seniorcats
Well-Known Member
maherwoman wrote:
The diet I chose and have used for 19 years is: primary food -unlimited timothy hay. I buy 100 pounds at a time because the4 bunnies I have eat about a pound of hay a day each. Secondfood in their diet - bunny salads, 4 to5 dark leafy greens,vegy's per day about 2 and 1/2 to 3 cups per rabbit. We shoptwice a week for greens and grow our own in the summer. Laston the list - a minimal amount of timothy based pellets. Wechose Oxbow because the fiber content is 28% which was the highest ofall brands available to us. The 2 smaller rabbits get 1/8 cupof pellets a day and the 2 larger get 1/8 cup plus atablespoon. They get limited sweet treats such as carrot orapple or banana - usually only 1-2 inches of fruit a week.Given the longevity and health of my rabbits, I will continue this diet.
It is important that you research the diet issues yourself.It's better to get primary information. If asking peopleabout the diet they feed, also ask about other health issues that maybe related to diet (ie. GI stasis) and longevity or theirrabbits. This may give you some more direction in chosingwhat to feed.
How and where your bunny lives may also be a consideration in diet -inside, outside and climate, show rabbit, house pet, etc.Expense and availability of foods may also be aconsideration. How your rabbit reacts to certain food willdefinitely be a consideration. Some pellets have ingredientsthat some rabbits cannot tolerate such as molasses or a highcarbohydrate content. Some rabbits cannot tolerate certainvegetables. Welimit the cruciferous, 'gassy' vegy's.
If I were to make 'rules' on dietthey would be very simple -high fiber, fresh as possible (no stale stuff from dusty shelves), nosugary junk, consistent diet, no sudden changes.
I don't know if this helps in your decision making, however,Iwould suggest reading and seeing what works best for yourbunny.
I don't know that she would be healthier without vegetables.I can only tell you my own experience.I have ownedhouse rabbits for 19 years. All have eaten the samediet. Not a single rabbit of mine has ever had GI stasis orbouts of gas. My rabbits usually live between 12 years and 15years. I had one who died as a result of prior abuse and onewho developed a brain tumor. Coney was euthanized at age15. He developed arthritis at age 14 which no longerresponded to the meds he was getting.
The diet I chose and have used for 19 years is: primary food -unlimited timothy hay. I buy 100 pounds at a time because the4 bunnies I have eat about a pound of hay a day each. Secondfood in their diet - bunny salads, 4 to5 dark leafy greens,vegy's per day about 2 and 1/2 to 3 cups per rabbit. We shoptwice a week for greens and grow our own in the summer. Laston the list - a minimal amount of timothy based pellets. Wechose Oxbow because the fiber content is 28% which was the highest ofall brands available to us. The 2 smaller rabbits get 1/8 cupof pellets a day and the 2 larger get 1/8 cup plus atablespoon. They get limited sweet treats such as carrot orapple or banana - usually only 1-2 inches of fruit a week.Given the longevity and health of my rabbits, I will continue this diet.
It is important that you research the diet issues yourself.It's better to get primary information. If asking peopleabout the diet they feed, also ask about other health issues that maybe related to diet (ie. GI stasis) and longevity or theirrabbits. This may give you some more direction in chosingwhat to feed.
How and where your bunny lives may also be a consideration in diet -inside, outside and climate, show rabbit, house pet, etc.Expense and availability of foods may also be aconsideration. How your rabbit reacts to certain food willdefinitely be a consideration. Some pellets have ingredientsthat some rabbits cannot tolerate such as molasses or a highcarbohydrate content. Some rabbits cannot tolerate certainvegetables. Welimit the cruciferous, 'gassy' vegy's.
If I were to make 'rules' on dietthey would be very simple -high fiber, fresh as possible (no stale stuff from dusty shelves), nosugary junk, consistent diet, no sudden changes.
I don't know if this helps in your decision making, however,Iwould suggest reading and seeing what works best for yourbunny.
