How many ounces is 1/3 of a cup of pellets?

[BSAR]

I am wondering this because even though I give Autumn and Bruce 1/3 a cup of pellets once a day they still haven't lost any weight and it has been a few months since they have been on this diet. They have also gotten a bit of increased excercise.

I was also thinking it may be Timothy/grass hay because I read on a bag of Alfalfa that grass hay takes longer for them to (can't think of word) like digest or whatever that correct word I am looking for is. So I don't know if that is it, couldn't be because Willow lost wieght on the same diet, plus she also went almost a week at the beginning of her diet with hardly any pellets.

 

[Spring]

Are they overweight? Or just wanting to slim them down a bit?

I think there are 8 ounces in a cup.. so 1/3 of 8 would be a bit over 2.5 ounces. My guys get a small handful in the morning and evening.. not sure how exactly that measures, but I think it's around 1/4 of a cup. So 1/3 seems like quite a bit for dieting buns! . I would probably slowly start bringing the amount down to 1/4 of a cup, increasing the timothy hay. Then go from there whether you have to increase or decrease the amount.

Alfalfa hay is really rich, so that makes the bunnies pack on the pounds, so something to avoid with dieting buns! . Timothy/grass hays should not put on weight, since they are high fiber and less rich than something like alfalfa.

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

I agree with Spring. Adult buns are recommended a 1/4 cup of pellets a day. How old are the buns? If over 6 months, I would feed less pellets and more timothy hay.

 

[BSAR]

Willow doesn't need to lose any more weight. She is actually a bit skinny. And I have been giving her a bit more pellets so she can fatten up just a tad, not too much otherwise she will weigh to much again. But she is probably ok.

Bruce is about 2 years and Autumn is 3 years. I will start bringing it down. I though 1/3 might be a bit too much. They only get it once a day. And they get as much hay as they can eat, twice a day.

Ok I will watch how much alfalfa is given to Autumn and Bruce. We just started giving it to them and only a bit like twice a week. I read that grass hay could add wieght also. But it could be wrong since it was on an alfalfa bag.

The only thing is that whenever they get fed they act like they are so starving... I don't know why. ????

 

[Spring]

I prefer splitting the feedings into two, so half in the morning and then the other half along with veggies in the evening. Just seems to help so they don't stuff themselves full in one sitting, then have to wait so long for more!

If you are wanting them to loose weight, I would cut out the alfalfa hay completely for them. I give my guys some alfalfa hay as a small treat, not on a regular basis because it can cause problems with the higher protein and calcium if used too often for adults. To my knowledge grass hay can't add on weight to a normal healthy bunny.. they have considerable lower protein levels, and low calcium levels. Possibly could help to bulk up a malnourished bunny because of the vitamins and nutrients, but since it's something that needs to be offered 24/7 and free fed.. not likely it's the cause of weight gain.

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

We just give the alfalfa as a treat. And we are feeding the "fatter" ones less alfalfa. I really ought to slpit their feedings up into two. I will try somehow and see how they are with that.

Thanks for all the help so far!

 

[Luv-bunniz]

I agree with feeding twice a day. CJ acts like he hasnt eaten in weeks when he gets his food, why? because he likes his pellets. Better then boring old hay, right? want a peice of bread or a chocolate cake?

I have started giving him 1/4 cup of pellets, free feeding fresh grass from 10AM-1PM and hay whenever he wants it. Along with a plate of salad in the evening, this has stopped him jumping at the door to get to pellets.

 

[BSAR]

I cant give fresh grass all day because I have school. Plus we dont have much grass to use (not tall enought yet) And we cant afford to always give them veggies.

 

[Luv-bunniz]

BSAR wrote:

I cant give fresh grass all day because I have school. Plus we dont have much grass to use (not tall enought yet) And we cant afford to always give them veggies.

I use a plant tray with grass in it..well actually, my parents got a roll of turf and it was going extra, so I kept it alive in a tray and CJ gets one every morning. I keep 5 and use each of them twice, and they survive. To be honest CJ gets whats in the fridge, carrots, cucumber, lettuce, cabbage, tomato, kale etc and that keeps him happy and healthy, I have never really been out and bought veggies JUST for CJ.

