Monitoring big belly

[Howard cordingley]

Hi folks. My rabbit 2 seems healthy enough but I noticed when she’s sitting down and I pick her up it feels like she really plump around her belly. She has pellets muesli and hay with a handful of mixed greens daily. I fill her litter tray daily too with a lot of hay to e encourage her to eat more hay. My question is if I cut off the muesli and reduce pellets will she eat the hay? I don’t want to stop her eating but worry she won’t eat hay alone.

 

[HalaBuns]

Whenever I have cut pellets from my bun’s diet, it has encouraged them to eat more hay

My bunnies also love either of these compressed hay cubes as a treat and get very excited by them. I don’t think they have quite the same health benefits as normal hay, but I still feel are a healthier alternative to anything sugary / starchy and it keeps them entertained. Not sure Jasper would be able to have them though as they’re very hard

https://www.kaytee.com/all-products/small-animal/hay/timothy-hay/kaytee-timothy-cubes
https://www.fmbrown.com/browns-timothy-hay-cubes/

 

[Howard cordingley]

Whenever I have cut pellets from my bun’s diet, it has encouraged them to eat more hay

My bunnies also love either of these compressed hay cubes as a treat and get very excited by them. I don’t think they have quite the same health benefits as normal hay, but I still feel are a healthier alternative to anything sugary / starchy and it keeps them entertained. Not sure Jasper would be able to have them though as they’re very hard

https://www.kaytee.com/all-products/small-animal/hay/timothy-hay/kaytee-timothy-cubes
https://www.fmbrown.com/browns-timothy-hay-cubes/

Thanks I will try them yes jasper can’t eat them but Skye can. She has good teeth.

 

[Diane R]

Drop the muesli, that's seriously bad for them. If teeth are fine, definitely reduce pellets to about 1 tbsp a day. Get a few grass hay varieties. Always have lots of hay around, add a fresh handful a few times a day. Good luck!

 

[Howard cordingley]

Drop the muesli, that's seriously bad for them. If teeth are fine, definitely reduce pellets to about 1 tbsp a day. Get a few grass hay varieties. Always have lots of hay around, add a fresh handful a few times a day. Good luck!

Yes I am trying different ways and will include the hay cubes too

 

[Howard cordingley]

My only worry is will she eat hay if there’s no other food? I scatter a few pellets in her hay to encourage her to rummage and eat hay.

 

[Diane R]

If you have good quality hay, ideally several types, she will eat it when she gets hungry.