Criticized By Parents

[MyBabyBunnies]

For the last 2 days I've brought my bunnies intothe garage for the night because of the cold temperatures and theirlack of winter coat.

Well normally before bed I put their daily ration of pellets into theirbowls and leave them on top the cage for easy access in the morning andthen I don't have to go outside to get the pellets before feeding themin the garage. Well I left a piece of dried pineapple in each (with thepellets)for my mom to give them some before she left forwork. She was criticizing me today that I don't feed them enoughpellets when I'm positive I do. She was saying how my sister fattens upher dog for the winter but she wouldn't listen that fat is very bad forbunnies and they are on the chubby side anyways.

I think they maintain their weights on such a minimal pellet dietbecause they eat so much timothy hay (they each eat about 30 lbs in 5months alone). I've tried increasing their pellets but they get fatbecause they don't cut back on the hay.

Now I'm starting to get frustrated and even doubt myself. I think I'mfeeding enough since they are slightly chubby (I'm pretty sure) andboth even have small dewlaps!

Am I right in thinking that they maintain their weight because they eat so much hay on top of veggies and pellets?

 

[mambo101]

I think you were right all along.

 

[Buck Jones]

If they are maintaining their weight, and notlosing in spite of the cold, you must be doing somethingright! That's exactly what you want for them, to maintaintheir weight while dealing with the cold.

An old adage says, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

Buck

 

[MyBabyBunnies]

Thank you guys. It's reassuring that I am doing something right.

They are not losing weight and are not really gaining either. I'veadjusted their pellets in a fashion such that it maintains theirweights that they are at now.

I've had then since they were young and I know how their bodies feel --what bones I can feel (like Mocha's spice I can always feel), theamount of fat over their ribs, etc. I do account for their loss or gainof hair depending on the weather but I can still tell if they aremaintaining, losing, or gaining weight quite sufficiently.

I've taken them to the vet clinic many time for nail trimming and thevet tech that does their nails is sort of a rabbit expert in our areaand has never made a comment about them being over weight or underweight so I'm assuming that's a good sign.

 

[Cinnabun]

im sorry about your parnets doing that! its thesame for me.. but they think im over feeding them! when my gecko issoppose to be fat.. (which the fat he is now loosing ) and Cinn..was just fat when we got her! lol.. and my parnets make my dog fat inthe winter time! lol.. so yeah.. i wouldnt listen to them if you knowyou are doing the right thing!

 

[Dwarf_Angel04]

A happy rabbit is a rabbit that maintains its weight.

A rule of thumb is one ounce of feed perpound the rabbit weighs.

 

[MyBabyBunnies]

I know Dwarf_Angel but I have never been able tofeed the suggested amount of feed. My 2 don't stop eating and becomeVERY fat even on the minimal suggested rations. That's why I attributeit to them eating so much hay.