not eating hay

[Lynseypvic]

Hi

We have recently adopted a pair of bunnies. They are used to eating any brand of mixed pellets and carrots. So we have been giving pellet and carrots and also hay and they have been nibbling at some plants on the patio. We have a hay rack which they were initially interested in when they first arrived, until we put the food bowl in. Now they don'r seem to touch the hay. I tried adding a bit of hay to their litter tray too but they haven't touched it. They are nibbling the straw in their bedding area though.

I hear that hay is very important to their diet so what can i do to encourage more hay eating. Should i give less pellets? Should i put some hay in their bedroom instead of straw? Today, i noticed that their droppings are much bigger than usual and look a bit softer.

Also, sorry if i am being daft but can someone explain to me about probiotics? It says gove 30 drops per 50ml or work out the amount for their daily intake. So do i give just 30 drops or do I literally give 30 drops PER 50ml which would be rather a lot. I put just 30 drops in a 50ml amount of water today but they don't seem to have drunk much of it, so i guess they have noticed a change in taste. I don't know whether to perserve.

Thanks
Lynsey

[nicolapompicola]

Hiya, I'm still a new bunny owner, but, I know that to get buns to eat more hay, you may need to change the type of hay you're feeding. For example, if your feeding medow hay, try giving them timothy hay. I've recently changed over to timoty hay, and I find they eat a lot more of it. You should really only be feeding a tiny amount of pellets, for example, my bun only gets a table spoon of pellets a day.

As for the prebiotics, is there any reason why your giving them?

[foxyfaerie]

How much and how often are they getting the pellets?

As for the probiotics; they came from a company who have successfully conned you out of your money; there's no need for them unless a bun's been ill; in which case your vet would advise you.

[wendle]

Carrots are not really good for rabbits in large quatities as they contain alot of sugar they should really only have a tiny amount of carrot n carrot tops n these have a lot of calcium,ideally you should try n give your bunnys pellets n not the mix as they pick all the **** out of this n leave the best bits they should be eating. you must be feedin them too much food n carrots etc or they would be eating their hay, their diet should be mainly about 85%-90% hay n the rest maybe a eggcup of pellets per day n veg which they like n the odd treat of fruit. Good Luck hun :)

[Lynseypvic]

Hi

Thanks everyone.

We have been feeding the mixed food rather than nuggets as that is what they are used to. but they definitely pick out the bits they prefer. I will definitely cut down on this as it looks like we have been giving them too much. I have put a bowl with a smaller amount on top of a bunch of hay to see if that will encourage them.

My husband bought the pro-biotics. I wasn't sure if they were necessary but thought it might give them a boost especially after first 'moving in' a new home.
bws
Lynsey

[Lynseypvic]

Well, they are still not keen on hay, so we are mixing grass and hay together to try and get a bit if hay in them. They love grass and would munch it all day. We have just started letting them explore the lawn area now and they munch constantly. their poos look a bit better but sometimes still a bit soft.

If they have nothing but hay to eat when in their enclosure, one of them sometimes thumps at me when we come to get them out, so i don't think they are happy! But slowly they are getting more hay in their diet.

Lynsey