Um, I don't know how to say this but...um...I give my buns about $30/wk in fresh produce (pssst, that's probably the low number) I know, I know I'm absolutely crazy...about my guys!
so they get the best... romaine lettuce, green or red leaf lettuce, parsley, watercress this week,
1 carrot, lots and lots of dandelions!!!!!, a little bit of kale (it's too high is something so it's a treat and they absolutely love it), small amount of broccoli once/wk, collard greens (but they get bored with them after 2 or 3 days in a row), a little bit of the outer green leaves of a cabbage (the inside light colored leaves have 0 nutrients int hem...have to be careful w/cabbage to as it can cause gastric distress), escarole,
boston lettuce (I alternate), and they like endive. They only great a small slice of apple or about 5 blueberries approx twice a week due to the sugar content.
Like Miz Sophie my guys are absolutely distraught when there isn't any parsley (have you ever seen a bunny temper-tantrum? It's pretty funny) or carrots.
Sometimes I am able to get free produce from a store but I have found it's a matter of being in the right place, at the right time and having a bunny friendly worker on duty...they won't all do it, and in fact many stores refuse to donate any produce - even to our sanctuary - because they are afraid the word will get out and they will be inundated with such requests...I kinda understand but I also think it's incredibly stupid that they throw out perfectly good produce!
Our best contributors have been health food/organic stores. You might try that. Can't hurt and all they can say is no. Oh, I should mention if you approach a store they may insist that you regularly pick up on a certain day or maybe even every day and if you miss a pick up they might stop the donation. But it's worth the contact.
So....I spend big bucks but I feel the buns are worth it, and I should also note that I have 5 of them. One or two bunnies would eat considerably less dollar-wise/week.
Oh, they do have unlimited timothy hay and do eat it quite often....when $s are tight I'll cut back a bit and they don't seem to care as long as the parsley and carrots are there.
And here is where I sheepishly admit that my buns are now getting (between them 4 of my guys are now getting about 1/2-3/4 c pellets a day to sp[lit between them).... this started in January when Velvet, my senior man about town, went from 6.1 lbs to 4.8 in 3 months. Vet did a lot of tests and thought he might have an undectable cancer but I got in the Oxbow website and they offer a timothy-based pellet and an alfalfa pellet for "lactating moms and elderly buns who can't keep their weight up")...while my vet wasn't thrilled she said to try it. I'm pleased to report Velvet is back up to 6 lbs and feeling frisky again, but he is off the alfafa hay pellets (too much calcium)....so I talk out of both sides of my mouth. Where I get concerned is when the pellets are the mainstay of the diet. And House Rabbit Society preaches the same thing so I figure between the bunny specialist vet and HRS that's pretty good advice.
Sorry I get wordy...but bunnies are my passion and it's hard to get me off my soapbox once I get on!!!Thanks for asking.
Reply With Quote
I give them brocolli, carrots, parsley, cilantro, and they get some kind of "treat" when I get home. Like a piece of apple or pear and once or twice a week they get a banana that they LOVE !! I am the BEST mommy when i give them bananas.
Bookmarks