Coco_puffs from Florida

[coco_puffs]

Good morning! I recently adopted a one year-old Netherland Dwarf rabbit. He's been the perfect little companion and the vet says he was very well cared for when I got him last month.

I want to make sure I'm feeding him right (this is my first pet rabbit). He's eating pellets, a lettuce blend (no iceberg), and a tiny bit of fresh fruit every day (carrot, watermelon, celery). The vet says no more than one square inch, once a day.

I do have a question about his treats. He seems to love toast, and more than that granola. I read about feeding bread, but haven't heard much about granola. I know a lot of sugar is bad but don't know if anything else in the granola is dangerous for him (too much fiber, etc..).

Thank you for any help and advice! I did a search for granola and looked at the articles page but didn't see anything. Thanks!!

 

[Azerane]

Hello, and welcome to the forum

I personally wouldn't feed bread or granola. I like to feed my bun unlimited hay (Hay should by far be the largest ingredient in your rabbit's diet, 70-80% I believe), about 1/4 cup of pellets each day (less for your bun being so small!) He gets a small amount in his bowl in the morning, and the rest during the day as treats. He also gets a bowl full of greens, most common are parsley, bok choy, basil, celery, also some brussel sprouts and kale, it's good to mix it up. I rarely give him fruit at all, though it is fine in very small amounts like your vet said

Also, too much fiber is not a bad thing, rabbits need a lot of fiber in their diet. If you're going to introduce new greens to your bun, do so slowly and one at a time to give him time to adjust.

 

[coco_puffs]

Thank you very much for all the help! I forgot to say, he does eat hay. I'm not sure what percentage of his diet, but I know that it disappears pretty fast. He gets Kaytee Timothy Hay with Marigolds. I heard from the pet store that that was a good brand. If you know of others that are better, of course I'm willing to get it for him.

Also, he gets Oxbow Essentials Adult Rabbit Food. The lady at the pet store, who seemed very knowledgeable about rabbits, said that was the best. Again, a second opinion would be appreciated. Thanks!!

 

[majorv]

Welcome! According to others on this forum Oxbow is a good brand of rabbit food, along with Sherwood Forest. I'm sure others will comment on that. For an ND, 1/4 cup of pellets is about right. My Polish rabbits get that amount per day and they weigh about the same as a dwarf. Of course, if you see your bunny gaining weight then you may need to reduce the pellets a little. Most fruit contains sugar and can also make them gain weight. I'm not sure about granola but we give ours plain Cheerios once in a while as a treat...not many...about 6-7.

 

[HEM]

Welcome to RO
I agree with what's been said, no bread or oats. We feed our's 2 salads every day with a combo of red and green leaf lettuce, parsley, cilantro, basil, some mint, carrot tops, etc.....
Also, she gets about a 1/4 cup of pellets a day and unlimited hay.

 

[coco_puffs]

Thanks again. I do give him a little bit of oats. I read up on that and they say show rabbits are fed oats (like Quaker oats from the carton - the cook kind). Coco *loves* those. He gets about a teaspoon in his pellets every morning. They are the first thing eaten. Is this really bad?

Thanks so much for the info. I remember having to learn about keeping parrots 20 years ago. I am still learning The best info is from people so I appreciate it very much!!

Coco and Gloria

 

[Nancy McClelland]

hello and welcome to the forum. The two most important things in your bunnies diet are hay without limit and fresh veggies and herbs. Ours get their greens in the morning and evening--cilantro, parsley, italian parsley, romaine lettuce, dandelion, and in the morning a smile slice of carrot and a small piece of apple in the evening. Don't forget, we all like to see pics.

 

[JBun]

Welcome!

Feeding oats just depends on how sensitive your rabbit is to digestive problems. Some rabbit's are really sensitive, some not as much. I have rabbits that I can give a little bit of treats to each day, and I have one rabbit that is so sensitive to carbs and sugars, that he can't even have pellets without getting sick. I would consider oats as being in the treat/fruit category. So if you are feeding one, then don't feed the other, then it should be ok, as long as his poop stays normal. I don't know if you already have these veggie lists, but you may find some helpful info on there. Just be aware that sometimes, with some rabbits, certain veggies can cause digestive upset, especially cruciferous veggies.

http://www.3bunnies.org/feeding.htm#top
http://www.rabbit.org/care/veggies.html

Also, if you have a feed store or tractor supply near you, sometimes they will carry 50 lb bales of timothy or a different grass hay, and it is lots cheaper than buying the petstore bags. A bale will be around $5-20. You want it to be good horse quality hay that is green on the inside of the bale, and has never been wet, and isn't moldy. If you don't want a whole bale, sometimes they will sell a partial bale. Just call around to find out.

 

[coco_puffs]

Thank you Nancy and JBun. Nancy, I think my little Coco would take five years to eat a whole bale of hay I appreciate the links and all the helpful info. I have another question, but will take it over to the appropriate forum. Thanks again!