First time owner needs some advice....

[sea-era]

I was gifted with an 8 week old Flemish Giant Doe last Sunday (12/16/12)
Even though I would have liked to be more prepared before getting her, I'm absolutely in love...

I have questions about how much to feed her....the more I read the more confused I have become. I'm hoping to hear from other Flemish owners

Since she is a baby should she have unlimited pellets?

She has unlimited hay but I'm not sure she is eating enough of it. I was told by the breeder to use hay as the "litter" in the litterbox. I became disturbed when I saw her eating the soiled hay, instead of the fresh hay I provided. Two days ago I changed her litter to wood stove pellets so she is no longer eating the bad hay, but I'm not sure she is getting enough. Should I remove her pellet food during the day so she will eat more hay? She has done fantastic with the potty training, only one accident in five days!!

I have no idea how much she weighs (to feed her by weight). I wasn't able to get an appointment with the vet until Jan 20th because of the holidays. Thats a whole month to worry about whether I'm feeding her too little or too much.

When should I introduce greens.... I have a limitless supply of dandelion leaves and grass...is she too young to have these? Is she too young for small pieces of carrot?

Sorry for all the questions but as I said before the more I read the more confused i become. Every site seems to give a different answer.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated -- Thanks

 

[OakRidgeRabbits]

Welcome!

I recommend feeding young rabbits (under 6 months old) just pellets and hay. It is best to limit pellets and push fiber (hay) at any age. Usually, I use the general rule of 1/2 cup per 5 lbs. (adult) body weight. So with my Hollands, which are typically 3-4 lbs., I offer babies 1/2 cup daily. A Flemish would be closer to 1 or 1 1/2 cups probably. Alfalfa pellets are best for most young rabbits.

In addition to pellets, it's best to offer unlimited timothy, bermuda, coastal, or other grass hay. Alfalfa is not ideal on top of alfalfa pellets.

Greens can be incorporated into the diet in small amounts, one by one, when the rabbit gets closer to maturity. For a Flemish, that would be around 8 months old.

 

[Imbrium]

I've always heard 12 weeks for veggies, and that's when I started my girls on them. the only time I'd wait is if they're causing an upset tummy or soft poops or something.

technically, babies are allowed to have unlimited pellets... but if your bunny is constantly favoring pellets over hay, it's best to scale back on the pellets until she's eating a decent amount of hay. (a minimum of a pile of hay (not totally compressed but not really loosely piled, either) the same volume as her own body size per day)

 

[JBun]

Also with the pellets, if they aren't the same kind as what she was getting before she came to your home, then you need to slowly transition her onto them, so she doesn't get an upset stomach. With rabbits, any new foods need to be slowly introduced. Start with a small amount and gradually increase over 2 weeks time. Keep an eye on her poops to make sure they stay normal. If they get really tiny or irregular, or soft, then cut back on the pellets and introduce more slowly.

 

[LakeCondo]

Greens should be introduced when shes older & slowly. That is, just a bite or 2 the 1st day, then slowly increase it. Then in week, another veggie can be introduced. I would start with romaine, parsley, cilantro,or wheat grass [which you can grow yourself from wheat berries].

I wouldn't give Honey many dandelion leaves or flowers. Dandelion is a diuretic, so it seems to me that affect the kidneys. Other people have posted that their rabbits have been fine with dandelion, but I don't know how to be sure about the kidneys.

Pieces of carrots are too sweet to be given except as a treat. And carrot tops have 10 times the amount of calcium as do any other plant source.

 

[whitelop]

Dandelion is high in calcium too.

 

[sea-era]

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond. I feel more confident now that I was doing the right thing just feeding her hay and pellets. I will wait for veggies and greens.

She has been eating hay much better today. I hung a tray on the side of her cage and placed the hay in there... who knew the "princess" wanted her hay served on a tray rather than placed inside her cage...lol

 

[sugarbunnies]

Any pics?

 

[ldoerr]

I feed babies all the pellets that they will eat. I also offer hay at all times. Some rabbits (like my Beauty) will not eat any no matter what you do. (I tried EVERYTHING including buying 4 bales of different hays). No veggies until she is a lot older, though before I knew that I used to make salads for all of my rabbits including moms with babies, babies, weenlings, adults etc... I never noticed a problem with my rabbits.

 

[sea-era]

Thanks for your post Idoerr... I'm glad to know that you have a bunny who doesn't really like hay. She will eat a little but not very much. I'm going to make it available to her at all times... but I'm not going to worry about her not eating it since reading your response.

This is my Daysi... at eight weeks

And this is Daysi at 9 weeks...

 

[ldoerr]

She is really cute Is she a flimish?

 

[Joe711]

Idoerr if you read the whole thing of what she said you would
See she did mention a Flemish

 

[ldoerr]

Sorry, I forgot to reread the first post. I had read it a while ago when I first posted. Thank you for retelling me