Introducing a older rabbit to hay.

[Kate7654]

I just got a new rabbit from a breeder and she doesn’t feed hay to her rabbits. I’m wondering how would I start to introduce hay to her?

 

[Preitler]

What does she feed, pellets I suppose, or forage? Keep that diet up for now.

Anyway, hay is rather unproblematic, just offer a handful for a start. The rabbit most likely will turn it's nose, that's normal with new stuff, just keep offering and replacing it. Making munching motions with your hand in the hay for a minute can help making her to try it.

After a few days, or when she started to nibble it I would give fresh hay at feeding time with the usual routine and refill the pellets (or whatever) an hour later.

 

[Kate7654]

She is just fed pellets now. Thanks!

 

[John Wick]

It could also be helpful to leverage a rabbit's natural inclination to forage, so not only offering hay in general, but offer a lot across several spaces-- this can trigger curiosity, making a rabbit travel from one spot to another, and then decide to nibble on the best pieces in each spot.

 

[Kate7654]

Ok thanks surprisingly they are both eating hay just fine. Now I’m wondering if I should cut back on the pellets they are fed a third of a cup now.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

Our vet says greens and hay are all a bunny needs to eat.

 

[Blue eyes]

Ok thanks surprisingly they are both eating hay just fine. Now I’m wondering if I should cut back on the pellets they are fed a third of a cup now.

How old are the rabbits?

 

[Kate7654]

3

 

[Blue eyes]

3 what? months? weeks? years?

 

[Kate7654]

3 years

 

[Lauren Kiernan]

We feed our 4.5 pd Holland lop 1/4 pellets in the morning. We use Sherwood professional as he is a good hay eater and treat him with veggies in the evening. He is a perfect weight at 1yr.