Hi everyone! I'm new to the forum and I'm the owner of a 7 month old harlequin holland lop that I adopted last month from a very reputable and very generous show breeder/rabbit rescuer. Mochiko is very active, craves attention, loves people.
I am VERY confused on what a proper diet for my Holland should be. On this forum as well as all over the web it says:
- rabbits should have unlimited hay (such as timothy)
- limited complete pellets for rabbits over 6 months old
- plenty of fresh greens
***The show breeder I received my rabbit from, and other show breeders I met at a rabbit show, told me they do NOT give their show rabbits unlimited hay. A complete pellet is all they need, with a little hay as dessert. ****
****I was also told Hollands have very sensitive stomachs and fresh greens should be given sparingly.
This is her current diet:
- 1/2 cup of Blue Seal pellets each day, a pinch given in the morning and the rest given at night
- a handful of hay
- a couple leaves of parsley a couple times a week
Mochiko LOVES her hay much more than she loves her pellets. So getting her to eat hay is no problem.
I am wary of the advice I received from the show breeders. Why else would the internet say hay, in any amount, is good for rabbits?
Should I work Mochiko up to unlimited amounts of hay and more limited amounts of pellets? Or is the pellet really all she needs and a handful of hay is enough?
Should greens be given to her more often? Or should they be given in moderation, perhaps as a treat during training?
Please enlighten me with your experience and wisdom! I am not convinced pellets is all my Holland needs and that more hay, although Mochiko can eat buckets of it a day, would actually benefit her more.,....
I am VERY confused on what a proper diet for my Holland should be. On this forum as well as all over the web it says:
- rabbits should have unlimited hay (such as timothy)
- limited complete pellets for rabbits over 6 months old
- plenty of fresh greens
***The show breeder I received my rabbit from, and other show breeders I met at a rabbit show, told me they do NOT give their show rabbits unlimited hay. A complete pellet is all they need, with a little hay as dessert. ****
****I was also told Hollands have very sensitive stomachs and fresh greens should be given sparingly.
This is her current diet:
- 1/2 cup of Blue Seal pellets each day, a pinch given in the morning and the rest given at night
- a handful of hay
- a couple leaves of parsley a couple times a week
Mochiko LOVES her hay much more than she loves her pellets. So getting her to eat hay is no problem.
I am wary of the advice I received from the show breeders. Why else would the internet say hay, in any amount, is good for rabbits?
Should I work Mochiko up to unlimited amounts of hay and more limited amounts of pellets? Or is the pellet really all she needs and a handful of hay is enough?
Should greens be given to her more often? Or should they be given in moderation, perhaps as a treat during training?
Please enlighten me with your experience and wisdom! I am not convinced pellets is all my Holland needs and that more hay, although Mochiko can eat buckets of it a day, would actually benefit her more.,....