How much pellets???veggies?

[spunkysmokey]

HI I have a 17 week old bun, he only weighs about 3lbs. I feed him a mix of oxbow young rabbit food and oxbow adult food. I was wandering how much I should feed him. Right now He doesn’t get veggies on a daily basis so should I feed him more? He gets a small hand full of pellets in the morning and at night, he always has timothy hay, and I have a small cat double bowl so on one side he gets pellets and the other a bit of alfalfa hay. And does he need veggies on a daily basis? Any advice is welcome! thanks!

[Wick & Fable]

It’s recommended to begin transitioning daily veggies into the diet at around 6mo. Until then, the large majority of the diet should be hay, with a supplement of pellets, based on your rabbit’s age and weight.

You could probably give him a bit more pellets…? I’m not sure, but generally he should be eating majority hay.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[sarahthegemini]

At 12 weeks is when you can start introducing veggies. When you know his tummy is okay with it, you should give a cup for every 2lbs of body weight (so two cups if he weighs 4 lbs for example) They need a variety of leafy greens every day.

[joea64]

For adult rabbits, I recommend timothy-based pellets, fed strictly according to the instructions on the bag (Oxbow Essentials Adult Rabbit Food, for instance, is to be fed 1/8 to 1/4 cup per 5 lb. adult body weight per day; I err toward the smaller amount), and according to the guidelines established by house-rabbit authorities over the past several decades. Pellets should only be fed to adult rabbits in small amounts as noted, as supplements to a hay-centered diet.

Per Sarah, dark-green, leafy vegetables should be offered to adult rabbits, once they’re properly accustomed to them, at the rate of 1 cup per 2 lb. adult body weight per day. I feed my own Panda and Fernando, who are approximately 4 lb. each, a large bowl of spring mix, which contains at least half-a-dozen kinds of rabbit-suitable greens, containing approximately 4 cups of vegetables or maybe a bit more every evening. The measure isn’t exact, but I always fill the bowl to the top and it seems to work since they share it very well, as they do their pellets.

In the present case, Smokey is still only about 4 months old so you can wait another couple of months to begin introducing vegetables, in small amounts and one at a time, into his diet. At this time, he needs chiefly alfalfa hay and alfalfa-based pellets (some sources say the pellets should be unlimited in babyhood, but follow the directions on the Oxbow bag). Hay should be unlimited at any stage of a rabbit’s life from when he becomes able to eat solid food. I think that at around the same time he’s ready to start trying veggies, you can also begin to transition Smokey from alfalfa hay and pellets to timothy hay and pellets.

[Deleted User]

For adults it’s 1/8 cup pellets per 2 lbs of body weight, I think. My Ophelia is almost 9 months, about 3lbs, but I only give her that 1/8 cup pellets in the AM, along with 1 cup of spring mix lettuce. After work she gets another cup of lettuce, and then from the afternoon-bed time I give herbs and some other veggies, such as bell pepper.

My 4 month mini lop gets 1/8 cup of pellets twice a day. I was giving him 1/4 cup twice, so a total of 1/2 cup daily, but he was starting to blow up in size lol. So we have cut back. He gets alfalfa hay and timothy. It’s funny because my female goes absolutely bonkers for alfalfa and she was SOOO hard to transition because she just refused to eat timothy hay when she was old enough to stop alfalfa. Quincy will eat whatever you give him, so I usually give him a pile of alfalfa in a hay rack once a day and he has timothy hay in his litter box. I also try to give a variety, so I will usually have orchard grass and oat hay on hand as well.

[Wick & Fable]

To offer another view from joea64 (who is completely correct; what’s written is what’s recommended), I will say that Wick never ate alfalfa hay since he’s been with me (8wo), has always had the timothy-based pellets (excess calcium issues with the alfalfa-based pellets), and pellets were always limited to the directions on Oxbow’s packaging. That being said, Wick’s vet did say Wick was a bit underweight after about 2mo, but after a week of feeding Critical Care, he has maintained his healthy weight, without adjusting his already-set diet.

In short, based on my experience, don’t feel to harshly about yourself for not offering all alfalfa hay. Wick was going through antibiotics treatment since 9wo, which lasted 3mo, and he is a complete and healthy bun-bun now, despite his youth diet being different. His diet was consulted with his vet though, so should you decide to change the diet you’ve already told your vet about, consult him/her for recommendations first, if possible. If you vet doesn’t know your rabbit’s diet, I highly suggest telling him/her so you can get feedback.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[joea64]

I agree with Wick – the key thing is whether Smokey is thriving and growing on his current diet. If he is, you shouldn’t change it drastically without prior consultation with his vet.

[joea64]

Posted By BunNoob on 8/30/2017 8:08 AM

For adults it’s 1/8 cup pellets per 2 lbs of body weight, I think. My Ophelia is almost 9 months, about 3lbs, but I only give her that 1/8 cup pellets in the AM, along with 1 cup of spring mix lettuce. After work she gets another cup of lettuce, and then from the afternoon-bed time I give herbs and some other veggies, such as bell pepper.

