Is this a good diet for a dwarf rabbit?

[KaitlinLawless]

So, I heard that for every pound of rabbit, you are supposed to feed it half an ounce plus one if it is growing. Is this true? I have been basing my bunnies diet on this, She weighs four pounds (She is a dwarf) and she was previously pellet fed at the farm she lived on. We bought two rabbits from them before, and we fed them lots of grass, without transitioning them from pellets, they got the bloat (RIP Blondie, and Oreo). Now, with my rabbit I am feeding it 2 ounces of carrots (I slowly started feeding her these) and 1 ounce of pellets, With Timothy Hay (Spring harvest). Is this a good Diet for my rabbit? I don't want to go wrong with her.

 

[Kipcha]

How old is the rabbit? What kind of pellets are you feeding?

Personally, when they're under 4-5 months, I give unlimited Alfalfa pellets and alfalfa hay. I'm not sure what everyone else does but the babies that have come here always grow up healthy and happy.

The recommended feeding of pellets by the House Rabbit Society is 1/2 cup per 6 lbs. body weight.

If you are just starting her on veggies, I would recommend laying off the carrots as they are very high in sugar and not very good for bunnies (Although carrot tops are a good snack!), maybe start off with some of the staple greens (We feed Cilantro, Parsley, Romaine/Greenleaf Lettuce and a few other veggies religiously). Just give small amounts at first, like a sprig or two of parsley or cilantro or part of a leaf of lettuce and see how your bunny reacts to the food. However, I would only recommend veggies when the rabbit is at least 4 months if she came from a farm where they are only on pellets.

And, as always, unlimited hay

 

[MyBabyHasPaws]

You should feed just Alfalfa pellets and Alfalfa Hay. I wouldnt give her any greens yet if she is under 5 months. Also, start with Romaine lettuce, just a nibble here and there until you transition her to that.

I wouldnt give her any carrots if she is young and only a little bit if she's older. Think of carrots as a treat, maybe a once a week type treat, and not in large amounts.

Good luck!

 

[KaitlinLawless]

Thanks for all the help

 

[cwolfec]

I have a dwarf bunny too; he weighs a bit less than 4 lbs. I had a scare with Bunny when he was eating more pellets than anything else, including hay or veggies.

If your bun is old enough, start her on veggies. Pay close attention to whether or not she gets gas. My bunny loves Basil, for example, but it gives him a tummy ache. Make sure she eats her hay...that should be the majority of a bun's diet. Make it exciting by sticking it in toilet paper tubes, tuck it into toys, and put it in her little box.

My baby gets unlimited pellets because she's 3 months, but Big Bunny only gets around 1/4 cup in the morning and 1/4 at bedtime. He gets fresh greens 4 times a day. Bunnies can't get fat off lettuce!

Definitely use carrots as treats only. I'm sorry to hear about your other bunnies... Hopefully you can get this girl's diet right and she'll be happy and healthy!

 

[KaitlinLawless]

I'll definitely try the paper tube thing, its very interesting. I don't feed my bunnie lettuce because it doesn't have enough nutrition to make it worth it...