Pellets

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 4sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 2 years, 10 months ago by Bam.

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- 03/20/2023 at 2:53 PM
  BunnyLass568
  Participant
  448 posts
  So I just found out that our hardware store (affiliated with Ace Hardware) sells Kaytee forti-diet natural pellets rabbit food and they can not be returned once bought. To avoid getting bad pellets again, is the Oxbow Essentials actually good for rabbits? I won’t be able to get pellets for so many months (I was told to just finish what I have and I have a lot of the Kaytee brand) and I don’t have money to get Oxbow Essentials right away so I’m trying to do more research before I get anything else. I know the Garden Select is probably better but I don’t have the money for that one.
  
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- 03/20/2023 at 4:13 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9064 posts
  Oxbow is a good food, but it is not the only one!
  
  I like using this chart to compare brands:
  
  http://www.therabbithouse.com/diet/rabbit-food-comparison.asp
  
  You can also read more about what to look for in a pellet and how to tell if it has good nutrition here:
  
  https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Pellets
  
  There is no one single brand that really is perfect in every category, so it takes some consideration to decide which things are most important for you, and what you might want to balance a bit with the veggies you feed.
  
  Sometimes people try to avoid certain ingredients, but unless you know your rabbit is really sensitive to something then it’s not really necessary to do this at first. You can try a small bag of something and see how your bun does with it.
  
  Looking at the chart, the Kaytee Forti-diet is not the worst food (it has an appropriate amount of Fiber, Protein, and Fat), so I don’t think there is any harm in finishing the bag and then slowly transitioning to another food if you choose to.
  
  . . . 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.
- 03/20/2023 at 10:39 PM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  17213 posts
  The link Dana provided is very helpful for researching many different foods at once. Figure out what is available to you and then look those up on the chart. You can easily compare that way.
  
  For the record, Oxbow Essentials is fine and a lot of bunnies like it. Anecdotal experience – My bunny did not like the Oxbow Garden Select. He turned his nose up at it. LOL
  - 03/21/2023 at 6:03 AM
    DanaNM
    Moderator
    9064 posts
    FWIW, my buns like both the regular Oxbow essentials and the Garden Select, but the Garden Select gave Bun Jovi really soft sticky cecals. He’s disabled and senior though, so he’s a bit more sensitive. I currently feed Sherwood’s timothy pellet that you feed in the smaller portions, but I’m going to try their free-choice for Bun Jovi to see if it helps put some weight on him.
    
    . . . 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.
- 03/21/2023 at 9:33 AM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17025 posts
  My buns appreciate Oxbow Essentials, but then they are dedicated om-nom-nomnivores, plus young-ish, so they never turn their little noses up at anything edible 😂 Theyre are many good quality brands nowadays, the chart makes it easy to compare. You generally want at least 19% crude fiber and not too much protein and fat. The calcium/phosphate ratio is also good to keep an eye on.
  
  As Dana says, the vast majority of buns tolerate good quality pellets excellently, if theyre introduced somewhat slowly. It’s not until if you encounter a problem that you need to try and pinpoint where the problem might lie. The reason bun forums seem “full” of rabbits that cant tolerate this or that is simply that people tend to join forums if or when they have a problem.
  
  The most important component of a healthy adult bun’s diet is hay. Pellets are rather more of a supplement.
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