Against advice, we got a 10 week old flemish giant as a friend for our little over a year bun. his name is Chubs. I think we are going to wait to start bonding until after he is neutered (as soon as those nuggets drop, they're getting snipped). With our original bun, Rori, I was giving her alfalfa and pellets, but she was 4 weeks old when we got her. Do I need to be giving Chubs alfalfa and/or pellets? Currently he is getting greens and a mix of timothy hay and orchard grass hay. Also, is timothy hay good? I want to do orchard grass as I have heard it's the best option, but I can't find anyone locally who has bales of it. I can get bales of timothy easily though.
New bun, pellets? alfalfa?
- Thread starter erikamc
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Most healthy pellets (not colorful mixes) for juvenile rabbits are alfalfa-based. That is great for growing bunnies. Since the pellets are alfalfa-based, the hay you feed does not have to be alfalfa (though it can be). Feeding grass hay - any grass hay - (like timothy, orchard, bermuda, brome) is just fine. They can even be mixed. If your guy is already eating grass hay, I'd continue to let him. [Some rabbits get spoiled with the rich alfalfa hay (which is not grass) and then don't want to switch when they get older.]
Being a Flemish Giant, he will be on a juvenile diet for longer than other rabbits. Most rabbits switch to an adult diet at 6 months of age. For Flemish, they need more time to grow and continue the juvenile diet through about 9-12 months.
Being a Flemish Giant, he will be on a juvenile diet for longer than other rabbits. Most rabbits switch to an adult diet at 6 months of age. For Flemish, they need more time to grow and continue the juvenile diet through about 9-12 months.
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Thats up to you.
Personally i would not give alfalfa hay as it can be harder to switch them onto grass hay later in life.
Personally i would not give alfalfa hay as it can be harder to switch them onto grass hay later in life.
If the pellets have alfalfa as an ingredient, then no on the Alfalfa--it's also hard to wean most off of alfalfa. I used a pellet with alfalfa and unlimited orchard grass. After 6 months transitioned to all timothy pellets and cut back on high calcium veggies also.
^except she may want to go longer on the alfalfa pellets since bunny is a Flemish Giant.
If you choose to add pellets, be sure you find a healthy, for-juvenile-rabbits, plain pellet.
Supreme Selective and some of the Oxbow lines have pellets formulated for juvenile rabbits.
If you choose to add pellets, be sure you find a healthy, for-juvenile-rabbits, plain pellet.
Supreme Selective and some of the Oxbow lines have pellets formulated for juvenile rabbits.
