Stupid question… what is she eating?

[ZoeS]

A couple weeks ago, I had to euthanize my aging rabbit. His companion, Penny, is still going strong.  I was concerned about her grieving process but she was there when he was put to sleep and has seemed her normal self since our return from the vet.

Unfortunately, Penny is “kind of” tame. She will run to me for treats, I can pet her on the head sometimes, and if I’m quick (and need to) I can catch her. But she doesn’t really come to me for attention. Also, their cage is in the (finished) basement, because it’s spacious and cool, and they would come upstairs together when I was home. Now that she’s alone, she is pretty much free range because I didn’t want her cooped up by herself. She does come upstairs and interacts with the cats.

Anyway, my stupid question. I am concerned about the quantity of food she’s eating, even though her poops are fine (and plentiful… sigh) and she’s not lost any weight.  She eats her pellets (1/4-1/3 cup/day) and her greens (a large bowl full of assorted greens, 5-6 times / week), and 2-3 small treats per day (a raisin, bite of banana etc).  Which isn’t that much food, is it? She eats hay but she doesn’t seem to be eating much of it.

She does like to chew things. Could she have a secret chewing stock and is living mostly on drywall or something?? I mean that doesn’t seem too likely but I’m at a loss because I am not replacing that much hay every day, like just one big handful and it definitely feels like less than 1/2 of what I used to feed them both – yet she’s pooping normally.

I am not too worried because she seems fine but I’m just confused.

[JackRabbit]

Could it be that her buddy was eating more than you thought and she’s eating the same amount she’s always eaten?

[Sarita]

I imagine it is hard to gauge when you had two rabbits and now one. I doubt she has a secret stash anywhere. She very well could have just been eating less than half to begin with and her companion was eating more. I wouldn’t worry as long as everything else is fine.

[ZoeS]

Maybe – she is smaller, but she’s also considerably tubbier. Abe was a bony 4.5lbs (max 6lbs before he got sick). Maybe as an angora he had to eat a lot to maintain that fur?

Well that helps set my mind at ease, anyway! She has peeled the drywall before and eaten that… but obviously she wouldn’t be living and pooping normally on whatever drywall she could get to without me seeing or hearing it.

[Megabunny]

They typically recommend greens daily

[ZoeS]

Yes. Sometimes I am unable to do greens daily (run out / stores are closed / away for a day) so realistically speaking I do skip a day here and there.

[Megabunny]

I get it. Seems like the cupboard is always bare doesn’t it?? I’m growing some greens this summer. Nothing elaborate, but just a little something to top off the salads for those times I have nothing exciting…not even dry wall ha ha

[Author]

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