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Not eating hay
- Thread starter Steph530
- Start date
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
How much pellet feed do they have ? If they are fed too many pellets they wont eat much hay.
Are they grazing on grass daily ?
Is the hay a new batch/different type ?
Does it smell musty ?
Are they grazing on grass daily ?
Is the hay a new batch/different type ?
Does it smell musty ?
MightyMax
Banned
You have to be a cruel Mum and take away some of their pellets and veg
Rabbits don't actually need pellets, so you could wean them down to a very small amount - depending on size, no more than 1 - 2 egg cupfuls a day.
No, don't just suddenly stop the pellets as you can make them ill.
They do need a small amount of pellets as these provide extra nutrients and vitamins - including calcium for healthy bones and teeth - that hay alone cannot provide.
What age, breed and weight are your rabbits?
As a guide, I have Rex Minis who are 4 years old and weigh just about 3kg each. They have 10g of pellets each a day. No more.
Veg should only be given in small amounts, like a tablespoon full, per bunny, per day.
If you are giving a big bowl of un-weighed pellets and lots of veg per day, this is your problem and no wonder they're refusing their hay - quite simply they're full.
Once you have gradually (not suddenly) reduced their veg and pellets, if they are still not eating their hay you'll have to take them to the vet to get their teeth checked out. Hay has to be ground up using their molars (back teeth) which if they have a problem with these this will be painful to do.
As you're a new kit, I also strongly advise to get your rabbits insured. A few pounds a month can save a lot of heartbreak later on. My rabbits are £23 per month (for the 2) and last year alone I claimed £1,700 just for the one for her repeated colic/stasis. Imagine if both had had it.
They do need a small amount of pellets as these provide extra nutrients and vitamins - including calcium for healthy bones and teeth - that hay alone cannot provide.
What age, breed and weight are your rabbits?
As a guide, I have Rex Minis who are 4 years old and weigh just about 3kg each. They have 10g of pellets each a day. No more.
Veg should only be given in small amounts, like a tablespoon full, per bunny, per day.
If you are giving a big bowl of un-weighed pellets and lots of veg per day, this is your problem and no wonder they're refusing their hay - quite simply they're full.
Once you have gradually (not suddenly) reduced their veg and pellets, if they are still not eating their hay you'll have to take them to the vet to get their teeth checked out. Hay has to be ground up using their molars (back teeth) which if they have a problem with these this will be painful to do.
As you're a new kit, I also strongly advise to get your rabbits insured. A few pounds a month can save a lot of heartbreak later on. My rabbits are £23 per month (for the 2) and last year alone I claimed £1,700 just for the one for her repeated colic/stasis. Imagine if both had had it.
MightyMax
Banned
As I said, rabbits don't need pellets in order to live well. They are curious creatures, because they absorb all the calcium out of all the food they eat, and very rarely have a deficiency. The problems are caused by too much calcium, which is mainly in the pelleted feed.
Two rabbits specialists have recommended feeding rabbits *nothing* but grass/hay.
However, depending on their size, you should cut down the pellets and make sure they veg they eat is low calorie (not carrots, parsnips, pumpkin etc) so that they are well hungry for their hay.
If you decide to cut the pellets out in future that's your decision, but it will make sure they eat hay, which is vital for their teeth and digestion.
tabithakat64
Mama Doe
If you look on the RWA website there is useful information on rabbits diets and how much and what type of veg is appropriate. As MightyMax says rabbits do not need pellets and it's important that nearly all of their diet is made up of hay (there are lots of different types) and grass.
Personally I would not cut out the pellets - an eggcupful a day each is fine. You say 'about' - do you actually measure it? Its easy to feed too many. Certainly 80% of their diet should be good quality hay - perhaps send for samples on-line to find something to tempt for them. HayforPets do sample packs and probably others do too. I assume you don't feed them treats. I would have them both checked over by your rabbit-savvy vet to make sure there are no underlying health reasons stopping them from eating their hay.
biscandmatt1
Wise Old Thumper
because they have both stopped eating the hay i'd think it was maybe a batch they don't like, or they can tell it's not quite right for some reason - maybe too musty etc.
i'd start by getting new hay and trying out new ones to see if you can find some they like
i'd start by getting new hay and trying out new ones to see if you can find some they like
Spikethebunny
Young Bun
Spike absolutely LOVES his hay, but he goes through periods where he doesn't seem as interested. I've found getting a brand new bag or even switching brands can make him come back to it. I also change up where it is, like place little piles in his favorite resting spots, so it's right there if he gets the urge. If I'm extra worried, I've ground up a pellet over the hay, and the smell gets him digging in.
Hi Angie B,
Sorry I didn't mean stop the pellets suddenly I was just wondering weather to eventually stop them and the veg or just pellets.
The boys are dwarf lops, 7 months old, not sure how much they weigh as I haven't got scales to do this. They don't get a big bowl full of un-weighed pellets, they get a measured scoop which was provided by the vet as a recommended amount, the scoop is about the size of an egg cup.
I do already have the boys insured.
Sorry I didn't mean stop the pellets suddenly I was just wondering weather to eventually stop them and the veg or just pellets.
The boys are dwarf lops, 7 months old, not sure how much they weigh as I haven't got scales to do this. They don't get a big bowl full of un-weighed pellets, they get a measured scoop which was provided by the vet as a recommended amount, the scoop is about the size of an egg cup.
I do already have the boys insured.
because they have both stopped eating the hay i'd think it was maybe a batch they don't like, or they can tell it's not quite right for some reason - maybe too musty etc.
i'd start by getting new hay and trying out new ones to see if you can find some they like
This could be the reason as nothing else has changed in the amount they are fed but I did recently buy some different hay, the guinea pigs are eating theirs so maybe the boys are just being fussy.
