I love pellet free diets, I think they are a great idea. Samp and Yumi used to be on a similar diet, and I much preferred it, they got way more variety and seemed to always be interested in their food ( i used to mix the hays as well and add in tasty extras for them) plus my vet said it was far better for keeping their digestive systems in the best possible condition (less risk of bloat etc )

I kinda wish I could start it back up. (but I’ve been told due to Peeps wool production he’ll need the pellets to keep his protein levels up…)

Good luck with it!

Posted By Q8bunny on 8/08/2017 7:12 AM

So my little bub is fully grown and has settled beautifully into adult life. *touch wood*

And since we’ll be heading to Canadia next year, shopping for victuals will be much easier.

Which got me thinking… that I might switch the wookie to a (pretty much) pellet-free diet.

– We’ll have access to unlimited inexpensive spring water.
– We still won’t have access to fun services like the one from Small Pets Select, but I’m going to get every type of hay offered by Oxbow and make my own mix with forage toppers from SPS or similar (like grandma’s yard LOL).
– We’ll do an amazing variety of organic greens (thank you good markets and grandpa’s garden).
– We’ll use FibaFirst sticks and fresh fruit & veg as treats and bribes only.

Kind of excited.

Anyone’s bun on similar diet? Any FibaFirst fans out there? Any random brain boops about my idea?

All sounds great to me! Especially making your own mix with forage toppers. You’ve inspired me to do the same now that I’ve got two (yes TWO) hays that my buns will eat  

I give Ophelia only 2 tbsp. of pellets. I have my little guy getting about 1/2 cup a day. I purchased a 10 lb bag from SPS a bit ago, thinking I was buying a bundle that came with a 5lb bag… so needless to say I have a TON of these pellets lying around since 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp. is all I use a day.

My only question would be how would you compensate this diet? Could you give extra greens, more than the 1 cup per 2lbs ? Or would that cause tummy issues?? I’m curious because I was thinking of doing a pellet free diet when I finally use up these pellets! I think that fresh veggies/ variety of hay is so much better than some old dry pellets. The more natural is the way to go if you ask me!

Posted By BunNoob<3 on 8/08/2017 10:08 AM

I give Ophelia only 2 tbsp. of pellets. I have my little guy getting about 1/2 cup a day. I purchased a 10 lb bag from SPS a bit ago, thinking I was buying a bundle that came with a 5lb bag… so needless to say I have a TON of these pellets lying around since 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp. is all I use a day.

My only question would be how would you compensate this diet? Could you give extra greens, more than the 1 cup per 2lbs ? Or would that cause tummy issues?? I’m curious because I was thinking of doing a pellet free diet when I finally use up these pellets! I think that fresh veggies/ variety of hay is so much better than some old dry pellets. The more natural is the way to go if you ask me!

As far as I’m aware, the 1 cup per 2lbs is just the minimum. They can have a lot more. So long as their tummies handle it. 

I’ve actually mulled over the idea of whether I should just skip the pellets altogether for my forthcoming buns, as they’re full-grown or close to it (Panda is 13 months, Fernando approximately 7), and the only rabbits who really need lots of (alfalfa) pellets are babies and their pregnant/nursing mothers. To the extent that I give them any at all – because they’re small folks, it’s going to be probably just 1/2 cup total per day for the both of them – said pellets will be strictly timothy-based with the highest fiber yield I can find. Otherwise, they’ll be eating hay until it comes right back out their ears again, supplemented by a nice daily evening green salad. I suspect the bag of timothy pellets I’m planning to get this weekend may last my two fluffballs for a couple of years!

When I was researching this before, it seemed to be a consensus I was finding that pellets aren’t at all essential for rabbits who are kept properly. They are supplements for rabbits who are borderline neglected- those who receive a single type of green or none at all.

They are designed to ensure none of the vital nutrients are being missed, however, if you are giving your rabbit about 5 types of varied fresh greens each day, and have researched them and know they are varied in what they offer, you’ll find they will probably have everything the rabbit actually needs to thrive( think about how small the amounts of the pellets you give are)

Remember rabbits are designed to be efficient at getting nutrients out of their food-obligate cecophagy isnt just a weird habit, its an adaption to a life of eating practically just grass.

My vet was of the opinion that a ‘hungry’ rabbit is healthier-as it will actually just eat more hay. (or beg more..)

