Do I need "young rabbit" pellets?

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 15sd replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 14 years ago by PapaJoe.

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- 02/28/2012 at 10:15 AM
  Quantum
  Participant
  286 posts
  The Bun With No Name is currently eating Oxbow Bunny Basics-T (adult formula) and a mix of timothy, alfalfa and orchard grass (plus veggies, of course). I’m heading out for bunny supplies and I don’t recall seeing the Oxbow young rabbit formula pellets last time at our PetSmart. Will the alfalfa hay I’m feeding make up for any lack in the pellets? Or should I order some online? Also note that he’s not overly fond of pelleted food and has only eaten a very small handful (if that) since we brought him home–he seems to prefer hay.
- 02/28/2012 at 10:16 AM
  Stickerbunny
  Participant
  4128 posts
  How old is he?
- 02/28/2012 at 10:18 AM
  Quantum
  Participant
  286 posts
  Oops! Sorry about that–I should have said. He’s 5 months old.
- 02/28/2012 at 10:19 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  Yes, that should be perfectly fine.
- 02/28/2012 at 10:23 AM
  Stickerbunny
  Participant
  4128 posts
  He’s close enough to needing adult pellets, I don’t see any reason to convert him just to convert him back.
- 02/28/2012 at 10:26 AM
  Quantum
  Participant
  286 posts
  Ah, thanks! The fourth house-bun I’ve ever owned and I still get the new-mom-second-guesses. I should head out and do errands now–he’s totally flopped on his side behind the x-pen and would be snoring up a storm if buns snored.
- 02/28/2012 at 1:03 PM
  kamdynandsunshinesmom
  Participant
  910 posts
  When I got my rabbit kamdyn 5 years ago. He was about 5 -6 months when I switched him to oxbow timmy pellets. He was perfectly fine!
- 02/28/2012 at 2:20 PM
  Monkeybun
  Participant
  10479 posts
  Monkey has had timothy pellets since day 1 of me bringing her home at age 7 weeks, and she’s fine and healthy I wouldn’t worry at all.
- 02/28/2012 at 4:58 PM
  Quantum
  Participant
  286 posts
  Thanks again, everyone! Came home with more Yesterday’s News litter, some fresher alfalfa, a new bag of timothy and a bag of the botanical to throw a little of into the mix. And a “Timothy Lounger” from Oxbow–kind of like a box with no top woven out of timothy. BWNN likes to chew cardboard, but prefers to actually eat it unlike any of my previous buns. This will give him a chewing outlet without upsetting his stomach, I hope.
- 03/01/2012 at 12:39 PM
  PapaJoe
  Participant
  4 posts
  Thanks for bringing up this question.
  
  I am a brand new dad – expecting my first family to arrive tomorrow. They are about 7 weeks old.
  When I asked about the diet they are on now, I was told that they are between mother’s milk
  and Timothy Hay and pellets. I asked about them eating Alfalfa Hay, and was told it would give
  them diarrhea.
  
  My question: I’ve read that bunnies should be fed Alfalfa hay for the first year of their lives.
  It was important being that Alfalfa has the extra calcium baby bunnies need during this important
  developmental period of their lives.
  
  Should I SLOWLY introduce them to Alfalfa Hay and Pellets when I get them, being that they are still
  so young?
  
  Thank in advance.
  
  Joe
- 03/01/2012 at 12:45 PM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  Hi, Joe, welcome. It’s always advisable to begin a new thread for your own questions to get a better response instead of piggybacking on another member’s thread.
  
  Your new babies need to be totally weaned from mama and a minimum of 8 weeks old. If they are currently getting timothy hay and pellets I would keep them on that and give them handfuls of fresh alfalfa hay…this is not what causes diarrhea in baby rabbits. You should have your baby rabbits though tested for coccidia which can cause diarrhea in babies and is fatal.
- 03/01/2012 at 12:57 PM
  PapaJoe
  Participant
  4 posts
  Posted By Sarita on 03/01/2012 12:45 PM
  Hi, Joe, welcome. It’s always advisable to begin a new thread for your own questions to get a better response instead of piggybacking on another member’s thread.
  
  Your new babies need to be totally weaned from mama and a minimum of 8 weeks old. If they are currently getting timothy hay and pellets I would keep them on that and give them handfuls of fresh alfalfa hay…this is not what causes diarrhea in baby rabbits. You should have your baby rabbits though tested for coccidia which can cause diarrhea in babies and is fatal.
  
  Thank you Sarita! Sorry about the piggybacking. Will follow your advice moving forward.
  
  I plan on taking my new bunnies to the Vet first thing next week for a full check up and start files on them, while they are healthy. Look foward to sharing my family on here. Thanks again for the recommendations. Joe
- 03/01/2012 at 1:01 PM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  No problem :~) Please feel free to ask away, we love to help.
  
  You want to keep their diet as close as possible to their mother’s diet when you bring them home. Do you know if mama is eating veggies and the babies are as well? If so, you can feed them what mama is eating.
- 03/01/2012 at 1:08 PM
  PapaJoe
  Participant
  4 posts
  Posted By Sarita on 03/01/2012 01:01 PM
  No problem :~) Please feel free to ask away, we love to help.
  
  You want to keep their diet as close as possible to their mother’s diet when you bring them home. Do you know if mama is eating veggies and the babies are as well? If so, you can feed them what mama is eating.
  
  I’m not sure of the mother’s diet. I do have a list of questions to as the breeder when I pick them up tomorrow. I do know the babies are mixed between mother’s milk, Timothy Hay, and Pellets. They are not getting veggies yet – which the breeder advise not to give them any yet at this age.
  
  I do know that they are about 7 weeks old. I am going to try and get photos of their parents and find out any medical information I can on the parents. I don’t know how hereditary rabbits can be, so I thought it might be good to ask. Anything additional you think I should find out?
  
  Thanks again. Love reading all of the interesting topics. Great ideas that I haven’t thought about. I will be sure to post in the introduction section once I get my babies home. Joe
- 03/01/2012 at 1:13 PM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  Yes, that’s true since Mama isn’t eating veggies.
  
  Ask if you can get some of the pellets they are currently eating as well.
  
  It sounds to me like you have some very good questions and are right on track. You might ask her as well where she purchases her hay especially if it’s local so you can continue to purchase it from there.
  
  Definitely post pictures of your new bunnies and names and all that good stuff when you get them!
- 03/01/2012 at 1:25 PM
  PapaJoe
  Participant
  4 posts
  Posted By Sarita on 03/01/2012 01:13 PM
  Yes, that’s true since Mama isn’t eating veggies.
  
  Ask if you can get some of the pellets they are currently eating as well.
  
  It sounds to me like you have some very good questions and are right on track. You might ask her as well where she purchases her hay especially if it’s local so you can continue to purchase it from there.
  
  Definitely post pictures of your new bunnies and names and all that good stuff when you get them!
  
  Oh, you bet I will. Very excited, but anxious.
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