How often should a rabbit be eating hay?

[Jessie1990]

I give unlimited hay to both rabbits, but Ash eats more than double the amount Korra eats. I have tried mixing Alphalfa into timothy, straight timothy, and Orchard Grass. Right now Korra is eating Orchard. I put it in her pen last night and she immediatly began eating so I was very optomistic. BUT this morning there is still hay in her litter pan… I am begining to wonder if it’s because she doesn’t like it in the pan where she goes to the bathroom. Should I try a rack? This experimentation is beginning to get quite pricey LOL. I really need her diet to be spot on because they both are getting speutered next week! I won’t go through with the surgery for Korra unless she is eating a sufficient amount of hay. So my big question is, how much hay should a rabbit be eating over night/day? I have apples so I might try sprinkling the hay with juice. Also, is it possible for a rabbit to have no sense of smell? Korra doesn’t respond to smells such as apple pieces and various hay types. I think it might be the texture she likes. Thank you for any responses!

[Beka27]

It’s going to vary from rabbit to rabbit. I wouldn’t add any juice to the hay, that would increase the sweetness but can make the bunny sick. And it might hurt hay consumption later on when the hay is no longer “juiced”.

I personally prefer using a hay rack because there’s less waste. You can suspend it over the litterbox to catch the extra.

[Sarita]

Honestly it varies from rabbit to rabbit – I don’t think you need to not put her through spaying if you don’t believe she is eating enough hay – she just has to be eating something – eating enough hay isn’t really a factor in this.

Don’t add any juice to their hay, that may cause mold and really you don’t need to be enticing with sugar.

You could certainly try some other options, maybe add some hay toppers but honestly each rabbit is different about hay consumption. You just need to have it out for them to graze on.

[Jessie1990]

Hmm. I’m probably just paranoid LOL I came home from work today and her hay was nearly gone. I will try to be less of a worry wart :S I’m just glad she will actually eat Orchard Grass I will look into getting a hay rack so I don’t have to throw out so much hay.

[Jolene DuBelle]

Oat hay I believe is a sweeter hay, it is also less dusty. This is what I primarily use.

[LBJ10]

I think it can vary from rabbit to rabbit. Some rabbits are crazy hay piggies and they will gobble it all down. Others will eat less. In general, I think as long as they are eating some hay then you don’t need to worry.

[Bam]

The important thing with regards to the spaying is how your rabbit’s stomach is working. If she eats and poops and you never see leftover cecotropes/sticky butt, then she should be fine even if she doesn’t eat lots of hay.

Hay is of course important but some rabbits will eat more, others less. My rabbit is not a big hay-eater and I’ve tried many types of hay, now I’ve found an organic meadow-type hay that he will eat.

[Elrohwen]

Yep, it completely varies from rabbit to rabbit. One of mine would sit and eat hay all day, while the other one is only interested in it for about 2 min after I refill the racks, then she’s done. As long as she’s eating a bit, and eating her other food fine, she’ll be ok for her spay.

[Emmie]

As everyone has said, it depends on the bun. I know with Thane he wasn’t eating enough hay because I was providing him with far too much pellets. So I cut down on the pellets and he began eating more hay. I could tell he needed more hay as he’s had constant issues with his butt since day one. Since I ensured more hay is in his diet, the situation drastically improved.

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