Tips for weaning from alfalfa to timothy hay?

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This topic has 8sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 15 years ago by meow1.

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- 02/01/2011 at 10:55 AM
  Florida_Bunnies
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  47 posts
  So we’re guesstimating that Nibbler is around 4 months old, so not very old at all, still a baby bun. He was given alfalfa hay before we got him and so I’ve continued with it. I’ve been trying to mix timothy in with it lately to see if he likes it and he HATES it. He picks it out and throws it away from the rest of his hay. I know that I can give him alfalfa until he’s a year old, but I would like to know if there are good ways to wean him onto the timothy slowly?
  
  Do buns sometimes prefer different types/brands of hay over others? The timothy hay that I got is organic from our local feed store and was really fresh a looked great. It’s kind of soft and fluffly, is this okay? Or are there different parts of the hay that the rabbits like? I’ve also noticed he doesn’t eat all of his alfalfa, but I haven’t been able to pinpoint what parts of the alfalfa he likes, any ideas of what bits the buns like? Maybe I should change brands?
  
  The pellets that I am giving him are made with timothy (not alfalfa) so I’m guessing that is better for him. He drinks plenty of water (but only from a dish, he won’t drink from a dispenser).
  
  But I digress, haha. So any tips for my baby bun?
- 02/01/2011 at 11:12 AM
  mocha200
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  4486 posts
  You don’t really need to start trying different kinds of hay till he is 7 months so. if he likes alfalfa I would just stick with that till he is a little older. But if you are just trying to plan ahead thats fine.
  
  If you want to feed him timothy then you can try different kinds such as 1st cut, 2nd cut, and 3rd cut they are all a little different and some bunny’s prefer one over the other. If you can’t find different kinds of timothy were you live, you can order some from BinkyBunny’s store. they have good quality hay. if your rabbit still doesn’t like any timothy you can try orchard grass. I have heard a lot of bunny’s like that better then timothy.
  
  My bunny’s refuse to drink out of a water bottle to. they prefer a bowel better
- 02/01/2011 at 6:20 PM
  Florida_Bunnies
  Participant
  47 posts
  Thanks. I’ll try some different cuts and see how it goes. I know he doesn’t need to be weaned quite a while but I was just wanting to be prepared and just add a bit to see how he would react to it and he just hates it! Have any of you noticed that your buns like certain cuts better than others?
  
  Also in regard to the alfalfa, one of the dangers is it has a very high calcium content correct? I’ve been noticing that when I clean out Nibbler’s litter pan that his dried urine is very chalky, but when he is actually going it comes out a yellowish (normal) color, is this from too much calcium or is the drying into a white like substance normal? I just don’t want to mess up his little kidneys at all! Thanks.
- 02/01/2011 at 7:49 PM
  mocha200
  Participant
  4486 posts
  the reason people feed alfalfa to rabbits when they are baby’s is because it helps them grow. I don’t think the high calcium will hurt him but if your worried you can switch to timothy.
  
  So are you saying when you clean his litter box you see a chalky type thing on the bottom of his box were he peed?
- 02/02/2011 at 8:59 PM
  Florida_Bunnies
  Participant
  47 posts
  Yeah when I clean his litter box there is a dried up chakly substance in it. It kind of reminds me of hard water build up in a bathroom if that makes sense. But it is nice and clear when he is peeing, it just seems to dry and make a chalky stain.
  
  Case in point: Tonight when I got home (I had been gone all day, normally I am not gone that long from him) I got home to find that he had peed on the couch 3 times. The reason I knew it was him was because of the dried up chalky pee. Arrrgh. At least it doesn’t smell. =/
  
  I got him more alfalfa today (I got some good Oxbow) but I also bought some Orchard just to mix in to see how he takes to it. The timothy just might turn into litter… *sigh*
- 02/02/2011 at 9:25 PM
  mocha200
  Participant
  4486 posts
  I am pretty sure the chalky thing is normal because I have seen it in my litter boxes from when my bunny was little.
  
  the peeing on the couch could be because sense he is an un neutered male he wants to mark his territory, so that should go away after he is neutered. you might need to keep him in a pen or cage while your gone till he is neutered.
  
  btw: Love your profile pic!
- 02/02/2011 at 11:46 PM
  Florida_Bunnies
  Participant
  47 posts
  Yeah it is this behavior that makes me think that Nibbler is going to turn out to be a male, very territorial! And he’s so bratty, he likes to mark on my dogs favorite spots to lay… passive aggressive much? LOL.
  
  Thanks for the profile pic comment. Ballet is my second passion next to animals. =D
- 02/03/2011 at 8:25 PM
  mocha200
  Participant
  4486 posts
  Me too! I love ballet. Do you take ballet then?
- 02/06/2011 at 5:45 AM
  meow1
  Participant
  322 posts
  Sunny does prefer certain brands over others. He likes oxbow alfalfa hay but doesn’t like KAYTEE alfalfa hay. He also prefers the mature oat hay that I get from binkybunny, but doesn’t like the oat hay from oxbow, which is not quite the same, but still, he has his preferences.
  
  I asked my vet if it’s normal that Sunny’s pee is dark yellow or brown and milky and she said yes. Most likely what you mean by chalky I guess?
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