Do bunnies need vitamins/supplements?

[Priya]

My bunny, Binky is about 9 months old and I had him since he was 5 weeks old. His diet has always been: unlimited Oxbow Alfalfa and Young rabbit pellet until he was about 5/6 months. After he turned 6 months old, he started getting unlimited Oxbow Timothy/Western Timothy and Young rabbit pellets. I also started introducing leafy greens and occasional fresh fruits and berries at that point. So that’s what he’s on now. But should I give him any vitamins or supplements besides these? He is overall a healthy bunny (took him to the vet a few week ago for check up and to schedule neutering) but I wonder if he’s missing something? 

 

 

 

[tanlover14]

He does not need supplementing with vitamins BUT you do need to limit his pellets or you will have an overweight bun bun on your hands – which is not something you want to deal with.

The typical amount is about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of pellets per 6 lbs. of rabbit. Do you know how much your bunny weighs? Do not take it away all at once though, you’ll need to limit the amount slowly over a few weeks. Find out how much he’s eating as it is by measuring the amount that he’s eating daily and then decreasing the amount from there until you get to the ideal amount for his weight.

He sounds like he’s getting a very nice diet besides too many pellets though! Oxbow is definitely the food and brand I am partial too! I LOVE their products!

[LBJ10]

I agree with tanlover. You can start reducing his pellets now. At 9 months, he’s probably done growing and doesn’t need the extra calories. Unless he’s a giant breed, of course. You will want to transition to an adult pellet too.

Bunnies typically don’t need extra nutritional supplements since they get what they need from pellets. Veggies can also give them some vitamins and minerals, but it is difficult for most people to provide a large enough variety (or their bun is too picky). So as long as you’re feeding pellets, everything should be fine.

Oxbow does make a few supplements for digestion, joints, etc. But a young healthy bun shouldn’t need them.

[MoveDiagonally]

I also ditto TL’s advice.

[tanlover14]

Oh great pick-up, LBJ. I didn’t actually realize that he is on a mix of Adult & Young. I would transition fully to Adult as the Young Rabbit is made with alfalfa and is sure to make him put on the pounds. And THEN reduce pellets to the accepted amount.

[Priya]

I have limited his pellets recently. I did try the adult pellet a month or so ago and he didn’t like it and started losing weight. I got worried and switched back to the young rabbit. He has bounced back since. Binky has really soft and glossy coat. He is a very high energy bunny. The vet says he is 1.4 (not sure lb or kg..he is definitely not chubby. Just right). She didn’t mention anything about weight other than he is in very good shape. She specializes in exotics and I do trust her. Oxbow package says not to limit young rabbit pellets until the bunny is a year old. He’s getting the pellets but like a handful in the morning and again in the evening. He loves hay & greens so that’s the majority (specially the hay). I have also increased his exercise time. He was out all day today and yesterday…since like 10:00 am to midnight. I rarely give him the minimum 3 hours anyway (even if I’m not home all day..I let him out in the evening for a few hours and do my thing. Then we both go to sleep). I leave his cage open so if he wants food & water, he hops in and out. He doesn’t spend a lot of time on the food..he’s more interested in running and playing around!

I will buy the adult food in a few weeks and try again..I don’t think he’s gonna grow anymore as well. Binky is a dwarf. Not a picky bunny at all but who knows why he didn’t like it!

[LBJ10]

There is a lot of flexibility in the timeframe for transitioning a young bunny to adult food because it will vary between individuals. You can feed him the young rabbit formula up until a year old, but it likely isn’t necessary. If he’s a dwarf, then he is likely done growing. We usually caution people about waiting too long to make the switch since a bunny can become overweight by eating the higher calorie stuff. If he is okay, then I wouldn’t stress about it too much. Maybe try stretching the transition out longer. Mix the young and the adult, starting with mostly young. Then gradually decrease the young and increase the adult. Hopefully he will get a taste for the adult. The young is alfalfa-based, so it is no surprise he favors it. Alfalfa is sweet.

[Priya]

Great to know all that, because detailed infos like these can’t be found on package instructions. I’m halfway through his hay, food and bedding…so when I go buying them soon, I will get the adult pellet instead of the young and start mixing with the half pack young pellets. Hopefully he will develop the taste for it this time around. Do you think the Western Timothy is fine or should I go with just regular Timothy?

[tanlover14]

Western Timothy is definitely fine – as is Orchard Grass, Oat Hay, and Botanical!

When I was switching mine over I made a mixture of 1/4 of the Adult pellets and 3/4 of the Young Rabbit. Did that for a week, then the 2nd week 1/2 and 1/2 and the third week the first week switched, and then 4th week was completely Adult. It’s a lot easier of a way to get them to begin to eat it then just switching completely. And still allows him to have some munches of the Young until he’s switched without it being a shock.

[Priya]

Thanks so much! I was wondering about the other kinds of hay and mixing them up a bit for him. Eating the same things can get a bit boring I guess! I’ll get him some Botanical with the Western and the Adult pellet in a few days.

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