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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

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Forum DIET & CARE Bun refusing to eat hay

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    • Piggle
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        Hi All

        I was hoping for some help. Hercules just won’t eat hay and obviously this is worrying me!

        He is pooing fine, still has a great appetite for pellets and fresh foods but he just refuses to eat hay. We’ve tried all varieties going, have had his teeth checked at the vets, have tried reducing the amount of food we give him to try to force him to eat the hay- but he would rather go hungry than eat any hay (obviously we only did this for a short period so as not to cause him harm).

        I’m at my wits end and don’t know how to get him to eat it.

        Has anyone got any ideas? Do you think this could be due to a health problem that the vet has missed?

        Thanks in advance.


      • Deleted User
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        22064 posts Send Private Message

          Have you tried using hay toppers to get your bun to eat hay? BB sells a really nice one.


        • bunnnnnnie!
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            Sorry if I missed it in your post; have you tried different types of hay? Timothy, orchard, oat? Some brands have a botanical hay that smells awesome. Even just varying brands of the same type of hay. For instance, I’ll get Zeus some Kaytee brand timothy hay sometimes, then rotate to Oxbow brand Timothy. I think offering a variety definitely can help.


          • bunnnnnnie!
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            1491 posts Send Private Message

              Also, I forgot, how are you feeding it? Put in the litterbox? You might put it in a little hay rack if it isn’t currently, to try and spark some interest.


            • NewBunnyOwner123
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              1930 posts Send Private Message

                May e sprinkle his beloved pellets in the hay so he will have to forage for them and he might munch on some hay. When Sally refused veggies I sprinkled her pellets in it and she ended up biting into the veggies and now she loves her veggies!


              • jerseygirl
                Moderator
                22338 posts Send Private Message

                  Firstly, I want to say how gorgeous he is!

                  When you had his teeth looked at, was this under sedation? My rabbit had her teeth looked at in October under sedation and they found little spurs that they couldn’t see while she was conscious. Even some they couldnt really see under sedation but could feel. It made a difference and for the first time I’ve seen her eating hay more consistently. Still not as much as my others but she’s doing better.

                  Does Hercules eat slowly at times or frequently drop food from his mouth? Does he seem to constantly drink water?


                • Monkeybun
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                  10479 posts Send Private Message

                    Also, was it hay bought in a pet store in those little bags, or nice fresh farm hay? That makes a difference too, in what they like to eat. Mine refuse store stuff, and will only eat fresh hay from local farms here.


                  • Quittenton
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                      Have you tried differently delivery methods for the hay? I know the common recommendation is try a new type/brand of hay, but for me what did it was (shockingly) the delivery method! My bun’s cage came with the little hay dispenser thing that attaches to the side of his cage, but it could fill it full of hay and he would ignore it. I’d also put his pellets in a dish with hay so he could make a game of finding his pellets while hopefully taking in some hay, but all he did with that was make a mess. Some people have those hanging balls they put hay in, but I couldn’t find one at my pet shop, and oddly my bun also didn’t like it in his litter box. Then one day I took a normal, empty kleenex container (made bunny-safe by taking off the plastic film stuff) and gave it to him. He though it was the best thing ever peaking his head in and out, flipping it on its side, he loves it! So i put some hay at the bottom of it and since then, it’s his favourite thing! Best thing is that even when the box is flipped on its side, since only the little middle area where the kleenex was dispensed is cut out, the hay doesn’t fall out everywhere and the majority of it ends up in him, not around him! So maybe try and find a fun delivery method that he would prefer to it just being there!


                    • NewBunnyOwner123
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                        That’s sounds like a great toy! I have almost finished my box of Kleenex and then I’m going to do that! My buns have no issues with hay but I think they will enjoy that


                      • Jesse97
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                        79 posts Send Private Message

                          I would just say pretty much the same as everyone else. Keep trying new types of hay. Also try some hay toppers which might include different types of dried flowers, dried fruits or veggies. Figure out your bunnies treat and hide it in the hay in small amounts.

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                      Forum DIET & CARE Bun refusing to eat hay