Rabbits eating?

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Lucy699

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I just got two new rabbits 9 weeks old yesterday. Is it normal for them to not eat much? I was at work during the day but my gf said they only ate a bit of hay and a bit of their food. I know it can take time for them to settle in.
 
How are they doing now? Have you seen more eating?

If not, can you describe their body language and environment you have set-up for them, as well as how often you're around them?
 
Hello, they’re still not eating much, theyre not as aggressive now but still wont come to you, when you enter the room or even come near them they run. I work 9-5 but my gf is at home all day and she’s around them 4 hours during the day and then a bit at night with me.
 
Could you provide more info?

Genders?

What are they are offered to eat each day? (pellet amount and brand, hay type and brand, water source, anything else?)

How much of above are they actually eating?

Where are they housed? (photo of set-up would be great)
 
Could you provide more info?

Genders?

What are they are offered to eat each day? (pellet amount and brand, hay type and brand, water source, anything else?)

How much of above are they actually eating?

Where are they housed? (photo of set-up would be great)


They are both girls, sisters,

They have pellets, maybe a handful a day, science select.

They have some kale also.

They are on meadow hay and they have a water bowl.

Here is their set up, they are free roam and in cage at night as I don’t trust them yet to not destroy the room.
 

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Thank you.

Just trying to understand the situation more to see what might be going on. I am not seeing them in the photo. Does that mean they are hiding in the cage? Are they feeling comfortable enough that they are hopping about in that larger space? Is the hay in the blue tub the only place they are getting hay?

I'm trying to see if perhaps they are not comfortable in the space and therefore not going to the hay?
Is the hay being refreshed every day - even if it isn't gone? Refreshing it a couple times will encourage them to eat it more.

It usually isn't recommended to offer greens until a rabbit is 12 weeks of age. When it is offered, only a tiny bit should be offered at first. It is a slow process to get them (or actually their gut) very gradually accustomed to greens. When they do get used to the greens, they will normally eat whatever is offered all at one time. (ie. it rarely just sits in the cage)

Since the photo does not include the cage itself (which they are locked in at night) what is available for them during the night?

How much of the pellets (in tbsp or cups) do they actually eat each day? How much hay?
 
Thank you.

Just trying to understand the situation more to see what might be going on. I am not seeing them in the photo. Does that mean they are hiding in the cage? Are they feeling comfortable enough that they are hopping about in that larger space? Is the hay in the blue tub the only place they are getting hay?

I'm trying to see if perhaps they are not comfortable in the space and therefore not going to the hay?
Is the hay being refreshed every day - even if it isn't gone? Refreshing it a couple times will encourage them to eat it more.

It usually isn't recommended to offer greens until a rabbit is 12 weeks of age. When it is offered, only a tiny bit should be offered at first. It is a slow process to get them (or actually their gut) very gradually accustomed to greens. When they do get used to the greens, they will normally eat whatever is offered all at one time. (ie. it rarely just sits in the cage)

Since the photo does not include the cage itself (which they are locked in at night) what is available for them during the night?

How much of the pellets (in tbsp or cups) do they actually eat each day? How much hay?

They are behind the cage where the tv is it’s their new favourite spot now since we cleared it out for them.

They hop around into the area but they are so scared, if you even come into the room or go near them they will run away.

They have hay in the blue tub, the grey one and in toilet tube rolls as one of them at first would only eat hay out of it. And in their cage they have a rack full of hay but they’ve never touched that rack.

At night they have their little tray, hay rack, hay in the litter tray, pellets and water.

I put hay fresh everyday for them. Refreshing it a few times a day.

I only gave them veg as I’m worried about them eating and wanted them to eat least eat something.

Pellets they get a handful but they don’t eat it all, they don’t really like our pellets they love museli though from what their owner gave us. They don’t have that anymore though as we used it to mix with our pellets so they would get used to ours until theirs ran out.
 
They are behind the cage where the tv is it’s their new favourite spot now since we cleared it out for them.

They hop around into the area but they are so scared, if you even come into the room or go near them they will run away.

They have hay in the blue tub, the grey one and in toilet tube rolls as one of them at first would only eat hay out of it. And in their cage they have a rack full of hay but they’ve never touched that rack.

At night they have their little tray, hay rack, hay in the litter tray, pellets and water.

I put hay fresh everyday for them. Refreshing it a few times a day.

I only gave them veg as I’m worried about them eating and wanted them to eat least eat something.

Pellets they get a handful but they don’t eat it all, they don’t really like our pellets they love museli though from what their owner gave us. They don’t have that anymore though as we used it to mix with our pellets so they would get used to ours until theirs ran out.

It's sounds like you are doing everything right... plenty of hay, transitioned to a non-muesli pellet, refreshing hay, providing water. @majorv brings up another good question about alfalfa-based.

I was wondering if by chance you've been weighing them to see if they've been gaining weight.
 
It sounds like the problem is that you are no longer feeding the muesli. Muesli can be difficult to get some rabbits transitioned off of because it's a high carb feed and so is a bit like junk food to them. I think you are probably going to have to put them back on the muesli for now. You still want to transition them off of it, but I think you are going to have to make that transition much more gradual, until you are certain they are eating the new pellets well, that you are switching them to. Even as bad as muesli is, at 9 weeks old you really don't want to be making any sudden diet changes with newly weaned rabbits, especially with the added stress of being in a new environment. They could end up getting very sick. I would get them back on the same brand/type of muesli immediately, then very gradually make the transition to plain pellets over at least a months time, maybe even longer if necessary. This will give them the time they need to get truly settled with out their usual diet being suddenly changed on them and causing them stress.

Also if they only have a bottle to drink out of, offer a water dish. It's important to make sure they are drinking. A rabbit that isn't getting sufficient water will not eat well.

As for their housing, if they were used to being in a more confined hutch, the large open space may be too scary for them. I would suggest starting them out in a cage of some sort to help provide them with a sense of security. You can always leave the door open to allow them to come out when they are ready. If they are feeling nervous being around people, I would cover the cage with a sheet or light blanket of some sort and leave the front part uncovered. You still want there to be good airflow, especially if it's at all warm where you are. Covering the cage helps give them an added sense of protection and security. If that doesn't seem to be helping enough for them to feel safe, you may need to relocate them to a quieter part of the house until they have settled in and are eating well. Then gradually get them used to being around you before moving them back. This link also has good tips on how to bond with your rabbits.
https://flashsplace.webs.com/bondingwithyourbunny.htm
 

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