OverWyreGrower Posted May 26, 2008 Share Posted May 26, 2008 Right, I've just rehomed another rabbit (Sweeney) and he is totally different to Starsky in that he eats mainly fresh food. Starsky just pees on anything other than hay or dried pellets I've given Sweeney a good mix of fruit and vegetables, lots of hay and some dried pellets too. He seems to munch his way through the veg/fruit at a ridiculous speed (and I've checked he's not hoarding it). How much should I be giving him? I'd assumed that one full bowl of fruit and veg a day, plus the hay and pellets would be fine. Yesterday he was in the run all day with Starsky and he ate (on his own): 1 whole carrot 5 grapes 5 cherry tomatoes Huge handful of spinach Huge handful of curly kale 4 cauliflower florettes 4 broccoli florettes Handful of dandelion leaves Should I be feeding him more than once a day (if you see what I mean)? Am I giving him enough? He's a nice weight, very mobile/agile and he's about 2 or 3 years old. Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 Sorry, no idea whatsoever, but I can't help laughing at the image of your new bunny eating you out of house and home. He has got good taste hasn't he? I'd love to see a picture? I am sure Clare or another experienced bunny owner will be able to help out soon. Meanwhile, I suggest you take out a second mortgage for the food bill! Would it be worth trying "Burns?" http://www.rabbit-food.co.uk/ (website based and they deliver too). I know they do a really hight quality rabbit food. My new one goes mad for their dried carrots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 I love the clever name....Starsky and.....Hutch!! brilliant. It is a while since we had rabbits, but it sounds as if you are doing the right thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 (edited) Lovely to hear about your new Bunny. They need roughly the following proportions in their diet: 25% dried or pellet food 25% 'green' food 50% dried meadow hay. This is recommended purely to keep their digestive tract in good order and to avert tummy troubles, which bunnies can be prone to. Having said that, each Bun has it's own tastes as you've found, so long as you keep the amount of roughage (hay) high, then you shouldnt have too many problems. There are some excellent tips here Edited May 31, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlickin Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 Sorry to be contraversial but from what I understand, rabbits need 90% of hay as their diet, then small amount of pellets that can be eaten in 5-10 minutes and a few veg/fruit as treats. Websites with this information can be found on the House Rabbit Society website called www.rabbit.org or RSPCA Norfolk West Branch which is www.rspcarabbits.co.uk. I hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockeyaholic Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 Sorry to be contraversial but from what I understand, rabbits need 90% of hay as their diet, then small amount of pellets that can be eaten in 5-10 minutes and a few veg/fruit as treats.Websites with this information can be found on the House Rabbit Society website called www.rabbit.org or RSPCA Norfolk West Branch which is www.rspcarabbits.co.uk. I hope this helps. To be honest, this is along the lines I was thinking too. I do believe it depends on the bunny though. But hay is definately the major part of their diet. One of my bunnies, Delilah, has quite a sensitive tummy so have to be careful as to what amounts & when I give her pellets & veg. When we took her to see the vets they said that rabbits can live on just hay (not that I'm recommending anyone does that, i think its just if a bunny really cant take pellets & veg). In relation to Delilah though it was a case of taking her off the grass & splitting the amount of pellets we give them to morning & evening rather then all in one go. Between my two bunnies (Tallulah is a mini lop & Delilah is a Netherland Dwarf) they have a constant supply of hay, 1/2 cup of pellets in morning & 1/4 cup at night, & then approx. every other day they have a carrot between them or a few florets of broccoli etc. Our vet says their weight is fine & healthy, & they don't have upset tummies anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OverWyreGrower Posted June 2, 2008 Author Share Posted June 2, 2008 Thanks guys! The rabbits have an unlimited supply of clean hay to eat, and a bowl of dry pellets all the time. Sweeney seems to prefer the fruit and veg and the hay to dry pellets (which by the sound of it is fine). It's just that he seems to munch his way through loads of it! He is a good weight, and his poo's are fine (yup, I'm a poo watcher!) though, so I think I'll just keep an eye on him for now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hevvur Posted June 2, 2008 Share Posted June 2, 2008 I think what you are feeding them is fine. I only give dried food a couple of times a week. They have hay all the time, and fresh vegand bits of fruit twice a day. All my rabbits are healthy, and Leon was recently neutered, and the vet couldn't believe how well he did under anasthetic. He also took his own stitches out 24 ours after the op, and the wounds had already knitted closed! The local vet around here actually recomends feeding only hay & veg and fruit, no dried food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lera Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 Mine have access to hay but don't eat a lot of it. Two of them do get through a bowl of pellets every day, and also a bucket full of fresh long grass with edible weeds mixed in - dandelions / bindweed / cleavers are favourites, and presumably the nutritional content of hay is rather similar to that of grass. This gives me an excuse not to cut all of my lawn. Sadly one of the two died suddenly at the weekend - she was an old girl, and her companion is quite obviously missing her. Its a visit to the shelter at the weekend for me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathybc Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 my vets recommend mainly hay, lots of greens and few (if any pellets). I haven't been brave enough to stop the pellets, my 2 big buns get about half abowl of excel light a day, my two small ones get a bowl of normal excel a day (sounds the wrong way round I know, but the bigger ones are actually a little curvier than they should be!). They have access to hay at all times and greens daily - which has not upset their tummies. I also know our vets have said they can live on hay alone, and to reduce them down to just hay if they are overwieight or have poorly tummies; again, I have never done this (I am a soft touch!). And of course, any changes should be made gradually. I think a lot of the advice is due to the rabbits teeth, as much as their tummies, they need certain food to gring their teeth and keep them short. Lera - sorry to hear about your loss, but glad you will be rehoming a derserving bun ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
