dilemma with pellets

[lunavenus]

I know a rabbit’s diet has to be 90% hay and I give them that. I always have hay available for them 24/7. I refill their hay stack every morning and evening before I leave for class and after I eat dinner. I realized that I need to give them pellets too because I felt that Luna seems to not get the proper nutrients she needs. I used to feed them pellets when I first got them, but I stopped because I ran out. Then, after I restocked, I stopped because they started eating ALOT LESS HAY and TOO MUCH PELLETS. I needed to force them to eat their hay one way or another so I took out the pellets. After reading how vital it is to give them pellets though, I began giving them pellets again but I didn’t trust the brand and felt it had too much unnecessary and harmful things in it, so I ordered oxbow pellets. I finally got the shipment in for the timothy hay based oxbow pellets yesterday. I started feeding them the pellets today, but ever since I started giving them pellets I’ve noticed they aren’t touching their hay too much… What should I do? I’m confused and kind of frustrated. 

[Azerane]

What measurement of pellets are you feeding them? Or are you free feeding? Don’t give them a big bowl of pellets. The general recommended guideline for pellet serving size is 1/4 cup per 7 pounds of rabbit. Bandit weighed 7 pounds and I only gave him 2 tablespoons daily (1/4 cup is 3 tablespoons I believe). He ate lots of hay but the small amount of pellets ensured he was still getting the nutrients he needed.

So only give them a measured amount, otherwise they’ll eat themselves silly with pellets and not eat their hay well as you have observed 

[lunavenus]

I get confused on what to do because all these sites tell me that I should feed them unlimited pellets and hay because they are only 3 months old, but whenever I give them a good amount of pellets they just only eat the pellets ………. I re-racked a lot of hay into their cage but they still huddle towards the pellets and not the fresh hay. I’ll try only giving them limited pellets and see if that’ll make them eat more hay though.

[lunavenus]

Oh and their poops look at darker shade of brown whenever they eat too much pellets so I get worried. 

[Azerane]

Ahh, I wasn’t aware that they were 3 months. Unlimited is generally the recommendation made, however I really don’t think it should be because you then encounter the problems that you’ve been having with darker poops and less hay consumption. Growing rabbits should have more pellets though. I wouldn’t feed any more than 1 cup each daily and see how it goes. I really don’t know what measurement you’ve currently been feeding, I would start by halving it. That way they’re still getting plenty of pellets, but it should still encourage plenty of hay eating. Are they a smaller or larger breed?

[lunavenus]

I give them probably a lil less than a cup. I have those plastic dog bowls that have a section for water and a section for food. I’ve tried giving them small bowls of their own but they never stick to their own bowl and try to eat out of each others bowls, which makes a huge mess in their cage. I fill up the food section half full with pellets and they do a good job of sharing the pellets. They are dwarf holland lops so they are a small breed. Real cute duo but can be a bit picky and sassy lol. I’ll try giving them half a cup from today on. They are so into their pellets I think they even try to lick the crumbs out of the bowl…. I swear I see them try to eat the crumbs and I sit there like what are you two doing??.

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