Won't eat hay!!

[snowbunnies]

One of my rabbits refuses to eat hay. I have tried all kinds and he only will grab it and throw it around instead of eating it. I am worried about his teeth growing too long since he doesn't chew very much unless he's eating his food mix and treats. He is very picky unfortunately. Are there other options that I could try?

 

[foreverjustaphase]

Are you making sure the hay is timothy and fresh? Rabbits often won't eat old hay. Even if you got it recently from the store you might want to check if it smells musty. If the hay is fresh, you may want to try chopping/tearing it up and mixing it with food or treats to encourage him. Also, you can buy fruit flavored chew sticks at the store to wear down his teeth. I let my rabbit chew on plain cardboard toliet paper rolls or unflavored chew sticks, but the fruit ones may help to get him to chew if he isn't enough.

 

[Bville]

I have one rabbit that doesn't eat much hay, but she loves to chew on branches from apple trees and willow trees.

 

[majorv]

Have you tried different kinds of hay/grass? Also, if you're feeding your rabbits pellets those help keep the teeth worn down.

 

[Ape337]

What type of food is he eating? Like his "food mix and treats"? Maybe he's like a kid that prefers junk food over healthy food. (I'm not implying that you are doing anything wrong)

 

[njbunny]

My bun also does not like to eat much hay. I keep refreshing the hay by adding a little new from the bag to the old and moving it around (helps a little). I also have tried putting it right into the box vs. a hay rack to see if he has a preference. Do you limit his pellets (1/4 to 1/2 cup pellets per 6 lbs. body weight a day) and vegg (1 cup of greens for 2 lbs of rabbit body weight once a day or divided into multiple feedings a day)? My bun will eat pellets and green over hay any time so if you are giving too much of those he may be filling up on them. If in the end he just wont eat hay an you have tried all different kinds then I would make sure he had hard things in his cage to chew on (mine also does not like to chew things (except plastic that he cant have oddly enough). Have you had his teeth checked?