Am I feeding them right?

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birdlover

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I have 4 grown buns and 4 five week old babies. My dutch rabbit is on the smallish side but the others are about the size of a cat...maybe 5-6 lbs. In the morning, I give the grown buns a cup of Ox Bow pellets to share, a baby carrot each and lots and lots of Ox Bow timothy hay and fresh water. The 4 babies get a third of a cup of pellets plus hay and water. At night, I give them lettuce (not iceberg), parsley, celery leaves and/or stalks and a tiny bit of broccoli. I WAS giving them the same in the morning but decided that was too much greens (and, besides, it took a huge amt. out of my food budget). Am I right to only feed greens once a day? In addition to the greens at night, I also give them another serving of the pellets as described above, replenish the hay and water. These buns live free in my laundry room and, whenever I open the door, they ALL come running madly to see if I have food for them. If it's not morning or evening I give them hay in their food bowls. ( I also give them a large amt. of hay in an underbed storage box every morning and evening.) When I give them the new hay in their food bowls, in between morning and evening feedings, they attack it like they're starving even though they have hay in the storage box (only about 6" high so no problem getting in and out). Am I feeding them correctly? Too much? Too little? I just want to be sure I'm doing it right. Thanks!!!!
 
Are you feeding the kits the greens? They shouldn't have grass, veggies or any fruits at this young of an age. ;) It can cause diareha (sp?) and can be fatal.

I also would be free feeding the kits as well. They should have as much feed as they can eat in an day.

Everything else sounds about right... :) Feeding greens once a day is totally fine. My bunnies get greens about once or twice a month, if that. They get grass mainly, and they usually get that at least every other day, as well as dandelions and dandelion greens.

Emily
 
Oh gosh, yes!!! They've been munching on the greens for a couple of weeks now. :( Haven't seen signs of diarrhea though. Since they all live communally, I just let them all have at it. Should I stop them since they've been eating them for so long without ill effects? It'll be a challenge to only feed the big guys but I think I can do it using a portable fence I have. I'll give the kits their pellets while the others eat their greens. Twice a month??!!! Really??!! That leaves me dumbfounded. I thought they were supposed to have greens every day!! Thank you so much for your feedback (no pun intended)! It sheds a light on things.
 
As a breeder, I don't really go out and buy my rabbits their own greens, so yes, they don't get them that often. It would be way too costly to afford enough greens for my herd to feed them everyday. It doesn't harm them though. It's mainly like a treat. Plus, when I do have greens, it's for us humans, and my mom would kill me if I gave them all to the rabbits! They do get tidbits every now and then, etc. I have a garden that I grow greens in for them, too.

I would stop feeding them greens just for safety. It could cause problems later, and it's just safer that they don't eat greens. Kits aren't supposed to eat greens until they're actually juniors - 6 months of age. ;)

Emily
 
If the mother is actively eating greens while the babies are nursing and then the babies should be fine with greens as well. Babies inherit some of their gut bacteria through mom's milk, her diet will be fine for the babes as well.

You should be watching the babies for signs of upset tummies regardless. To help the weaning process you can feed them some benebac or another probiotic like acidopholus once a day until they are fully weaned.

The baby rabbits and mom should be free fed pellets and hay all day long. The other rabbits will be fine on the amount of pellets you are feeding them.

For a rabbit whose mother was not eating greens, then they should not eat them until they are fully mature (about 6 months for most breeds). If not introduced properly and to a young rabbit not used to greens, then veggies can cause runny poops.

All of my rabbits attack new food like they haven't been fed in weeks as well. New hay, pellets or veggies. Even if I just fed them an hour ago, they still beg like they are starving. It's normal, don't worry about it.

-Dawn
 
Hi,

Just now saw your posts! It's good to know they act that way normally (ravenous). The only time I can go in and not be mobbed is if they've just finished eating their greens, pellets and hay and, then, they just kind of lay around in bliss. :D Good to know about the kits and greens. Yes, mom eats her greens every day just like the others. Last question: Since they all live together, will it hurt the others to have pellets available all the time, too. I tried separating mom and babies but mom was going crazy trying to get back to the others. They all get along great and the babies snuggle up to any body they find! It's so cute! :D
 
It probably won't hurt them. Just watch the hay intake as it may go down with the option to eat pellets all the time.

You could be sneaky and try to build a fort with openings only big enough for the babies to get in to, and keep some pellets in there. You should be supplementing mom as well,as producing milk takes a lot of energy. But you could just give her some extra pellets by hand or separate her for a short feeding.

-Dawn
 
Oh, what a great idea, Dawn! I have a box in there now wiith lots of doors cut into it and they ALL love climbing in and on it. But a box with doors just big enough for the babies is a real good idea. I'll see to it today. And I'll try sneaking mom extra pellets, too. Thank you so much.
 

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