Well, my two monsters nip each other if they’re hungry (early morning)… so I avoid it

Both my hands are up right up (straight arms too !!) for being a Fibafirst fan !!
(It’s a shame mine are big’uns and would eat a box a day, or else I would give them ONLY Fibafirst sticks – so much easier and less messy than hay. )

You can always try to overhaul his diet – but my motto is, “don’t change a winning team…”

He’s absolutely gorgeous now, doing perfect poops and (perfect) nose bumps… not presenting with tummy probs or gas… and I reckon bodies get used to their diets.
Whatever you do, I would not change anything until he’s safely over and in Grandpa’s care.

Posted By Q8bunny on 8/08/2017 10:21 AM

Chewie gets 2tbsp per day of pellets too (he weighs 4lbs). I was thinking do the recommended amount of greens, but the variety will be even greater – and hoping he’ll compensate with more hay.

For protein, he’d be getting the odd FibaFirst stick as a treat, but I’m considering throwing a bit of alfalfa into the mix and a tiny bit more during moult season. Is that too crazy??

Not too crazy!! And I know Chew would love it!  What with my having a 12 week old in the house, Ophelia is enjoying the alfalfa crumbs that may be left behind in transport to his litter tray  

Where can you buy FibaFirst food and sticks in the US? Or is it only available in the UK?

Thanks!

They can be found on Amazon

My rabbits are on a pellet free diet, they have been since I ran out of pellets a year ago and couldn’t be bothered buying more.

They get unlimited meadow or oaten hay (whatever I have for my horses – I bring some of that home). And then a mix of veggies and fruit. I aim for around 60-80% of this to be leafy greens, and I try to give as many varieties each day as possible. Some days I have more variety than others depending on what I have in.

Common things I feed regularly are carrot tops (free at my local market each Sunday) kale, boc choy, mixed lettuce (excluding ice berg), parsley, coriander, spinach, broccoli, brussel sprouts, carrot, capsicum, and celery. Lately some of the local shops have started stocking “kalettes” which is a cross between kale and brussel sprouts. They look like adorable little open balls of purple/green kale. The rabbits love them, so when I see them on special they get a bit as a treat. For fruit they get either pineapple, banana, apple, or strawberry. Sometimes whatever else I find on special – recently they got to try honeydew melon. They do get other random rabbit safe fruit and veg too – it depends what I can get cheap and what is in season.

My rabbits are a good weight, super healthy, and have amazing coats. Maggie is an angora, but when I adopted her most of her back and other random parts of her had been shaved by the RSPCA because the previous owner had let it tangle too badly. Since having her it has started growing back in beautiful condition.

Ogg and Weatherwax, whom I lost earlier this year and late last year, were on this diet for the last year of their lives. They both made at least 10-11 and the vets were really happy with their health during check ups.

Bianca- you say this works for your angora too? I was told by some people to be cautious due to heavy wool production needing extra protein. (I don’t mean that to sound judgey, Im just curious as to whether wool production slows down as a result of lower protein? I think i’d rather my rabbits on this diet once they are at a healthy weight to try it)

Posted By Dface on 8/10/2017 12:40 PM

Bianca- you say this works for your angora too? I was told by some people to be cautious due to heavy wool production needing extra protein. (I don’t mean that to sound judgey, Im just curious as to whether wool production slows down as a result of lower protein? I think i’d rather my rabbits on this diet once they are at a healthy weight to try it)

Yes I do have an angora. I haven’t had any problems – her coat is growing back beautifully and is in wonderful condition. Possibly Terry’s obsessive grooming of her along with daily combing from me helps too. I have never heard anything about extra protein for them, to be honest. I might look into it a bit more, although she appears to be very healthy, but thanks for pointing that out. 

Well that was a bit of a fail of a quote – sorry for that mess!

I forgot to add I do sometimes feed a bit of lucerne (alfalfa) as a treat. I don’t like to overdo it, but it is very high in protein come to think of it. When I have it in I usually just do a small handful per bun each day. And make sure I keep that bag well out of reach. I did find Maggie nestled inside the hay bag demolishing the lucerne last time I had it, with Terry sitting at the entrance helping! 😮

I did find Maggie nestled inside the hay bag demolishing the lucerne last time I had it, with Terry sitting at the entrance helping! 😮

I found Peep and Yumi in a similar scenario bit with the bag of pellets!
Yumi gets up on her tippy toes and gently grabs the corner of the bag and lowers it down so Peep can get most of himself into it. All I could see of him was a tail poking out!!