My 4 month mini lop gets 1/8 cup of pellets twice a day. I was giving him 1/4 cup twice, so a total of 1/2 cup daily, but he was starting to blow up in size lol. So we have cut back. He gets alfalfa hay and timothy. It’s funny because my female goes absolutely bonkers for alfalfa and she was SOOO hard to transition because she just refused to eat timothy hay when she was old enough to stop alfalfa. Quincy will eat whatever you give him, so I usually give him a pile of alfalfa in a hay rack once a day and he has timothy hay in his litter box. I also try to give a variety, so I will usually have orchard grass and oat hay on hand as well.

I actually wonder if I should start doing that (using other green vegetables and herbs as treats, that is). Maybe cilantro, parsley and mint? These three are pretty universally confirmed as rabbit-suitable, and of these three, mint seems the most “treat-like” by virtue of its taste.

[Deleted User]

Posted By joea64 on 8/30/2017 8:18 AM

Posted By BunNoob on 8/30/2017 8:08 AM

For adults it’s 1/8 cup pellets per 2 lbs of body weight, I think. My Ophelia is almost 9 months, about 3lbs, but I only give her that 1/8 cup pellets in the AM, along with 1 cup of spring mix lettuce. After work she gets another cup of lettuce, and then from the afternoon-bed time I give herbs and some other veggies, such as bell pepper.

My 4 month mini lop gets 1/8 cup of pellets twice a day. I was giving him 1/4 cup twice, so a total of 1/2 cup daily, but he was starting to blow up in size lol. So we have cut back. He gets alfalfa hay and timothy. It’s funny because my female goes absolutely bonkers for alfalfa and she was SOOO hard to transition because she just refused to eat timothy hay when she was old enough to stop alfalfa. Quincy will eat whatever you give him, so I usually give him a pile of alfalfa in a hay rack once a day and he has timothy hay in his litter box. I also try to give a variety, so I will usually have orchard grass and oat hay on hand as well.

I actually wonder if I should start doing that (using other green vegetables and herbs as treats, that is). Maybe cilantro, parsley and mint? These three are pretty universally confirmed as rabbit-suitable, and of these three, mint seems the most “treat-like” by virtue of its taste.

That’s exactly what I use it for, little snacks or treats when I want Ophelia to come hang out with me on the couch. Nothing wrong with some bribes right?  Basil is one herb that they absolutely love. One of my neighbors works at a grocery store and he always brings me fresh plants for my bunnies! I haven’t tried with Quincy, but my sister needed to purge her garden that had become over grown so I got a TON of herbs: parsley, mint, basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, lavender, and I think dill. Ophelia ate all of them! (Quincy wasn’t old enough to be having veggies at the time, so it was fair for Ophelia to get it all)

[spunkysmokey]

Thank you every one for all the Help! I will start giving him greens in the morning, and maybe more alfalfa hay. Thanks again!!!

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By spunkysmokey on 8/30/2017 4:19 PM

Thank you every one for all the Help! I will start giving him greens in the morning, and maybe more alfalfa hay. Thanks again!!!

You must do it slowly though. Offer a small piece of romaine for example, if his tummy is okay then increase the amount gradually. And only introduce one new veggie per week.

[joea64]

Posted By sarahthegemini on 8/31/2017 3:04 AM

Posted By spunkysmokey on 8/30/2017 4:19 PM

Thank you every one for all the Help! I will start giving him greens in the morning, and maybe more alfalfa hay. Thanks again!!!

You must do it slowly though. Offer a small piece of romaine for example, if his tummy is okay then increase the amount gradually. And only introduce one new veggie per week.

For my part, when I start in with herbs as treats I’ll just get one a week and see how they like it before moving on to the next one. They’ve been very solid about eating everything put in front of them so far but no sense tempting fate!

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By joea64 on 8/31/2017 6:25 AM

Posted By sarahthegemini on 8/31/2017 3:04 AM

Posted By spunkysmokey on 8/30/2017 4:19 PM

Thank you every one for all the Help! I will start giving him greens in the morning, and maybe more alfalfa hay. Thanks again!!!

You must do it slowly though. Offer a small piece of romaine for example, if his tummy is okay then increase the amount gradually. And only introduce one new veggie per week.

For my part, when I start in with herbs as treats I’ll just get one a week and see how they like it before moving on to the next one. They’ve been very solid about eating everything put in front of them so far but no sense tempting fate!

I can’t wait for the two terrors to have a nice wide variety of greens again (Buttercup had tummy issues so veggies were stopped a few months ago, we’re reintroducing them as of a few days ago) They’re on just romaine for another week but I think I’ll try dill next. They loved dill! 

[spunkysmokey]

OK will do! I gave him half a leaf of romaine and he seems to do fine! Thanks again!

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