How to transition to new food?

[Caitlyn C]

Hi there. Stanley’s on Purina Rabbit Chow “SHOW”.(what the breeder was feeding) I personally like Oxbow the best and I really want him on it. I tried mixing the Oxbow Young Rabbit in gradually but it seemed to me that he was picking around it and just eating the Purina. My goal when he’s a year old is to have him on the Organic Oxbow for Rabbits.(the website recommends it for adults)The ingredients are very impressive and healthy.

Also, I’m wondering about how the key ingredients in all of these EXCEPT the Oxbow Organic are alfalfa meal. I’ve heard to(and continue to) stay away from alfalfa hay so wouldn’t it apply to food as well? If I should stay away from it, I really like how the organic has plain grass as the first ingredient. Also all of those yummy vitamins and nutrients!

 

I’m wondering if it’s worth it to try to transition him to the Oxbow Young Rabbit right now. I’ll include the ingredient percentages of each. Thanks for your help guys!

 

Oxbow Young Rabbit (I have some but he snuffed it)

Ingredients

Alfalfa Meal, Soybean Hulls, Wheat Middlings, Soybean Oil, Salt, Cane Molasses, Lignin Sulfonate, Limestone, Yeast Culture (dehydrated), Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Selenium Yeast, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Copper Proteinate, Riboflavin Supplement, Manganese Proteinate, Biotin, Manganous Oxide, Thiamine Mononitrate, Magnesium Sulfate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Cobalt Carbonate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Calcium Iodate

Guaranteed Analysis

• Crude Protein (min) 15.00%
• Crude Fat (min) 2.50%
• Crude Fiber (min) 22.00%
• Crude Fiber (max) 25.00%
• Moisture (max) 10.00%
• Calcium (min) 0.50%
• Calcium (max) 1.00%
• Phosphorus (min) 0.25%
• Copper (min) 30 ppm
• Vitamin A (min) 19,000 IU/kg
• Vitamin D (min) 900 IU/kg
• Vitamin E (min) 190 IU/kg

Purina Rabbit Chow “Show” (what Stanley’s eating right now)

 GUARANTEED ANALYSIS

Crude Protein (Min)……………………………………………. Crude Fat (Min)…………………………………………………. Crude Fiber (Min)………………………………………………. Crude Fiber (Max)……………………………………………… Calcium (Ca) (Min)…………………………………………….. Calcium (Ca) (Max)……………………………………………. Phosphorus (P) (Min)………………………………………….. Salt (NaCl) (Min)……………………………………………….. Salt (NaCl) (Max) ……………………………………………… Vitamin A (Min)………………………………………………….

16.00% 3.50% 18.50% 21.50% 0.70% 1.20% 0.40% 0.50% 1.00% 4,800 IU/lb

INGREDIENTS
Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Wheat Middlings, Ground Soybean Hulls, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Wheat Flour, Cane Molasses, Soybean Oil, Ground Oat Hulls, Lignin Sulfonate, Salt, Monocalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Iron Oxide, L-Lysine, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Dried Aspergillus Niger Fermentation Extract, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Dried Yeast, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Ferment Product, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Cobalt Carbonate, Manganese Sulfate, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Zinc Sulfate, Dried Yucca Shidigera Extract, Copper Chloride, Dicalcium Phosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate.

 

Oxbow Organic Rabbit (end goal)

 

Ingredients

Organic Grass Hay, Organic Canola Meal, Organic Wheat Straw, Organic Sunflower Meal, Organic Barley, Organic Flax Seed, Sodium Bentonite, Limestone, Sea Salt, L-Ascorbyl-2-Monophosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Organic Dandelion Leaf, Organic Ground Rosemary, Inulin, Organic Cranberry, Organic Blueberry, Dried Yucca Schidigera, Yeast Culture Dehydrated, Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Selenium Yeast, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Copper Proteinate, Riboflavin Supplement, Manganese Proteinate, Biotin, Manganous Oxide, Thiamine Mononitrate, Magnesium Sulfate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Cobalt Carbonate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Calcium Iodate

Guaranteed Analysis

• Crude Protein (min) 12.00%
• Crude Fat (min) 2.00%
• Crude Fiber (min) 23.00%
• Crude Fiber (max) 25.00%
• Moisture (max) 12.00%
• Ash (max) 9.00%
• Calcium (min) 0.60%
• Calcium (max) 0.90%
• Phosphorus (min) 0.30%
• Copper (min) 25 ppm
• Vitamin A 19,000 IU/kg (min)
• Vitamin D 900 IU/kg (min)
• Vitamin E 190 IU/kg (min)
• Omega 3 Fatty Acid (min) 0.30%
• Omega 6 Fatty Acid (min) 0.41%

 

[Deleted User]

WOW great job Caitlyn! I have to be honest none of that makes any sense to me – I’ve never been any good at reading/understanding labels, so I take the easiest shortcut ever – buy what I know is a good trusted brand that is age suitable for your bun. Henry was given a bagful of pellets from the breeder and when I was at the halfway mark went and bought the Oxbow young rabbit food and immediately started to give him (it is suggested to start with) a 1/4 then 1/2 till you get to 3/4 and run out…. Henry wasn’t overly impressed with the new healthier pellets, but my motto (kids included, lol!), if he’s hungry he will eat it. Once Henry was past the 6 month mark in age, the next bag I bought was the Oxbow adult rabbit food and did the same. Again, not fussed, but he got there. I chose the Oxbow ‘brand’ as it was highly recommended by my vet and fellow BBer’s! And because of where I live, I have only one pet shop that I can purchase bunny food from and he only stocks the Oxbow brand, cause he reckons it’s the best too – can’t argue with that! The best part – I never once felt I was a bad bunny mum for not reading/understanding the label. I’m not suggesting for one minute other brands aren’t as superior, It just took the worry out of it for me, cause Oxbow has such a good reputation for nutrition and quality. Too easy (for me)! Hope that helps you a bit Caitlyn – I know you only want the best for your Stanley! Cheers.

