Ellasyn
Mama Doe
Ok my pair of bunnies maintain well on excel pellets, one of my mini handfuls each morning and night (half that in summer), a couple of handfuls of treat hay (currently a green oat hay, looks and smells yummy) and insane amounts of meadow hay ( a normal farmers bale lasts about 10 days for 3 bunnies). They also get a variety of herbs and other plants depending on the season, handpicked grass, apple tree twigs, and treat amounts of veggies. This seems to keep them on a stable weight (I usually hand feed herbie a couple of extra bits of veggies and fenugreek crunchies when delilah isnt looking as he seems to need a tiny bit more). Hamish on the other hand is a nightmare. Herbie was very thin when I got him, and took a while to stabilise at a sensible weight, but keeping a good amount of pellet and fresh foods works well. Hamish was as thin as herbie and although he is no longer worryingly thin, he does find it hard to maintain weight. My vet has had a look, and isnt overly concerned at the moment, and cant find anything wrong with a routine check over. He eats well, mountains of hay, noms his pellets with gusto and enjoys most herbs/veg/twigs etc. He isnt keen on the mini alfalfa bales that my others enjoy, but he does like fenugreek crunchies. Hamish is currently having about a third of a normal cat bowl (those heavy ceramic type ones with cat on them, Im sure he cant read so wont cause offence! :lol
twice a day.
Trouble is his weight seems to have levelled out at slightly under ideal. Is there a higher calorie but tummy safe pellet alternative? could I supplement with a little of a yummy mix like the rabbit royale on top of his current meals like a treat to pick his weight up more? I think he just burns it off roaring round like a nutter all the time. He gets a lot of free range time on the patio and was used to a 4ft hutch before, so seems to be trying to make up for it now! He is a very exciteable and energetic bun, even moreso than my other two and I can only assume he just burns off more than he eats at the moment. Im reluctant to cut back on his play time, and was hoping he could have longer out once the weather improves and the evenings are lighter. He only has a 5ft hutch with a 5x4 run at the moment plus a large patio area about 2 hours most mornings and about 4 hours most afternoons so any less is getting a bit cruel. He is rather fluffy (lionhead type bunny, but not the crazy fluffy type, just noticably more than my normal bunnies) and has been keeping warm well in the hutch (wrapped, covered, stuffed with hay and cardboard base). He isnt neutered as when I got him there wasnt anything to remove yet and then it got nasty cold and I wanted to wait for spring warm weather when I could make sure he could recover ok. I assume once neutered his weight will keep on better.
Anyone have any other ideas why an otherwise healthy bun could be such a challenge to keep weight on? Is increasing pellets more the best choice or is a higher calorie treat or a mix like rabbit royale food (its full of yummy looking flowers and stuff) on top of the current foods?
twice a day. Trouble is his weight seems to have levelled out at slightly under ideal. Is there a higher calorie but tummy safe pellet alternative? could I supplement with a little of a yummy mix like the rabbit royale on top of his current meals like a treat to pick his weight up more? I think he just burns it off roaring round like a nutter all the time. He gets a lot of free range time on the patio and was used to a 4ft hutch before, so seems to be trying to make up for it now! He is a very exciteable and energetic bun, even moreso than my other two and I can only assume he just burns off more than he eats at the moment. Im reluctant to cut back on his play time, and was hoping he could have longer out once the weather improves and the evenings are lighter. He only has a 5ft hutch with a 5x4 run at the moment plus a large patio area about 2 hours most mornings and about 4 hours most afternoons so any less is getting a bit cruel. He is rather fluffy (lionhead type bunny, but not the crazy fluffy type, just noticably more than my normal bunnies) and has been keeping warm well in the hutch (wrapped, covered, stuffed with hay and cardboard base). He isnt neutered as when I got him there wasnt anything to remove yet
and then it got nasty cold and I wanted to wait for spring warm weather when I could make sure he could recover ok. I assume once neutered his weight will keep on better. Anyone have any other ideas why an otherwise healthy bun could be such a challenge to keep weight on? Is increasing pellets more the best choice or is a higher calorie treat or a mix like rabbit royale food (its full of yummy looking flowers and stuff) on top of the current foods?
