How do you weigh your bunnies?

[joey&boo]

I've never really got on with (our) baby scales...my bunnies have been either too wonky or too hyperactive to stay on them. As Chinook & Eddy are both make good progress on their "diets" its time to see if the scales support my belief. I spontaneous bought some human scales on Amazon last night to try the weigh self, then weigh self holding bunny & subtract the difference. Only problem is by the time I've chased round said bunny for weigh in I'll have probably lost 200g myself

Curious about what others do, how often & how smooth the process is. I'd like vet scales !

 

[Shimmer]

With difficulty....I tend to use digital kitchen scales, but it's not easy. They won't sit on the small deck and I can't see the readout due to all the fluff. Much easier to get them weighed at the vet.

It's easier to use digital scales made for humans as they have a bigger area that the rabbit can sit on, or you can use a suitable container to sit them in to weigh. The issue here is sensitivity - they won't weigh tiny amounts (ie a few grams) as accurately. Mine also have the habit of switching off by the time you have set them up and then got the rabbit ready to use them.

 

[joey&boo]

With difficulty....I tend to use digital kitchen scales, but it's not easy. They won't sit on the small deck and I can't see the readout due to all the fluff. Much easier to get them weighed at the vet.

It's easier to use digital scales made for humans as they have a bigger area that the rabbit can sit on, or you can use a suitable container to sit them in to weigh. The issue here is sensitivity - they won't weigh tiny amounts (ie a few grams) as accurately. Mine also have the habit of switching off by the time you have set them up and then got the rabbit ready to use them.

ha - it is nicely reassuring you find it difficult too. Cute images off fluff rabbit bums "accidentally" obscuring the readings.
The scales I got do 50g increments which I reckon is good enough. Switching on & off is a good point to consider - I wonder if I can do it with my toes

 

[Pets mum]

I used to stick George in his carrier, which I knew weighed 2kg, then plonk both on the digital scales. Was reminded of this taken in Scotland years ago, when he decided to do it himself

 

[bunny momma]

I've never really got on with (our) baby scales...my bunnies have been either too wonky or too hyperactive to stay on them. As Chinook & Eddy are both make good progress on their "diets" its time to see if the scales support my belief. I spontaneous bought some human scales on Amazon last night to try the weigh self, then weigh self holding bunny & subtract the difference. Only problem is by the time I've chased round said bunny for weigh in I'll have probably lost 200g myself

Curious about what others do, how often & how smooth the process is. I'd like vet scales !

Why not weigh self with bunny first and then self without bunny. Then both readings of you would be post bunny chase.
I put a towel on the baby scale then set it to zero before adding bunny. You can do same with a carrier or other item. No math needed.

 

[joey&boo]

I used to stick George in his carrier, which I knew weighed 2kg, then plonk both on the digital scales. Was reminded of this taken in Scotland years ago, when he decided to do it himself


View attachment 4081

Oh Georgie, what good boy

 

[joey&boo]

Why not weigh self with bunny first and then self without bunny. Then both readings of you would be post bunny chase.
I put a towel on the baby scale then set it to zero before adding bunny. You can do same with a carrier or other item. No math needed.

oh yeahthanks BM. That would make much more sense

Yeah I used to put cosy stuff on & tare for wonky Boo & speedy boy, eddy. Chinook I not even tried to weigh at home

 

[joey&boo]

Well I'm not entirely sure this method is that accurate. Eddy has lost 200g, I would have guessed 200-300g. He doesnt have fat covered ribs anymore. I'd say he is perfect. Eddy was the one the vet thought too chunky. Chinook has barely lost 100g...though since going on her diet she is eating so much more hay which is showing in her poops. With Chinook the main issue was her spurs. All in all, progress in the right direction. Thing about Chinook is she only weighed 2.1 in the RSPCA. 400g seems like a lot to gain but she is a longer / bigger bunny than Eddy...I only hope some of her gain is muscle. At the adoption centre she had limited space & here she is very active

 

[a reader of books]

Aww, George

I try to weigh the buns every week, but I do forget at times. I've never had any trouble weighing Casper, as I just put him on the baby scales while I'm doing his weekly checkup, but I can relate to your struggle now that I've tried to weigh Saar I finally managed this week by luring her on the baby scales after putting some non-slip vet bed on it and sprinkling some pellets on that. I tried it before with a grass mat on the scales, as that's what I've always used for Sophie and Casper, but Saar found it too slippery and wouldn't stay on the scales. Putting her on there myself is a no-no, too, because she does not like being held at all and panics. Since Chinook and Eddy are so eager for non-hay food now that they're on their diet, can you use it to convince them to get on the baby scales and sit still for long enough? That would save some chasing and your losing weight yourself each time

Sounds like the diet has worked wonders for Eddy, though! Sounds like Chinook is going in the right direction, too, especially with her eating so much more hay now. Hopefully that'll keep the spurs under control. I would think her having more room to move around must've added some muscle, yeah, though at the same time, having more room to move would also let her burn more calories than when she was at the adoption centre, so maybe that would balance out?

 

[AnjaSanja]

I weight them just like at the vets. On kitchen scale in a box.

 

[joey&boo]

Aww, George

I try to weigh the buns every week, but I do forget at times. I've never had any trouble weighing Casper, as I just put him on the baby scales while I'm doing his weekly checkup, but I can relate to your struggle now that I've tried to weigh Saar I finally managed this week by luring her on the baby scales after putting some non-slip vet bed on it and sprinkling some pellets on that. I tried it before with a grass mat on the scales, as that's what I've always used for Sophie and Casper, but Saar found it too slippery and wouldn't stay on the scales. Putting her on there myself is a no-no, too, because she does not like being held at all and panics. Since Chinook and Eddy are so eager for non-hay food now that they're on their diet, can you use it to convince them to get on the baby scales and sit still for long enough? That would save some chasing and your losing weight yourself each time

Sounds like the diet has worked wonders for Eddy, though! Sounds like Chinook is going in the right direction, too, especially with her eating so much more hay now. Hopefully that'll keep the spurs under control. I would think her having more room to move around must've added some muscle, yeah, though at the same time, having more room to move would also let her burn more calories than when she was at the adoption centre, so maybe that would balance out?

Ha ha, i like that Saar has given you personal insight into the difficulties of weighing flighty bunniesi can well believe she complied once pellets were on the scene. That is a good idea to put them on something with a deeper pile.

With the baby scales we always had to use them on the kitchen table to get any kind of stability in readings. Is cos our house is very old and unwonky with sloping floors the human scales might work for that but i will miss my little cuddle

 

[joey&boo]

The more i think about it, they defo arent fat...at the moment. They both look very healthy to me. We shall keep up with the diet and weigh ins.

 

[a reader of books]

Oh, yeah, scales and wonky floors aren't good friends And we can't ask you to miss your little cuddle with them

From the photos you sent me recently, I don't think they look fat all. They look really healthy to me, too