PS – Does anyone know how long it takes for the cheque to come from endorsing Oxbow? JOKES!!!!!! Lol……

[LongEaredLions]

Alfalfa is good for baby bunnies, that oxbow food is for young rabbits. Oxbow also makes an adult rabbit food with grass hay. Most of us here feed oxbow essentials adult rabbit.
He probably won’t eat the oxbow simply because he has the option to eat the les s healthy and yummier food (Purina) . Keep mixing the foods, but don’t give him more Purina until he eats all the oxbow, even if it takes a week. When he finishes it all, give him more of the mixed food, slowly decreasing the amount of Purina until he’s only on oxbow.
Oxbow has 3 adult rabbit foods-essentials(just the regular one), organic, and natural science(made with a larger variety of hays)

[Caitlyn C]

But I don’t want him to stop eating completely guys. What if he won’t eat unless it’s purina lol

[Caitlyn C]

Isn’t waiting a week starving him?

[Deleted User]

No, ha ha ha….. I’m sure it won’t take a week (though it may feel like it, lol). He’ll get hungry for his pellets in a day (at least Henry did). I think what we are trying to say is ‘don’t give in’.
The best example I can give you is Henry and his lack of enthusiasm to eat his ‘hay’ (the worst food for a bunny NOT to eat). Henry didn’t eat hay at all and I worried so kept topping up his pellets. I put the question to BBer’s and ‘everyone’ said to give him his 1/4 cup daily NO MORE and his 1-2 cups of veggies. When he’s hungry, he will eat his hay. It worked! Don’t get me wrong – Henry still isn’t eating the amount he should be, but it’s a start. And it’s a battle I’m determined to win (he’s already won too many, naughty bunny!).
Out of all the foods your bunny can go without eating, I reckon a few BBer’s will agree pellets is the least of your concerns. Hay and then fresh veggies are most important (sorry Caitlyn, how old is Stanley now? Do you give him veg yet?). Then the pellets. As I said, Henry didn’t take to his new ‘healthy’ pellets to begin with – but once he worked out that was it, he gave in and loves them! (especially for Henry not eating hay, dam!). I’m sure Stanley will get there – if you make him (sounds terrible, ha ha ha – but it’s not).
Give it a week maybe, and if he hasn’t given in let us know. Cheers Caitlyn.

Edit/ADD – I am desperately trying to remember how old Stanley is???? If he is still a ‘bub’ my advice may not be the best, so please ignore it. But if he’s, let’s say 5 months now – it may be worth a try? Let us know…. Ta Caitlyn.

[Beka27]

Yup! Like AndHenry said, he will not starve himself. He will eat his veggies and hay eventually. It can be tough to limit him, but just be strong!

In simple terms, this is how you transition…

Week 1: 75% alfalfa pellets, 25% timothy pellets
Week 2: 50% alfalfa pellets, 50% timothy pellets
Week 3: 25% alfalfa pellets, 75% timothy pellets
Week 4: all timothy pellets

[Caitlyn C]

AndHenry, he’s only 3 and a half months.

[Deleted User]

Yep, I remembered Stanley was still young (how young I wasn’t quite sure?), why I backtracked. I would still do as Beka suggested above, and stand firm for a few days (don’t give in), I really don’t think he will starve himself. Just like human babies and toddlers adjusting to new tastes – we will eat when we are hungry. Once you have transitioned Stanley onto his new pellets (make that your first priority), then you can start to offer him some veggies. One at a time to make sure his tummy doesn’t react.

Edit/ADD – And I’m sorry to say…. when Stanley is 6 months old, the next bag you should buy should be (Oxbow?) ‘adult’ rabbit food and you’ll have to do the same again – sorry! But once you get past that (and we all had to do it with our baby bunny’s) and Stanley is eating his hay (#1), veggies (#2) and his pellets, you shouldn’t have to worry about mucking around with his diet again. Hope that gives you some reassurance that this process won’t be ongoing forever, just the next few months. Cheers Caitlyn.

[BlueMoods]

He won’t starve himself, he may eat hay and fresh foods before the pellets but, he will eat them when it’s all he has. Some of mine have come in with no food and had no choice but to eat what I feed from day one.

I do feed alfalfa pellets but, I give grass hay, alfalfa hay would be too much protein with the alfalfa pellets. Adults are fine with some alfalfa as long as you aren’t giving too much protein. Some prefer alfalfa and, that’s fine as long as they are only getting it form one source (hay or pellets) and the other is grass.

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