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Forum DIET & CARE Is less stem, mores leaves hay okay?

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    • Kiahak
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        So, I have a 3 month old mini rex currently on alfalfa hay from PetCo (we don’t have other places that sell alfalfa hay). I’m about done through her first bag, but almost all the stems/stalks are gone and it’s mostly just a pile of crumpled up leaves. I’ve noticed she’ll pull out her stems from the hay feeder and specifically go for the leaves when she eats. I figured they’re higher in nutrition content, but lower in fiber than the stems/stalks.

        My issue is I don’t know if I should just go buy a new bag that has all the stems/stalks, or let her go through the leaf-pile. My concern is about her breathing in hay dust, since she just shoves her face into the hay feeder. 

        Does anyone have insight on this, or can point me in the right direction?


      • Roy
        Participant
        27 posts Send Private Message

          My rabbit Mochi usually likes to eat the leaves first.

          I think you should give her Timothy Hay instead of alfalfa. I heard alfalfa hay is not the best for them to live off of.

          When you get to the bottom of the bag, you can buy a new one and pull out the bottom stuff to mix with the new. You can leave the dust behind.


        • Bam
          Moderator
          16837 posts Send Private Message

            My buns go for the leaves first. I think that’s normal.

            Alfalfa hay isn’t hay in the same sense as grassy hay is, but it’s fine for young rabbits under the age of 5-6 months. It has a lot of protein and calcium and a growing bunny needs that. But it’s good if you can start weaning her on to grassy hay as well, because grassy hay is the mainstay of an adult bunny’s diet. Timothy, orchard, oat, meadow – any type is fine and it’s of course best if you can give a variety over time.


          • Excript
            Participant
            70 posts Send Private Message

              When my bunny also a mini Rex was few months old, she too only eats the leaves and not the stem, she will toss the stem away all the time and shows no interest in the stems.

              When most of the leaves have been eaten I just throw the stems away and refill with fresh alfalfa hay. If ur afraid of the dust, u can dust them first by shaking it off elsewhere.


            • Q8bunny
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              6345 posts Send Private Message

                My lionhead prefers leaves too. When all that’s left in his munchbox are stems and he isn’t noshing with quite as much enthusiasm, I take them and use them to sprinkle over his litter – they help to keep it from flying everywhere when he jumps in and out.

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            Forum DIET & CARE Is less stem, mores leaves hay okay?