New pellets = bad behaviors?

[Michelle&Lolli]

I switched Lolli to oxbow timothy pellets from kaytee timothy pellets.  Umm….she’s not too happy about this change.  Yes, I switched her too fast. She’s not having any gut problems, but she hasn’t been eating the new pellets.  If I can scrounge up the money (ie get some from either parent) I’m going to buy a bag of the kaytee brand and mix it with the oxbow.   

Lolli has started doing things she hasn’t done since Eddie was alive.  She’s started chewing on the coffee table and tearing up the carpet in the hallway.  And I think she was chewing on the recliner last night but I didn’t find any marks so I’m not sure.  Is it just a coincidence that these behaviors started around the time I switched her pellets?  

Nothing has changed really.  I’ve been gone to physical therapy 2 days a week and then have had dentist appointments.  And I’ve been out to my dad’s and visiting friends.  It’s not like I’ve been super busy but I guess to rabbit, going from being home pretty much every day all day to being gone for whole day once a week might be a lot.  lol  

She has hay cubes and unlimited hay.  Like normal.  

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I’ve found mine totally prefer to eat any other pellet then Oxbow. I *know* that means the oxbow is better and healthier and the other I think it’s like giving salad to someone who likes pasta…tip the bowl and hope pasta is underneath Oxbow is by far superior in my opnion but it was a hard switch for my guys when my store started (Finally!) carrying oxbow They totally gave me the stink eye, and dug the pellets on the floor in search of their old pellets which were mixed in. Even Chuck, who I adopted and had been fed Oxbow, preferred the other and dug out the oxbow. I think it goes to show that they think the other pellets are junky treats

I know a ‘slow’ switch is recommended, but I’ve never met an animal who would. They eat which food they prefer and not the other. So honestly since you’ve already switched, so long as she is eating them (and when she gets hungry she will!) then I’d leave it at that. And the naughty behavior…I’d be temped to chalk that up to ‘grossssss mom! I don’t eat health food…I eat coffee tables’ heheeh I’d see how long it lasts and keep a watch Not to worry me thinks

[Michelle&Lolli]

Ok. There is some kaytee mixed in. But not very much. I can’t even tell which is which when I look at the pellet box. lol She does munch on them when I give her fresh. And I was also afraid that if I did a gradual switch, she’d just eat the kaytee and leave the rest anyways. Don’t have money to waste pellets. lol

She hasn’t been super bad with the chewing. It’s just weird that all of a sudden, she just starts up again. Although when she chews on the coffee table and I reach down to shoo her away, she immediately puts her head down for pets. So maybe she’s just doing it for attention. For a bunny who doesn’t like being petted much, she sure is turning into an attention hog.

When I first got Eddie, I bought him the REALLY junky pellets with the seeds and nuts mixed in. Well about a week after I got him, I read that he shouldn’t eat all that so I bought him just plain timothy pellets. He’d always dig out the pellets to get to the “junk” in the old pellets. When I switched him for the first time, he dug all the pellets out of the bowl and then gave me a grumpy “what the hell?!” look. LOL

[LoveChaCha]

Do you have any access to cardboard boxes for toys? Maybe she’ll forget about the carpet tearing and go for the boxes

[BinkyBunny]

Posted By Michelle&Lolli on 03/25/2011 11:28 PM
Ok. There is some kaytee mixed in. But not very much. I can’t even tell which is which when I look at the pellet box. lol She does munch on them when I give her fresh. And I was also afraid that if I did a gradual switch, she’d just eat the kaytee and leave the rest anyways. Don’t have money to waste pellets. lol

This makes me laugh because that’s exactly what some of my bunnies did.  They would eat the the old and leave the new Oxbow stuff.  But then over time –I’d say about two weeks, they were eating it all, so who knows if they would have eaten it all in two weeks regardless if I switched or not.  My guess is they probably would…or they’d be really really hungry!.  I think that the reason for the gradual switch is just to help the digestion tract get used to the change as bunny tummies can be sensitive and for some, even if you are making a healthier switch it can cause tummy upsets if it’s done so quickly.   It’s more of a safe than sorry type of thing I think.

[Michelle&Lolli]

Chacha – she is currently remodeling her maze haven. She has things to chew on and eat. She’s just a typical rabbit and snubs all that for everything she shouldn’t touch. lol

I will give her more time and see how it goes with the switch. I guess I just thought that the oxbow timothy o treats was getting her ready for the transition. LOL She knows she’s on a diet cause she has been begging for treats more. She thinks she’s starving to death. Nevermind the pellets, hay cubes and hay. Plus her lettuce she gets at night.

[Monkeybun]

Sounds like you better do some extra bunny proofing :p

[Michelle&Lolli]

Everything was FINE until she decided to start chewing on everything again. 6 months. AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! lol    The hallway is now blocked off.    

[BinkyBunny]

 Young bunnies — even for the few couple of years or so can be so destructive– thank goodness they are so cute.   I had taken a video of Jack when he was younger (it was around 6 or so years ago even though the youtube video is only 4 years old).   ANYWAY, he loved to go into the closet to get into trouble there, he’d dig at the rug, the baseboards, clothes, drawers, and so I just put a bunch of paper and phone books there. Though I knew he’d make a mess, I was surprised at how much of a mess he actually made.    Here’s a video of it.  Sorry it is so dark– it was late

 

Rucy loved to dig even when she grew older. She wasn’t ever destructive with the house, but she loved her diggy box.

[jerseygirl]

So cute – great vids!

I was thinking Michelle, this is a good thing Lolli is getting more active. Just a shame your furniture is at risk though! I’m curious what the main difference between the Kaytee timothy pellet and Oxbow one it. I saw fat content is one. Any others?

I think some feeds (high calorie) might leave rabbits a bit comatose. Or alternatively, hyperactive because of an additive or other ingredient. Like a food reaction. Lots of things like that effect us, especially children! I don’t see why same could not be said for rabbits and processed foods.

[Michelle&Lolli]

Jersey – I was thinking the same thing. That it’s good she’s getting more active and feeling better. I just wish she wouldn’t chew or dig the carpet. LOL

Cute videos. I have tried creating dig boxes for Eddie and Lolli and they always got ignored.

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