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How much to eat?
- Thread starter ljs383
- Start date
AprilShower
Warren Veteran
ljs383 said:
I ahve a Dutch rabbit as well. I feed him pellets in the momrning, every morning...vegetables in the afternoon, every day and he's free to eat hay whenever he wants.
I've noticed it is different in every book and website so it is confusing.
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
Hiya!! Ask a bunny how much pellet/cereal mix they can it and they'd say as much as I am given!! :roll: :roll: But they should only have about 2-3% of their body weight of pellet/cereal mix a day.The most important part of their diet is grass/hay/water. You can feed veggies everyday, but not those high in sugar such as carrots. A variety of dark leafy greens or some fresh herbs like Parsley or Basil are good. Fruit such as Apple/Pear etc should be an occasional treat. Jane and Buns xx
sharongoing
Young Bun
Each and every morning and evening, Chomper gets about a quarter cup of her pellets. She has free access to timothy hay at all times. Every morning and every evening, Chomper gets a large handful of fresh, leafy greens, per my vet's recommendation. As an occasional treat, Chomper will have a small amount of her favorite fruits/veggies.
According to my vet, the majority of the diet should be composed of grasses (i.e. hay) and greens. Pellets often contain more protein than typical pet rabbits nutritionally require, and thus should only compose a small percentage of the diet. Per my vet, rabbits need about a quarter cup of pellets per two pounds of body weight each day. Since Chomper weighs four pounds, she gets a half cup total of pellets each day. She tends to sit there and stuff herself full of pellets until the bowl is empty, which is why I split the pellets into two servings throughout the day.
Right now, we have over a foot of snow on the ground, so outdoor activity isn't an option. In the spring/summer, however, my husband and I are planning on building an outdoor run for Chomper, complete with her own small vegetable garden so she can enjoy eating fresh grass and veggies in the sunshine.
The House Rabbit Society webpage has some GREAT information... links are below.
http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/diet.html
http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/treat.html
http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-4/pellets.html
http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-3/fiber.html
http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-4/pellet-info.html
http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-3/digestibility.html
According to my vet, the majority of the diet should be composed of grasses (i.e. hay) and greens. Pellets often contain more protein than typical pet rabbits nutritionally require, and thus should only compose a small percentage of the diet. Per my vet, rabbits need about a quarter cup of pellets per two pounds of body weight each day. Since Chomper weighs four pounds, she gets a half cup total of pellets each day. She tends to sit there and stuff herself full of pellets until the bowl is empty, which is why I split the pellets into two servings throughout the day.
Right now, we have over a foot of snow on the ground, so outdoor activity isn't an option. In the spring/summer, however, my husband and I are planning on building an outdoor run for Chomper, complete with her own small vegetable garden so she can enjoy eating fresh grass and veggies in the sunshine.
The House Rabbit Society webpage has some GREAT information... links are below.
http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/diet.html
http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/treat.html
http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-4/pellets.html
http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-3/fiber.html
http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-4/pellet-info.html
http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-3/digestibility.html
How much does your rabbit weigh and how old is she?
I give mine a small amount of pellets and varying amount of veg every day, twice a day. Some people feed veg only once a day. Hay at all times. One pair get less veg as they have dental problems and so (as advised by vet) am trying to encourage them to eat more hay instead of filling themselves up on veggies. I feed about half an oz of extruded pellets per 5lb body weight (roughly) twice a day. But these are all adults, youngsters should get more. I would like to cut pellets out altogether but not plucked up the courage yet.
Does anyone not feed their buns pellets, only veg and hay? Do they need more veggies to sustain this diet without losing weight? b-m
I give mine a small amount of pellets and varying amount of veg every day, twice a day. Some people feed veg only once a day. Hay at all times. One pair get less veg as they have dental problems and so (as advised by vet) am trying to encourage them to eat more hay instead of filling themselves up on veggies. I feed about half an oz of extruded pellets per 5lb body weight (roughly) twice a day. But these are all adults, youngsters should get more. I would like to cut pellets out altogether but not plucked up the courage yet.
Does anyone not feed their buns pellets, only veg and hay? Do they need more veggies to sustain this diet without losing weight? b-m
sgprescue
Mama Doe
At the rabbit welfare association conference they recommended feeding just hay/grasses and leafy greens, no pellets. I still give mine a very small amount of pellets (about a tablespoon a day) but only because I dont have time to prepare extra vegetables (they only get veg once a day)
Cheryl
Cheryl
taylor v 109
Mama Doe
Depends if shes a big type dutch or a smaller one. As a guide a mini lopweighs 3.5lb would get 2ounces of pellits a day hay unlimited no veg. If your giving veg as well then cut a little out of the pellit. At a guess she shouldnt weigh more than about 4lb so i would feed veg hay and 2oz pellits. If she gets fat [some rabbits are different in there matabalisum] then cut the pellits down a bit more. val 
