Change in hay eating

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This topic has 5sd replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 4 years, 5 months ago by Peanutthebunny.

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- 06/11/2020 at 5:14 PM
  Louiethebunny
  Participant
  604 posts
  As of a few days ago, I noticed my bun stopped eating hay that had been left out. I understand not eating soiled hay, but I leave out various boxes of hay for him to pull out and munch on, and lately, he hasn’t been eating hay that has been left out. He usually would eat the hay until it was all gone, but now I have to waste extra hay he doesn’t nibble on at night. He has also been eating less hay than usual, so I have provided him with more so he gets enough fiber. Could this be because I changed her diet a bit? I have been offering more pellets as I found out younger rabbits still growing should receive extra pellets. Is there a way to help him go back to his super hay-muncher behavior?
- 06/11/2020 at 5:57 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  My guess is it could be because of the extra pellets. How much did you up the amount by? Is everything else normal in terms of pooping and eating other things?
  
  My memory is Louie is like 5-6 months? I think most people kind of tinker with the amount so they eat enough hay.
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 06/11/2020 at 6:34 PM
  Louiethebunny
  Participant
  604 posts
  He used to eat a strict 1/4 cup of pellets, but since he isn’t don’t growing and is pretty lean, I upped it to somewhere in between 1/3 and 1/2 cup per day with extra pellets as rewards sometimes. He’s pooping and eating everything normally, just less hay, so I’ve been encouraging him to eat more, but since he’s behaving normally, I’m not putting to much pressure on him to eat it.
- 06/11/2020 at 8:03 PM
  Louiethebunny
  Participant
  604 posts
  little update: i had removed his little diy hay feeders a few days ago because they were chewed to bits, I finally found a new box and made him a new one and he’s totally going at it and munching his hay out of it. He finds it super fun because he gets to pull the hay out, so in addition of a little more pellets, the absence of his favorite hay feeder probably added t the change in hay munching. Now he has his new hay feeder in addition to litter box hay, so I think he’s more into eating the hay now that’s it’s a bit of a game. yay!
- 06/11/2020 at 10:52 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  That’s great!
  
  My buns really eat more hay when they have small fluffy piles that I refresh frequently, rather than a hay rack stuffed full. Bunnies can be very particular about how they like their hay!
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 06/12/2020 at 8:28 AM
  Peanutthebunny
  Participant
  239 posts
  so I just went online I don’t know if you’ve looked at this yet, but it might be helpful
  
  “A change in eating habits can indicate teeth problems and should be investigated by a vet. If your rabbit stops eating hay, starts dribbling, has longer than regular front teeth or chews differently to normal, then a visit to your vet is needed”
  
  and this
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_18UccYkmM – 101rabbits five tips to get your rabbit to eat hay
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