Well, the bad news is....

[Daisylover]

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!:rolleyes:
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!
:eek: 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!!! :D Thanks for asking.

[tazz1227]

ok...My kids get fresh veggies every night and sometimes I think I give them too much but every morning...it is ALL GONE !! :) 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.:D :D

[Daisylover]

Sounds like you are giving them a great diet.
The recent rabbit literature suggests that since the mid-80s vets have spent a lot of time studying rabbit nutrition and disease and therefore have new improved guidelines that enable our four-footed friends to live much longer and enjoy healthier lives. Great news for us bunny-lovers!!!:)

[Heather Wallace]

Yes guys I am also a bunny addict to. I spend more and more money on them to. I feel they are worth it. i have four buns and yes they can be expensive. Especially the timothy hay.

[Daisylover]

Tazz,
I was just in www.bunnybytes.com in the feed and hay section. They have really great info on
diff. hays, which are for bunnies only, when they should be given and how to change your bunnies diet without stressing both you and the bunny out.
I found it very helpful.

[zippy-kat]

Originally posted by Daisylover
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.

LOL *My* bun? throw a tantrum? you must be mistaken!! ha ha!! lol

Yes, she throw's them often and they are sooo cute!!! Right now, Miz "Bonecrusher Parsleymuncher" is under the bed sleepin'...

[tazz1227]

Well Miss Zippy, I totally relate...Boy Boy throws tantrums refularly ! It is so cute. I scold her when she takes treats from Girl Girl so she doesn't have to work for it. She will go under the bed, FLOP on the floor, and kick the wall. So cute !! And she will not come out until she is ready!! Miss Attitude !

[Daisylover]

How Funny!!! LOVE the kick the wall routine!:D

When Daisy gets annoyed she rips up her cardboard castle. So far she has put in a door wall on the first floor, put in a picture window on the second floor and is now taking down a non-load bearing wall. Robbie,however, has perfected The Stare and bounces up and down in one place when he insists that it's Parsley Time, which of course according to him, is several times a day.

Bunnies are such characters!

[tazz1227]

Oh that is too funny...Boy Boy has started "carpet chewing" again!! Just when I thought she was over it !! I put the remnants down in the corners but did not attach them and they love them so I thought I was ok...but she has found a spot that is NOT a corner!! Well I am going to have to go and put remnants wherever there is exposed carpet! Girl Girl is so sweet and doesn't chew or anything but her drawback is that she doesn not want you to touch her unless Boy Boy is laying beside her getting rubs too where Boy Boy will lay down ANYWHERE to get a quick rub or scratch !! :)

[Daisylover]

Sounds like Boy Boy is one stubborn bun. Try giving her an old towel to chew on...put it over where her new chewing spot is. She'll probably bunch it up and move it around... The only other thing I can think of is to give them a lot of different bunny toys...but rotate them so them so Boy Boy doesn't get bored and go back to the carpet. I'm sure you know the toys do not have to be store bought....bunnies are so easily amused.;)

[tazz1227]

They have a "WEALTH" of toys that they play with, including a nice big basket that their toys go into to play with. Girl Girl plays with them more than Boy Boy. She is so stubborn. I will try the towel thing because they love the towel in their "house" and in their carrier. I have to get a new carrier because their fat "butts" can't fit anymore. :) I will have to take them to the vet one at a time to get their nails clipped. :D

[zippy-kat]

When Soph's mad, I get the EVIL EYE and the tHuMpZ! lol And if she's REALLY mad, she'll follow me around grunting and thumping! lol

Sophie inherited the cats' petTaxi...the first--and last--time we tried to use it with one of our cats, the bottom sagged so much that the door popped all the way out & out came kitty!:eek:

Our cats aren't fat, they're proportionally challenged...:rolleyes:

:D :D :D

[LoudLou]

Originally posted by zippy-kat
.....Our cats aren't fat, they're proportionally challenged...:rolleyes:

:D :D :D

Hey, I like that! I think I am proportionally challenged also.;) :D

[sabies]

Hello, I usually just look at the dog site but I was just passing thru...

I think it's great you try to feed your bunnies the best you can. I was wondering if supermarkets would offer to sell you older lettuce and whatever at a discount? That way you are not relying on handouts, the supermarket doesn't lose as much on produce that doesn't sell, and you don't spend as much. Of course I don't know if there is edible produce left over but it sounds like a good idea to me.

[Daisylover]

Sabies, Yeah, we've tried that.... It really depends on the market. And things are beginning to change, at least here in Ann Arbor. I now know of 2 stores that just began to sell older produce at reduced prices, but they are not exactly conveniently located. And some of the stuff is not edible.

With some of the other stores the hassel just isn't worth it....you'd think I was asking for stuff for free...(of course I've done that too to no avail), which is crazy because they prefer to throw reasonable "good" stuff away instead of trying to get something for it. They say it would take up too much of their time, they don't have the space, yada yada yada. The thing too is that they know there's people who would buy the stuff because I know I'm not the only one asking about it, AA has quite a few bunny owners.

The rules for produce for bunnies is if you won't eat it, they won't either and it seems to be pretty true. So it's just easier to buy the stuff. There is a produce market about 20 miles from my house which sells all of their stuff at 1/2 the price of the chain stores and so far it has been worth the price of gas to make that 25 minute drive. And when I stop to figure it out I think $30 of fresh produce for 5 buns for 5 days equals about $1.20 per bun per day and it's so much better for them than pellets....
Owners of 1 or 2 rabbits aren't likely spend the same amount as I do. And heaven help me, if I had a larger place I'm sure I'd be bringing home every cute little bunny that comes in to the sanctuary where I volunteer that desperately needs a home......

So at any rate, I'm hoping the reduced produce thing will spread to other stores. We'll just have to wait and see. Thanks ! for the suggestion though.
:D

[tazz1227]

I think my fat kids eat like your 5 bunnies ! :)

[Daisylover]

Tazz,
Well, the fresh veggies are the 2nd best thing they can eat (after the timmy hay of course) so it does get expensive. But my guys are absolutely worth it and I'm sure you feel the same way....
but puleezee....tell me your 2 do NOT eat $30 worth in five days!!! I'm having a heart attack just thinking about it....although you do have "robust" kids......... ;)

[tazz1227]

:) :) No not quite $30.00 !! I buy the vegetable medley for 2 for $4.00 and that is good for a week and then I buy a separate bag of carrots, some parsley, and a couple of pieces of fruit. Maybe $10.00 a week. :D :D

[Daisylover]

Tazz,
And you haven't had any trouble with them having soft to runny poop when you give them fruit? How much to you give them and how many times/week? :)

Is the veg medley the already washed and bagged kind, like a bagged salad?

[tazz1227]

Nope..no runny poop. :) I give them a shared piece of apple or pear every day. I cut a side off of the apple or pear. 1 apple or pear will last 4 days. Then I give then a piece of banana once a week. And yes the vegetable medley is in the bag. I don't have time for a lot of preparation. :D :D They have a modern mommy.

[Heather Wallace]

That's one thing I am glad about, my rabbits have never had diahorrea!!!!

[Daisylover]

Sounds like you are doing ok there Heather... diahhrea and buns is a very bad combination, as you know.

I've been meaning to ask....did Bunny ever get her bath? How did it go? ;) Was she thrilled? :D

[Heather Wallace]

I never seem to get around to it to be honest. I bought the shampoo and everything but i suppose I chickened out of it. I hate even giving the cats a bath as I know how much they hate it!