healthy weight? and hay question

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This topic has 8sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 7 months ago by Sarita.

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- 09/15/2011 at 9:12 PM
  bunnyfriend
  Participant
  2368 posts
  How can you determine if a rabbit that is not full grown is at a healthy weight? Wilbur doesn’t look overweight but her tummy feels fuller. She gets unlimited pellets, alfalfa and timothy hay, vegetables, and occasional treats. She has run of a large room 24/7 and acess to more rooms a couple hours a day.
  
  Hay question: has anyone given thier buns Sunaturals Select Spring Harvest Timothy Hay? Is it good quality hay? Wilbur started picking out her alfalfa and avoiding the Oxbow timothy and I was desperate to get her to eat some more “healthy hay” so I bought the Sunaturals and she loves it. It feels softer and I’m not sure if that’s good or bad but I think that’s why she likes it.
- 09/16/2011 at 6:56 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  That’s a tough question to answer in young rabbits because they tend to be skinnier overall than a full grown adult rabbit. I would doubt at this young age she could really be overweight either as she is most likely more active than an older rabbit and has a higher metabolism than an older rabbit.
  
  How old is she now? You may want to start limiting the pellets and alfalfa hay.
  
  I’m not at all familiar with the Sunaturals hay.
- 09/16/2011 at 8:54 AM
  Joyfull_music
  Participant
  506 posts
  Never heard of that hay, but if she is eating it, then that is better then nothing I would think.
  
  As to weight, depends on the age and breed of your bun. My bun’s breed is very long and lean, so she is just skinny by nature. Yet as a baby she did have a nice full feeling tummy. I guess that vet opinion aside, using your best judgement is the next best thing.
- 09/16/2011 at 12:17 PM
  bwild
  Participant
  273 posts
  I used to feed that to my bun. I actually still have partial bag left that I never used so I can compare it to Oxbow (the brand I use now) for you:
  
  Sunaturals:
  Crude Protein (min)……5.0%
  Crude Fat (min)…………1.0%
  Crude Fiber (max)………43%
  Moisture (max)………….13.0%
  
  Oxbow:
  Crude Protein (min)……7.0%
  Crude Fat (min)…………1.5%
  Crude Fiber (max)………32%
  Moisture (max)………….15.0%
- 09/16/2011 at 6:29 PM
  bunnyfriend
  Participant
  2368 posts
  Sarita: She’s about 4 months old now, should I start limiting the pellets and alfalfa hay?
  
  bwild: Thanks!!! That’s really helpful!
  
  Joyfull_music: Thanks, maybe it is just a baby thing
- 09/16/2011 at 6:46 PM
  bwild
  Participant
  273 posts
  Oh, and your Wilbur and my Thumper could be siblings
- 09/16/2011 at 8:31 PM
  bunnyfriend
  Participant
  2368 posts
  Oh my goshhhh! Awhhhhh they look so much alike (: Adorable!
- 09/16/2011 at 9:10 PM
  Joyfull_music
  Participant
  506 posts
  I think she is ok to stay on unlimited pellets and some alfalfa for a little while longer. Are her pellets timothy or alfalfa? My crazy rabbit actually chose the timothy over the alfalfa when she was young. Which I guess is unusual. Also, are you introducing the veggies one at a time?
- 09/17/2011 at 2:39 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  No, she’s fine at this age on unlimited pellets. If she’s on alfalfa pellets you don’t need the alfalfa hay too, you should just use the grass hay and you really want her to get a taste for the grass hay anyway.
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