Hay

[fever003]

I dont see my rabbit eating hay except on the1st day I introduced the Timothy hay to it..I dont know why he isnt eating the hay at all..I bought they hay from a pet store and it came in a plastic bag..The hay smells fresh and it is green in color and perhaps,it is not moldy..

Do you have any idea? Maybe I should lessen up the pellets and make him a little hungry that would encourage him to chew the hay..?

 

[aurora369]

How old is your bunny?

If he's 6 months or older you can limit his feed and give him unlimited hay.

I can't remember the exact recommended measurements, so maybe some one else could fill you in on that part.

--Dawn

 

[fever003]

Hmm, its about 1 year old..I reduced the pellets but I still dont see him eating up the hay.. The rabbit likes to eat pellets and fruits, not to forget, vegetables too..but not hay

 

[tenacrewoods]

Your Bunny at 1 yr old need only about 1oz. of pellets per pound, limited veggies around 1/4-1/2 cup a day depending on it's size and only small amounts of fruits as treats and of coarse free choice (unlimited) amounts of aGood Quality grass Hay.

Maybe he's getting to much of the other (Tasty Stuff) to want his Hay but it's very essential to his digestive system and overall health.

 

[fever003]

Yeah, maybe you are right. I gave him very little pellet and vegetable yesterday and I saw the hay getting a little lesser..but still his poops are not at the normal size and not that many..

 

[naturestee]

Some buns need to be encouraged to eat more hay. Here's a thread on tricks we've used to get our picky rabbits to eat more:
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=9995&forum_id=1

BTW, how much pellets are you giving him? Adult rabbits really don't need much. The HRS guidelines recommend 1/4 cup plain pellets (no treats) for a 5 lb rabbit, although each individual may need more or less depending on how active they are.

Also, some rabbits don't care for the bagged hay from pet stores. It tends to be older and more dusty than hay bought in bulk from suppliers like Oxbow, Bunny Bales, or American Pet Diner. Good farm hay is fabulous if you can find stuff that doesn't have alfalfa, plus it's usually only a few dollars for a giant bale. If you don't have the storage space, consider taking what you can store and giving the rest to a shelter.

 

[fever003]

Thank you so much naturestee..I will give it a try, btw im from the Asian region, im not sure whether we have oxbow, bunny bales and stuff..I guess I have to find fresh hays on my own hehe..