What Do you feed your Rabbit

[Karen]

Wow Miss Hoppy sounds like a Queen in your house Karen lol.

I hope that doesn't come as a surprise to anyone!

Growing up, Dad always joked that if there's reincarnation, he wants to come back as a pet in one of our families! He should know - being half of the team that raised us to spoil our critters ... Yes, he's the one who gets Miss Hoppy the sticks, and refers to her as The Grandbunny!

Well no wonder Miss Hoppy is doing so well for a gal her age!

People are always surprised at how old Miss Hoppy is, and then delighted. There's a cleark at the Whole Foods where I buy Miss Hoppy's greens (one of two places) who noticed me buying three bunches of dandelion greens at once and mentioned her bunny likes them. I told her that yes, they were for my bunny, and showed her Miss Hoppy's picture. She asked how old she is, and said "Oh, good!" when I said 10 years old, as her bunny is less than a year old, and she wants to have it for a long time.

It's funny, because the signs in the stores like Petco say "rabbits can live to be 5 to 8 years old" and I often point that out and ask the clerk if I should tell mine she's past her expiration date! Gives tham a chuckle, but plants the seed of knowledge that with proper care, some bunnies can live longer than the sign says!

[Aspen and Misty]

Julian and Sharra eat all the timothy hay they want and only get 1/4 cup of timothy hay based pellets every day.

No actually, pellets are just compacted alfalpha which isn't supposed to be fed to adult rabbits.

There are timothy based rabbit pellets made for Adult rabbits. Oxbow has some, but they are also sold in stores like Petsmart and Petco.

Here is a link to Oxbow's Timothy based pellets:

http://www.oxbowhay.com/Shop/showPro...?PRODUCT_NO=44


Ashley

[Blue Dragonfly]

i heard from the rabbit specialist vet that we go to that a rabbit's diet should consist of 80% - 90% hay and grass and the rest fruit and veggies. She says they shouldn't be having pellets at all.

[buttercup132]

i heard from the rabbit specialist vet that we go to that a rabbit's diet should consist of 80% - 90% hay and grass and the rest fruit and veggies. She says they shouldn't be having pellets at all.

Finally someone else who knows what I'm talking about.
People just think they should be feeding pellets because society has grown used to doing that. Big rabbit breeders and people who have lots of rabbits still feed pellet because it's easier. In the wild rabbits don't eat pellets and they do just fine.

I have owned rabbits for several years and have learned that from many rabbit message boards and websites

Doesn't mean it's right. Like I said society has grown to think they should be feeding pellets. Even people who claim to be rabbit experts feed their rabbits pellets.

If you guys are feeding them all hay why are you feeding pellets, what is the point? Since they are compacted they have even less nutrition.

I guess it's like arguing with people that feeding raw food for dogs is better then feeding kibble. Some people just won't belive it.

[Scooter's Mom]

My bunnies got pellets in addition to fresh fruits & veggies and timothy hay. They were very happy, and none of them were overweight.

As a kid, my bunnies got hay and pellets. My family didn't know any differently... but our bunnies still lived long lives.

[andrea2712]

No pellets in this household either. Our rabbits get greens in the morning and veggies in the evening. Plus unlimited Timothy hay all the time. We mix up the hay with Orchard grass and Oat hay. And we give them a little Alfalfa and the new Botanical hay as a treat.

[Marigold2]

Benny has fresh hay 24/7, pellets 1/8 cup at night. And at least two greens, plus fruit or veg everyday. I am lucky to have a wonderful grocery store that carries fresh dandelions all year a red and a green varity. Also fresh parsley, red leaf, endive, carrots with fresh tops etc.... Benny will also get apple, orange, pear, mango, watermelon and peaches his favorite. Benny loves canned peaches. Tops of strawberries are also a yummy favorite. Plus because he sheds so much he recieves 3 papaya tablets a day. Oh and lots of willow branches which my neighbor gives me. In the summer Benny gets all types of fresh food including my marigolds which he just loves.