Ambrer
Young Bun
Hi there! I was just looking for some advice regarding my rabbit, Chappy!
She's just about to hit the big second birthday - one thing that does concern me with her; is from the moment I brought her home she's never really been keen on hay or grass. I don't think the breeder every supplied her with hay, bless her - but she's been out on the grass most days since she's been home with me; and shows little interest in that, either!
Currently, Chappy eats about 50g of nuggets per day (she weighs in at just under 2kg, she's a pretty big bunny! But the weight is considered normal by my vet for her size, she's not overweight or anything), has a very limited variety of vegetables (I'm introducing more all the time, but she's a rather...opinionated rabbit and will only eat her favourites) and no matter how hard I try and no matter how many different types of hay I give to her, she just refuses to take it.
I only give her nuggets in the morning - and operate on if it's gone, it's gone sort of thing, in the attempt to encourage her to eat hay when she gets hungry. She's rather...stubborn,and will literally sit by the nugget bowl until the next morning until she gets the nuggets again! So far, the only way I've managed to get a couple of strand of hay into her mouth is by stuffing a toy with some of her favourite treats and then hiding it all in hay. Chappy figured out this game pretty quickly so now just rips all the hay out! :roll:
I'm just a little concerned, as I know that her digestive system needs hay to keep going and I also know it's vital for her to eat hay to keep her teeth worn down. I take her to be checked out every couple of months and provide her with lots of wooden things she can gnaw on to ensure her teeth don't become overgrown! Even tried pairing her up with my piggies when they're outside in the run and they've tried to show her how good grass is....she's more interested in sunbathing! :lol:
A part of me thinks that if she's gone this long without eating hay and is in good health then maybe just leave her to it, but I wanted to ask you guys! It's completely stumped my specialist vet - there is no physical reason why Chappy can't eat hay, she just...chooses not to! I've tried a massive variety of hay (normal, Timothy, readigrass, dustfreehay....hay with herbs in, hay with dandelions in...) it's a good thing I have my guinea pigs to eat it when she won't!
I just wondered if any of you guys had any ideas at all? Thank you!
She's just about to hit the big second birthday - one thing that does concern me with her; is from the moment I brought her home she's never really been keen on hay or grass. I don't think the breeder every supplied her with hay, bless her - but she's been out on the grass most days since she's been home with me; and shows little interest in that, either!
Currently, Chappy eats about 50g of nuggets per day (she weighs in at just under 2kg, she's a pretty big bunny! But the weight is considered normal by my vet for her size, she's not overweight or anything), has a very limited variety of vegetables (I'm introducing more all the time, but she's a rather...opinionated rabbit and will only eat her favourites) and no matter how hard I try and no matter how many different types of hay I give to her, she just refuses to take it.
I only give her nuggets in the morning - and operate on if it's gone, it's gone sort of thing, in the attempt to encourage her to eat hay when she gets hungry. She's rather...stubborn,and will literally sit by the nugget bowl until the next morning until she gets the nuggets again! So far, the only way I've managed to get a couple of strand of hay into her mouth is by stuffing a toy with some of her favourite treats and then hiding it all in hay. Chappy figured out this game pretty quickly so now just rips all the hay out! :roll:
I'm just a little concerned, as I know that her digestive system needs hay to keep going and I also know it's vital for her to eat hay to keep her teeth worn down. I take her to be checked out every couple of months and provide her with lots of wooden things she can gnaw on to ensure her teeth don't become overgrown! Even tried pairing her up with my piggies when they're outside in the run and they've tried to show her how good grass is....she's more interested in sunbathing! :lol:
A part of me thinks that if she's gone this long without eating hay and is in good health then maybe just leave her to it, but I wanted to ask you guys! It's completely stumped my specialist vet - there is no physical reason why Chappy can't eat hay, she just...chooses not to! I've tried a massive variety of hay (normal, Timothy, readigrass, dustfreehay....hay with herbs in, hay with dandelions in...) it's a good thing I have my guinea pigs to eat it when she won't!
I just wondered if any of you guys had any ideas at all? Thank you!