Jessi chunky help

Mrs. PBJ · Jul 29, 2010

Ok so Jessi and Storm Eat Purina rabbit green bag.

They get 1/2 cup between the two of them. In one bowl they eat together. Well Jessi is not a hold me type bunny so I only cut her nails and check her teeth once every two months.

Well we did that yesterday and I realized she is chunky around her stomach she has a big round tummy. She does not have a dew lap which is why I never thought about being fat. Storm is a healthy weight. So Jessi must be getting more food as they each should get 1/4 cup between the two of them.

Sow what could I do they get unlimited hay and a few treats a day nothing crazy by any means no vegies as I do not have the money right now.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Korr_and_Sophie · Jul 29, 2010

Feeding them in separate bowls can help. You do have a bit more control over how much each gets. It is also easier to monitor who is eating more. If you give each 1/4 cup and one bun eats less than that, you can give a bit less. If you can feed them in seperate areas of the cage, that would be better.

Having 2 feedings during the day can also help. Each rabbit would get about 1/8 of a cup are each feeding. This way, if one rabbit doesn't eat as much at one feeding, the other doesn't get as much if they eat the left overs.

If Storm is a healthy weight, you might need to reduce the total amount given. If he is eating a good amount, then Jessi is eating too much. Maybe reducing the total amount to 1/3 of a cup could help.

Mrs. PBJ · Jul 29, 2010

I will try reducing for what ever reason Jessi will not eat if I separate them. She refuses which is one reason she does not get vegys in her diet.

Nancy McClelland · Jul 29, 2010

we had a bonded pair that we fed with separate bowls and if one tried to poach, the bowls got pulled.

Mrs. PBJ · Jul 29, 2010

Well neither of them eat there food in one sitting they much on it all day. So pulling the bowl will not work.

kirbyultra · Jul 29, 2010

It's difficult... Penny kept eating Kirby's food. Penny would eat it all in one shot and then poach Kirby's. It got so bad at one point she would steal his food to eat even though her plate was still full! It made me pretty mad. But Kirby literally could not get 2 bites of pellets or salad as a result.

I separate them at night so that Kirby can get his own share. It's sad to separate a bonded pair but they get 12 hours together during the day, and about 12 hours of separation at night. It does have its benefits. When one bun's poop looks weird, you can immediately tell who's not feeling well and who's not eating. If you do it that way, you can portion their food anyway you see fit.