It is highly commendable that you’re putting yourself out here to get some advice. Admittedly, some users may give you flack for improper rabbit diet; however, the fact that you’re acknowledging the mistake and putting in effort to amend it is praiseworthy, so I wish you the best in your efforts.
At this point, it may be best to employ “hay is all you have” tactic. Hay with goodie bits inside will perpetuate picky eating. This is why I don’t give Wick Oat hay often, because he becomes picky and only eats seeds.
I suggest doing one veggie feeding in the morning, than schedule your pellet feeding in the later day or evening. Stick to this as much as you can and don’t. Give. In. Unless your rabbit is literally showing signs of starvation, but eventually, she should eat hay.
In terms of type of hay, as I said, don’t choose ones with goodie bits. Timothy is the go to, but since your rabbit has established a more selective eating habit, I’d try plain orchard hay, which is a favorite among many rabbits. Offer fresh orchard hay. If in two hours she still doesn’t bite, put the hay you presented in a “hay box” (which you can will use in the future to cycle in old hay with new hay so you don’t waste hay), and refill her bowl with fresh orchard hay from the bag. Hay that sits out loses its fresh scent, but even if your rabbit doesn’t eat any of it, rotating fresh hay will keep it as enticing as possible, so once she does nibble, she will have the tastiest morsels! To boost the hay enticing factor, you could mix in oat hay as well. I’d do this at a smaller ratio compared to orchard though.
In terms of presentation, rabbits will have “passes” through hay commonly. First pass, they eat the best bits. Then they leave the hay and do something else. They seem uninterested, but then they go for the second pass to get the acceptable pieces, then the third pass… So rabbits like a good amount of hay to sift through. Rather than a bowl, put a good amount of hay in her litter box or invest in a hay rack. Don’t do a mountain, but a good handful so she has plenty to sniff through.
I’d stop using sugar-based items to entice her. It’s similar to feeding a child candy as a way to encourage eating salads.
The more you give in to her demands for her preferred food and sugar incentives, the more the selective eating will continue. Think of her exactly like a picky child– you give in once or space out the candy, and the child will just continue to not eat salads and wait/beg for the good stuff.
Your rabbit has been used to this for so long (no hay diet), so the transition will be, inevitably hard. Since hay is a helpful digestive system regulator, the adding of hay, I’d think, is the one item that wouldn’t throw off your rabbits digestive system too much. Still, make sure you’re monitoring how her poops look.
There’s really no replacement for hay, aside from fresh grass. But I pass that off to other BB members who are more informed.
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.