chubby bunny

[iluvdutchrabbbits90]

Im not sure if this is wear i post this?

i have4 rabbits.

2 are the perfect weight and 2 are toooo chubby.

How do i get them too loose it?

both are black mini rex mixes ones 2-3 yearsand the others 4-5.They are house rabbits not spayed.

They both have like fat packs on their sides.

I just fill up their dish with plain pellets once a day and they get their hay once a day and treats about 3 times a week.

They get out to run about every other day.And they have biggg cages we made.

Their just 2 little rolly pollys im going to weigh them later

 

[tonyshuman]

Well, the first thing to do is look at the pellet situation. Pellets found in many stores are made for show rabbits, who are usually young and growing, or moms nursing or carrying babies. They are also usually housed in an indoor/outdoor situation--either a hutch, or a barn that's not heated/cooled as well as a person's house. They have different nutritional needs than a house rabbit that's kept inside, isn't growing, and isn't having babies.

A pellet for adult bunnies should have timothy hay as the first ingredient, not alfalfa hay. Protein should be less than 15%, fat should be less than 3%, and fiber should be over 20%. The easiest pellet like this to find is Kaytee Timothy Complete, although Oxbow Bunny Basics T is sometimes found. Others that are better quality than these two are American Pet Diner and Sweet Meadow Farms' timothy pellets, but these are usually special order only.

Also, no pellet should be "free-fed" to an adult bunny. They should get a measured amount once or twice a day. My adult bunnies, a holland and a dutch each weighing around 4lb, get 1 tablespoon pellets each a day. The dwarves in the house, each weighing 2-3lb, get 1/8c pellets each a day. They get more because they're more active, and they're not mine, they're my bf's, so he decides what to feed them. One is getting a bit chubby. You say you have mini rexes, so I'd feed them 1/8c of pellets a day, or maybe less.

Also, they need to have hay at all times, you didn't mention hay so I'll bring it up. The bunnies won't get hungry if you cut back on pellets because they can always eat hay. They should eat about a cup or two daily, but it's hard to tell because they spread a lot around.

What kind of treats? That could also be causing issues. Veggies and fresh fruit are the best kind of treats.

Any diet changes should be made slowly, ideally over at least 2 weeks.

 

[NorthernAutumn]

So glad someone brought this up again.. I was sitting here looking at my bun-boy, and thinking he's getting a bit roly-poly:embarrassed:

 

[ASKidwai]

 

[juliew19673]

Yes pellets are really not necessary for buns to have unless their too young orthin and need to have some weight put on; tons of hay - all the timothy hay they can choke down in a day and daily greens are the best.

 

[tamsin]

In addition to looking at diet, you also need to consider exercise. A rabbit would naturally be hopping around grazing for several hours a day but many pets just spend 10 minutes sat in front of a food bowl and go back to bed

You can increase exercise by making them work more for their food, eg put dry food in a treat ball, scatter it in a pile of hay or hide it around the enclosure. Veg can be hung up, hidden in boxes etc. The same with hay. Make feeding take a few hours and hopping around and that will really help the weight loss and is good for the digestion and overall health too.