I’ve never given my buns rolled oats, not sure I’d want to.

I’ve never heard of giving oats to ease stress.. they are quite fattening i believe, so I’d avoid giving them.

Oats aren’t the healthiest thing for them. They are considered a treat and can cause weight gain in rabbits. The oats have nothing to do with making them less stressed. I wonder if the breeder meant that the oats are something she aleady gives Pixie regularly, but suggested it as something familiar for her. A couple now and then wouldn’t hurt but I definitely wouldn’t give many very often. I have given a couple to my buns sometimes, but I don’t make it a regular treat for them.

Is the breeder feeding her rolled oats as part of her daily diet? That sounds kind of weird.

How old is Pixie? I bet if you provide her with alfalfa hay and pellets and water, and a quiet and cozy place to get used to her new home, she should settle right in. Just try not to overwhelm her – keep things really quiet and keep your eye on her. Keep handling to a minimum at first, and try not to change things around too much in her cage or anything. When changing the bedding / litter box, make sure that she is ok with you being in “her space.” Either that or move her temporarily somewhere else so she can’t see you while you clean.

You will know if she is not feeling well if her poos are not solid, or she is not eating or drinking.

Anyone else with more experience know anything about rolled oats?

if she doesnt regularly feed them then definitely don’t. you want to introduce new foods slowly, after you know if her tummy and such is fine. no new foods immediately after moving to a new home.

I wouldn’t give them. I don’t know how they have to do with stress but oh well?!

I wonder if she’s meaning that she might get runny poo from stress? Rolled oats can help dry things up (as well as hay). I’ve never heard of anything in oats that is meant to relieve stress but breeders do know lots of these little facts. On runny poo, it can be caused by other things so clearing it up with diet is one thing but could mask the real cause. Hopefully you’ll be able to skip the rolled oats. Or just give a small amount as a treat. I give mine a pinch of oats now and then as a treat. They love them!

Actually those rolled oats aren’t going to help dry up runny poops – they are carbohydrates which can cause runny poops.

I think that usually too it is recommended that baby rabbits stay with their mom up to 8 weeks old – that would more likely keep her from being stressed than being taken away at such a young age but I know that is common practice for breeders.

I agree, that is way too young to be away from her mom and siblings. She can experience long-term health issues from being away from mom too early. At this point, the babies are still nursing from time to time and this helps to increase the population of good bacteria in their digestive tract. If this is in fact a good, responsible breeder he/she will recognize this and not wean the babies that early. Will the breeder consider holding on to her until at least 7 weeks?

I agree with Beka. Get the breeder to hold the rabbit for you until at least 7 weeks, but 8 weeks if possible. Also, I know it is common practice for breeder’s to feed their bunnies rolled oats… Not sure why, I think to keep a bunny at a good weight for showing/breeding as it is basically useless calories. I would only use them as a treat, but as far as treats go, there are healthier options out there such as small bits of fruit.

I’d like to add that any cereals aren’t good for rabbits, like Sarita said: too much starch/carbohydrates. Bunnies are designed to eat fiber with very little carbs. I have had a rabbit go into GI trouble because of oats.