Switching pellets?

[Randi]

I will be adopting a rabbit in the near future. I believe she is currently being fed a different pellet than I plan to feed (I am going to feed Oxbow BB T), and I want to know what is the best way to make this switch. Should I make a gradual switch by mixing the food?

Second question here... what if in the event she doesn't take to the BB T I need to switch to another pellet? Is there a list of top quality pellets from which I can choose? Thanks for the help!

 

[maxysmummy]

mix in gradually,

so first couple of days have 3/4 old pellets 1/4 new pellets, then go to 1/2 1/2 and then 3/4 new 1/4 old then 100% new.

i think there is a very slim chance they wont like the oxbow pellets, they are delicious

and to be honest with the gradual thing its not as important as made out - whenever i switch food brands i do it quite quickly and have never had any real problems other than an overproduction of cecotropes

 

[Randi]

Terrific - thank you so much for your reply!

 

[Korr_and_Sophie]

You should take at least a week to switch pellets, but can do longer if the rabbit needs it.
I usually mix a small amount that is about 50% old and 50% new and feed that for about a week. You can also have 2 containers and give an equal amount of each. If your rabbit does well on this, give more of the new pellets the next week and continue until you are out of the old stuff. I usually do a 50/50 mix until I am almost out of the old, then increase the amount of the new until I am out of the old stuff.

Some rabbits are pickier than others. Don't be surprised if your rabbit just eats the old stuff and leaves the new for a couple days. Try giving smaller amounts at a time and more often so the rabbit has to eat all the pellets before getting more.
You need to be tough and not give more just because your rabbit looks hungry. She will eat the oxbow if she gets hungry enough and there is nothing else (expect hay and veggies if you give them).

My rabbits that are on Oxbow eat it very willingly. However, if they have access to other pellets, those are preferred so I only give the Oxbow.

 

[Randi]

Thanks! I'm crossing my fingers that I don't have a problem but of course I am terrified of her not eating, so here's to hoping for a seamless transition!

 

[Sweetie]

Never ever switch to new foods quickly. Because it will/could upset the GI tract of the rabbit. Whenever I have to switch to a new food for my rabbits, I do it for two weeks to make sure that they can handle the new food.

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Korr_and_Sophie wrote:

You should take at least a week to switch pellets, but can do longer if the rabbit needs it.
I usually mix a small amount that is about 50% old and 50% new and feed that for about a week. You can also have 2 containers and give an equal amount of each. If your rabbit does well on this, give more of the new pellets the next week and continue until you are out of the old stuff. I usually do a 50/50 mix until I am almost out of the old, then increase the amount of the new until I am out of the old stuff.

Some rabbits are pickier than others. Don't be surprised if your rabbit just eats the old stuff and leaves the new for a couple days. Try giving smaller amounts at a time and more often so the rabbit has to eat all the pellets before getting more.
You need to be tough and not give more just because your rabbit looks hungry. She will eat the oxbow if she gets hungry enough and there is nothing else (expect hay and veggies if you give them).

My rabbits that are on Oxbow eat it very willingly. However, if they have access to other pellets, those are preferred so I only give the Oxbow.

I would stretch it out two weeks total, by adding smaller amounts, then slowly adding more of the new. So, a bit more slowly.. Same idea.

This is correct way to do it!

 

[Nela]

Suddenly switching foods might not harm every rabbit but there is a real risk that it can so it should really be avoided. There are factors that come into play as well (such as age) which might cause a bunny to be seriously affected. I just wouldn't risk it, especially if we are talking about a young bunny. I'm with AngelnSnuffy and would do it gradually over the course of two weeks or so. I usually go about it a bit differently though. I usually start very slowly so not more than 1/4 if that... Then increase every 3-4 days or so. I'm paranoid.

 

[Tweetiepy]

Mine hated the Oxbow pellets - I started with 1/4, then 1/2 then 3/4 of the new - he would always leave the Oxbow until the end or not eat them. Then when I switched to all Oxbow he ate them (I transitioned over about a month - because I had lots of the old pellets) now he loves the Oxbow - I still give him the old ones as "treats"

 

[Randi]

I'm so glad I posted --- thanks so much for all of the great responses!

 

[Flash Gordon]

if hes eating alfalfa based pellets now ..and u switch over to the timothy based ,,.,hes prob gonna go on strike for a little bit..alfalfa based are so much yummier to them..but the timothy is the best for adult buns...i personaly use the alfalfa based for all my buns cuz i feed a small amount to them 1/4 cup -1/3 cup ..the 1/3 is for my giants....and its wayy cheaper to buy..i get a 50lb bag of purina fibre 3 for 17.oo ....i have 9 bunnies to feed so oxbow can get expensive.. ..as uve already researched feeding 1 bunny the timothy based is the best way to go......
when u mix the two pellets together he will prob pick thru and eat the alfalfa ones first...just be strong cuz hes gonna give u that "im starving look how cute i am look" and its easy to fall for their preciousness.. post pics of ur new one when he arrives...

 

[Nancy McClelland]

We usually take about two weeks to make the transition. They like the Alfalfa better as it's sweeter, but all of our's also like to eat so they survived it.