 

[bunnybunbunb]

I use to have over 30 rabbits and I went throughroughly 100 pounds of pellets a MONTH. I now have 7 rabbits and I do not even use close to that anymore. Pellets are very costly here so yay. Veggies might be a little higher but feeding one cup of veggies, 1/4 cup pellets and hay is cheaper in the long run. I can not tell you the money I use to spend on vet visits. I want my babies to live a long life, not a short cheap one.

Do your parents not keep any veggies in your house? The only thing mom kept were carrots, celery and radishes. Now we get parsley, kale, cilontro and collard greens as well and it is not much more. The parsley and cilontro is less than $1 each and the kale and greens are just over $1 each. That honestly is not much. If you cut down on the pellets and slowly push in veggies you will not be spending much more. Plus if your parents keep any veggies just use them. I use what I want even if it is not for the rabbits, mom does not say anything and if she does I use it anyway

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

I have a question concerning alfalfa hay. On the bag that we got, (now empty, there was hardly any left because it came with a used cage we bought) it said that the alfalfa had 30.00 fibre.....I thought that was really good, so how can alfalfa be not as good as timothy/grass hay? It has wayy more fibre, and less protein, etc.

Or is 30.00 too much fibre? I'm not sure if there was a %-sign, but I will check when I get home today.

We have veggies in the house, usually always a bag of mixed salad, which we give the bunnies a handful of sometimes. We also have carrots, celery, and spinach. We are going to be buying more veggies for them though, including parsley.

Emily

 

[Spring]

Alfalfa is a legume, and can have as high as 20% protein, compared to timothy's which is around 7-11%.. too much protein in rabbits can cause excess cecals and weight issues, because rabbits aren't designed to handle such rich food. Not to mention the higher level of calcium, which can cause bladder sludge. For these reasons, it is not healthy for adult rabbits to have this on a regular basis.

Although it may havea slightly higher fiber level along with all the other higher levels (which aren't as good for rabbits as fiber is), it is still too rich for most adult rabbits.Forthe quantity of alfalfa hay given to keep a rabbits digestive system healthy, an adult rabbit will have trouble processing the amount of calcium, protein and fat, and that's where the problems can start. Though with grass hays which have a significantly lower (Will see if I can find a chart to show you..) they are able to eat more, so will have more chance to get the high amount of fiber they need without dealing with the excess protein and fat.

So alfalfa hay isn't bad in small quantities, but is far too rich to be fed on a regular basis. Even my guys get a teeny bit (which they love since it's so sweet) but I don't feed it often because it can and does cause problems because of the richness.

Our link for hay!

http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=12059&forum_id=17

 

[BSAR]

Thanks everyone we are starting to feed the fat ones 1/4 a cup and split up morning and afternoon. And like my sis said we do have veggies in the house, mostly only carrots though. We are going to be buying more parsley so we won't have to worry about GI Stasis as much and so the bunners get more veggies.

With gas prices going down I am sure I can ask my mom to buy some kale and other veggies more often at least.

 

[Spring]

You can sometimes get free veggies too! Ask when a produce manager is there, if they have any of the outside trimmings of romaine lettuce, sometimes they will give them to you for free. I once got a huge box of the outside romaine leaves when the guy heard I had bunnies! You can also get yummy carrot tops too, same deal! Just have to find a grocery store or produce market that does it . Since they usually just throw them away since the outer leaves can be tough, some may be glad that they are going to good use and not just the garbage.

 

[kherrmann3]

By weight, 1/3 cup of pellets is 1 1/2 ounces. That is what I feed Toby daily. He doesn't eat it all, so I think I am going to cut him back down to 1 oz. Toby is a "larger" Netherland dwarf, by the way

I've found it is very helpful to have a "diet" kitchen scale around. Most rabbit resources tell you things in different measurements (cups, ounces, grams). It is very handy to have a mini-kitchen scale (up to one pound).

 

[Hayley411]

I feed the rabbits 1/8 cup of pellets twice a day along with unlimitted timothy hay. I never feed alfalfa because it is just to rich and Sherbert gets overwieght really easily. I also almost never feed veggies because Sherbert just can't handle them not sure why but they always give her soft poo.

~Hayley