Bramble Briar86 wrote:
How's the experiment coming along, Buck?
Hmm, it would appear five of the six rabbits we own are enjoying thenew, expensive compressed grass hay quite extensively. Ourwidowed doe does not appear to eat it more readily than any other hayspreviously given. The problem with the two bonded couples isit is difficult to be
sure both hutch mates are eating itequally. There is no doubt Ernestine has taken toit and I have to replace hay much more frequently in the couples'hutches, indicating one or more is digesting quite a bit. Inspite of its "compressed" state it is still be used up quickly, so itis fair to say it will not prove to be more economical in the long run.
Every bun gets about a cup of greens daily under this newregimen. They have largely been spinach or hearts of romaineand they all disappear readily. Each bun also receives 1/6 thto 1/4 th of a piece of fruit daily, usually apple or pear because theyare inexpensive and keep so well. In addition, they receivethree to five pieces of dried papaya or pineapple weekly. I,then, reduced pellet rations to less than one ounce of pellet per poundof rabbit.
Results....inconclusive. All the buns appearhealthy. Usually, all pellets are gone, but occasionally somewill be left over. In those cases I often do not add anypellets, or only enough to go back to slightly less than an ounce perpound.
I've cut back more on the pellets with our widowed doe, Mitzie, becauseshe has a tendency to deposit excessive cecotropes on thewire. Than tendency has been minimized under the new regimenand she show no adverse reactions that I can tell.
Ernestine(house rabbit) ran into a molt....normal, diet changeinduced? I do not know, but because her coat was so dry, Ibegan to add wheat germ oil to her greens. That seemed tomoisten up her coat to a shiney appearance and help her get through themolt relatively quickly.
Problem with "experiments" like this, is that "stuff" comesalong. We'll be in California for three weeks and I cannotexpect the bunny sitter to spend the time and effort on feeding thebuns I would. I don't expect her to "vege" them or monitorMitzies' cecotropes, or keep track of who is or is not eating hay, orbuying and chopping fruit daily....so it is "bread and water" for theoutside buns for the three weeks. Pellets, hay and whatevertreats the sitter does on her own.
Ernestine, comes out the best here because I saw Tucker Town residentssupplying her with "human" greens on more than one occasion last weweekend when we visited. I wouldn't and didn't expecttreatment anything different than Tucker Town residents receive, sothat was, indeed, a bonus for Ernestine.
Conclusions....I will buy the hay again, if still available.Even if it is not any better, it sure is fun watching Ernestine pack itaway here in her cage in the house. She didn't eat as muchwith the previous hay.
I will continue feeding greens and fruit when I return because it itobvious the buns do enjoy it so. It is supposed to be fairlyhealthy for them and if they enjoy it so, I'll provide it for them.
All the buns appear healthy under this regimen, other than Ernestine'sbout with ivermectine poisoning, which was another matter alltogether. Are they
healthier? I cannot saythat in all honesty. Certainly not appearing any the worsefor wear.
Buck