Hm baby bunny diet?

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 5sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 3 months ago by Elrohwen.

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- 11/10/2012 at 9:35 PM
  lifeasweknowit
  Participant
  147 posts
  i got a 7 week old (8 this monday) holland lop bunny and i have researched on bunnies a ton but just want to make sure cause i have one neutered year old holland lop male (that is kept separate from the new bun – as i am sure it has mites! so im going to get that checked out by the vet as soon as i can make an appointment) and i have kind of forgotten how to take care of a baby bunny
  
  just making sure, its unlimited pellets until 6 months of age correct? i plan on spaying her (if it is a girl – will also get this verified by the vet) when she is around 6 months or whenever she is ready. so will i have to feed her unlimited pellets post the surgery? and for how long? and veggies should not be introduced until 12 weeks of age, correct? she is eating some sort of pellets her breeder (who seems irresponsible so i dont even know) and tomorrow i will add the alfalfa bunny pellets from oxbow into her diet and hopefully transition her into the new pellets completely. when should i start giving her timothy pellets? (my male rabbit eats this) also i do not have timothy hay, my male rabbit usually eats bermuda, orchard, and sometimes mixed in with either of those hays is oat hay. i think the new bun is too young for oat hay and i think bermuda is a little hard. i am out of orchard so i will need to order some, i think im going to get 25lbs of orchard grass for 42$, or is that way too much for just 2 rabbits? LOL. i usually get the mini bales from the BB store but my rabbit goes through it so quickly and now that i have 2 rabbits! but im worried of how big it will be and where i will store it (garage most likely) but i dont know if its in a bale? or box so i will have to ask – there is a rescue that sells hay and stuff.
  
  so is orchard grass okay? like JUST orchard grass and not timothy as i am allergic! and should i mix some orchard grass in with the alfalfa hay i am giving my new bunny? and the new bunny is eating a LOT, her stomach feels “full” and hard cause shes eaten so much (hay and pellets – which is good as my rabbit didnt when i first brought him home) but should i be worried? or does she know when to stop eating?
- 11/10/2012 at 9:56 PM
  Luve, Priscilla
  Participant
  40 posts
  You should really check out this site:
  
  http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/diet.html
  
  Tells you everything you need to know about what to feed young bunnies- unlimited hay/pellets (alfalfa) up until 12 weeks, where you should start introducing veggies. Check out the page above for all the details (Def. a site you should bookmark, it has SO much useful information!).
  
  Bunnies know when to stop eating, but you should probably take her into a vet and have her checked out and get the clean bill of health anyway. :]
- 11/11/2012 at 6:27 AM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  Ditto. Rabbit.org is like the rabbit bible for feeding guidelines.
- 11/11/2012 at 7:36 AM
  lifeasweknowit
  Participant
  147 posts
  okay thanks!
- 11/11/2012 at 9:29 AM
  tanlover14
  Participant
  3617 posts
  She/He should definitely be on unlimited pellets until about 6 months of age — we started transitioning to timothy pellets around 5 months so by 6 months they were on timothy and then at 6 months we began limiting pellets until they were successfully down to the right amount of pellets for their size. We started switching at 5 months to the timothy pellets so we were doing two different diet changes at the same age. So it wouldn’t be stressful on their tummies.
  
  As a baby, I would definitely suggest trying to find alfalfa hay. Alfalfa is suggested because it helps them put on weight and grow to their adult size so well. Then around 6-7 months, although we started at 4 months switching to adult hay like Orchard Grass. (Our vet recommended switching them at that age and said it wouldn’t be a problem so that’s what we did!).
  
  You’re correct about the age to begin introducing veggies but make sure you’re only introducing one new veggie into their diet a week so you can watch and make sure it doesn’t have a bad effect on his stomach. Sometimes they can react badly to a certain veggie and this will help you be able to eliminate certain ones from his diet if they bother him. And it’s also easier on his stomach this way!
- 11/12/2012 at 11:03 AM
  Elrohwen
  Participant
  7318 posts
  Ditto the others to check the link.
  
  The type of hay really doesn’t matter. The other grass hays, like orchard, are basically the same as timothy. Some will recommend alfalfa for young buns, because it’s higher in calories, but it’s not necessary if you’re already buying grass hay for your other bun (especially since you’re feeding alfalfa pellets).
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