my vet is so funny, he doesn't use or like the term veg, because he says it makes people think of any veg like carrots! i thought he was jokin... he wasn't!
he says leafy greens!
i've never heard of hay with dried plants in.
i would have to add some as bisc and matt have to certain hay because of their respiratory problems.
i need to look up what weeds i can grow. i assume they would grow well! :lol: i just need as many things as possible really to rotate each day/every few days to add variety.
any veg that is sugary or gassy seems to really affect them, especially bisc, who has had quite alot of tummy problems, and they both suffer from gas occasionally aswell.
no pellets was mentioned by the vet and so i gradually reduced them and then cut them out altogether. they didn't notice though as the probiotic they have is the protexin one and they look like pellets. because of their problems i will always now give them a probiotic just to make sure they keep well.
i feed oat hays aswell, which i think contain protein, although we do have to watch the seed heads and for extra caecotrophs. but generally they love their oat hay and do well on it. that should help with that side of things aswell. they are 4 years old now, so not old, but they have problems and have been very ill in the past so may need more sooner.
bisc and matt do really well on dried herbs aswell. i noticed a big improvement in the condition of their fur with a variety of hays and dried herbs. they seem much healthier when on them, with limited veg and no pellets. and since starting this, i also haven't had to deal with all the tummy troubles they were having last year. they occasionally get gas, this is from stress over their respiratory problems though, not diet related anymore.
i don't know where the five a day came from! just seem to have read alot that people try and feed a variety of 5-6 veggies each day. i never understood if this included other things aswell though, so used to try and feed five 'human' veggies a day, and wasn't very successful. their tummies just didn't seem to beable to handle it.
mine both seem to have such sensitive tummies when it comes to fresh food. even grass sometimes sets them off a bit. i have to introduce everything so slowly.
they can both tolerate pellets. they were having oxbow bunny basics but the vet advised no pellets at all, so they were gradually weaned off them and now they have none. they weren't even bothered, and i do feel they are better off them. i think ideally i would have made sure they were having more variety in terms of natural things first before removing the pellets. but they do seem much better on 'dry' and natural things, with a small amount of fresh herbs and grass, and loads and loads of hay of course.
i used to try and feed five a day and also thought it seemed a struggle for them. i think three fresh herbs a day is enough for my two, along with dried herbs, and hay.
i have noticed a massive improvement in all the pets coats, bunnies and piggies, since i changed their diets on the vets advice. i know alot of people don't agree with the no pellets and hardly any veg thing, but i think it has done them all so much good. the more natural the better i think.
i'm so gutted my mum and dad had the willow tree cut down in their garden. they kept it until i left home, as it shaded bisc and matts shed and run. they loved the sticks and leaves from it (bisc and matt, not my mum and dad!) and used to beg for them!
we have lots of bushes round the garden wall and i need to find out what they are. it would be great if some were safe for bisc and matt.
bisc loves his dandelion leaves! he must know what helps him! can they have the flower aswell?? i get dried plantain now but have some seeds to try and grow some of my own. i was also going to get some from the willow warren, but i think they are dried aswell, can't remember.
i think i'm getting there with finding new things. i'm glad what i'm doing now with regards to just feeding herbs is ok. i panic sometimes and feel they might be missing out on things. but to be honest, they look great. bisc's coat in particular is amazing now, super shiny!
think i will keep on doing as i am now then, and gradually introducing more things as i discover them, and that way create a better variety each day. i always panic about feeding things daily, and how much to feed. aidan said there is no set amount to feed, or how often, just be sensible and you will see if there is any problems by their urine or poops and how they look and act etc.
next to try is lemon balm, nettle leaves and
raspberry leaves from galens garden. hope they will like them.