Switching hay, needs some tips/tricks

[Azerane]

I'm currently in the process of switching Bandit from oaten hay, to meadow hay. I had been simply mixing in a small amount of the meadow in with the oaten, however I realised that I couldn't actually tell whether he was eating any of the meadow or not, so I've starting giving him small amounts separate to the oaten. Unfortunately, I'm finding that he either doesn't seem to like the meadow hay, or simply prefers the oaten.

Does anyone have any tips as to how to encourage him to eat the new hay? Should I try mixing them back together again which may result in him eating some by accident? Trouble is, I don't want to wean him off the oaten if he hasn't been eating much of the meadow, as he simply might refuse to eat it out of sheer stubbornness like he's done with new fresh greens. I think he's been eating a little of the meadow, but barely anything compared to how he chomps through the oaten.

Would appreciate some tips or tricks from other owners of fussy buns, how did you get your rabbit to make the switch? I think I started adding meadow hay last week friday, so it really hasn't been that long, but am just worried I'll run out of oaten before he likes his meadow

 

[whitelop]

As your transitioning the hays, I would add more meadow and less oat hay each time you give hay. I bet he does like the oat more, because its got oats on it and good stuff and they always tend to like it more.
If you start giving more meadow, he should learn to eat it. I think sometimes they can be difficult about it, but the more is in front of him the more he'll probably eat.
You could still feed oat as a treat, thats what I do.

 

[Korr_and_Sophie]

You can try giving just the meadow hay for a day. If he has pellets and get veggies, he should be fine for a little bit. See if he will eat any. He might not not want to eat the meadow hay because he has oat hay. If you take out the oat hay, then there isn't a choice if he wants hay. If after about 12 hours, if he hasn't eaten any of it, then give some oat so at least he as something. This will at least give you an idea if he will eat it or if he is really picky.

If he won't eat it, then I would keep mixing the hay. You can also try other hays like orchard grass as he might like that too.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

Some of ours took the transition in stride and others would pick out what they wanted--with the latter, they just got strait hay and after a few days there were no problems.

 

[Imbrium]

have you been pulling the actual oats out of the oat hay? if not, you really need to as all those excess carbs are no good for bunnies... and having the "treats" removed from his oat hay may make him more inclined to eat the meadow hay

 

[Azerane]

Thanks for all the tips guys. It seemed I spoke one night too soon though, as last night I put meadow hay in his litter tray, and oat hay in his hay ball, and this morning I found almost all the meadow gone, and the ball with oat hay in it hardly touched and in his water bowl! So he does eat it, he was just apparently being picky.

I appreciated the help

 

[JBun]

Sometimes rabbits are just reluctant to try a new food, but once they get brave enough to try it, they decide it's not so bad.

 

[jamesedwardwaller]

I'm currently in the process of switching Bandit from oaten hay, to meadow hay. I had been simply mixing in a small amount of the meadow in with the oaten, however I realised that I couldn't actually tell whether he was eating any of the meadow or not, so I've starting giving him small amounts separate to the oaten. Unfortunately, I'm finding that he either doesn't seem to like the meadow hay, or simply prefers the oaten.

Does anyone have any tips as to how to encourage him to eat the new hay? Should I try mixing them back together again which may result in him eating some by accident? Trouble is, I don't want to wean him off the oaten if he hasn't been eating much of the meadow, as he simply might refuse to eat it out of sheer stubbornness like he's done with new fresh greens. I think he's been eating a little of the meadow, but barely anything compared to how he chomps through the oaten.

Would appreciate some tips or tricks from other owners of fussy buns, how did you get your rabbit to make the switch? I think I started adding meadow hay last week friday, so it really hasn't been that long, but am just worried I'll run out of oaten before he likes his meadow

:happyrabbit:my critters get timothy grasses,,and i switch to orchard periodically,,--timothy has the highest of non digestible fibers--which is perfect for a herbivore,,-changing grasses doesnot require a breakin period ie..pellets,,--i am not able to get other grasses from the ranch nearby..a perfect diet is 70% grasses,some quality pellets,water,small amount of treats..r-o-l library has a safe list for treats and warnings--also find out about the disease called myxi,-:in tears:-cannot be too careful in your area..ask your nearby exotic dvm..sincerely james waller :love: