they need. of course it'seasier with pellets

 

[becc_boland]

Cleo and Lilly arefed pellets and they love veggies and Cleo is absolutely in love withfresh green grass lol.

 

[LindseyandKen]

My bunny Tremere was just on hay, veg and fruituntil she was stolen. (When I lived in Newcastle, funnily enough, atuniversity) In the UK we seem to do that quite a lot. Tremere had areally bad eye problem - blocked tear ducts, that the vet attributed toher previous pellet based diet. After unblocking, the duct stayed clearand she flourished on veg, fruit, hay and the odd bit of granary toastthat she'd steal from my plate!

Saying that, my current bunnies now rattle the cage when they hear thedry food coming, so I think it's personal preference (of the bunny thatis!) I think they'd riot if I switched to Tremere's diet!

Linz x

 

[VNess2010]

I think it's probably important for young rabbits (6 months and younger) to be fed pellets so they get the nutrients they need.

 

[northerndancer]

LindseyandKen wrote:

My bunny Tremere was just on hay, veg and fruit until shewas stolen. (When I lived in Newcastle, funnily enough, at university)In the UK we seem to do that quite a lot. Tremere had a really bad eyeproblem - blocked tear ducts, that the vet attributed to her previouspellet based diet. After unblocking, the duct stayed clear and sheflourished on veg, fruit, hay and the odd bit of granary toast thatshe'd steal from my plate!

Saying that, my current bunnies now rattle the cage when they hear thedry food coming, so I think it's personal preference (of the bunny thatis!) I think they'd riot if I switched to Tremere's diet!

Linz x

Your bunny was stolen?!! Thats terrible

 

[Bramble Briar86]

LindseyandKen wrote:

Saying that, my current bunnies now rattle the cage when they hear thedry food coming, so I think it's personal preference (of the bunny thatis!) I think they'd riot if I switched to Tremere's diet!

Linz x

lol, that reminds me of Briar, he runs over to me and gets all hyper and excited when he hears me open the feed bin.

Ellie

 

[bluebird]

Blocked tear ducts have nothing to do with a rabbits diet certain breeds with short heads are more prone to them.Bluebird

 

[MysticFyre]

Nope, also you have to watch what fruits and veggies you give you're rabbits.

 

[MyBabyBunnies]

 

[m.e.]

MyBunnyBoys wrote:

Personally, since neither diet has been proved good or bad,I feed somewhere in the middle --a mixture of veggies andpellets plus hay.

Me too: mixed greens (occasional fruits or carrots) in the morning,pellets at night, and unlimited hay. I'm very much undecided either wayon the whole "diet thing".

Idon't think that diet is given near enough credit inregards to the overall health of an animal. Call me paranoid , butI'm mighty skeptical of the notion that processed foods are infinatelybetter than a more macrobiotic diet.

And I'm not sure that what works for breeders/rabbit producers isnecessarily the best way to do things, simply by virtue of thefact that most breeders/rabbit producers rarely have rabbits that liveinto extended old age. And we've all heard about what diet the world'soldest rabbit lived on...

That said, I still don't feel confidant eliminating all processed foodsfrom my bunnies' diet. I just don't feel I know enough yet tomake sure that they are getting balanced nutrition. Maybe someday, justnot now

 

[MysticFyre]

m.e. wrote:

MyBunnyBoys wrote:

Personally, since neither diet has been proved good or bad,I feed somewhere in the middle --a mixture of veggies andpellets plus hay.

And I'm not sure that what works for breeders/rabbit producers isnecessarily the best way to do things, simply by virtue of thefact that most breeders/rabbit producers rarely have rabbits that liveinto extended old age. And we've all heard about what diet the world'soldest rabbit lived on...

What do you mean that breeders/producers rabbits don't live intoextended old age. Honestly how many rabbits live past 15-20 yrs. Italso depends on the breed. A Netherland Dwarf won't live as long as aFlemish Giant might and it's because of size and many other factors.

 

[JimD]

Our buns range in age from about 4 months to about 2 years.

Starting at about 4-6 months I have given all my buns the following daily diet:

~ Unlimited timothy hay & water

~ Limited Pellets - according to the buns weight (about 1 to 2 oz. perlb of bun). I'm currently using an alfalfa-based, but would like tochange to timothy-based in the near future.

~ 1/2 to 3/4 cup mixed greens & herbs each day

~ I have always limited veggies that are high in sugar (like carrots), to a small amount once or twice a week

~ Each day they get a small treat of fruit (usually a small slice ofbanana) or a fewraisins/craisins, or ateaspoon of oats.

~ Unlimited unconditional love at all times,including nose kisses and ear rubs.

 

[LindseyandKen]

Your bunny was stolen?!! Thats terrible

I miss her a lot, even though I have 11 to care for!Tremerewas beautiful - pure white with black eyes, and vicious as a lion,biting, growling and lunging at everyone except me (flattering if not alittle scary!) She attacked thevet who was treating her tearducts then jumped in my arms - I loved her sooo much!

She had free rein of the yard and would hop to me at breakfast time andliterally snatch my toast! Scared the dog, scared Ken...she was mylittle baby!:shock:

Turns out evil people over the road stole her to get the new cage.Police later told me they had used her to train their hunting dog tokill. I moved home shortly afterwards - I would have setMYdog on them had I seen them. Some people are so evil.

Back to the diet question though - I would not feed my buns only veg.,hay and fruit except ona vet's recommendations: mine all geta mix, and Tremere was spoiled on all the best stuff! She was biggerthan my cat - shiny and very healthy, but my present buns don't seemsatiated on a natural diet. Dry food - yum!

Linz x

 

[Bramble Briar86]

Briar:

Threeounces of pellets, (used to be getting six) but, has unlimited hay supply.

Bramble:

five ounces of pellets, unlimited hay, and soon unlimited food. (She'spregnant) When not pregnant, i'll feed her around two ounces of pelletsand unlimited hay.

All get the occasional treat.

Ellie