Are bigger lighter color poops better?

[MMmm]

I hope I’m not posting a similar topic. It’s about my newly adopted baby rabbit again. He’s been very picky due to the fact that he was solely on alfalfa before I adopted him. After trying different cuttings of Timothy, orchard grass, and oat hay, he is now accepting orchard grass. I ordered coarse orchard grass from rabbit hole hay thinking it might be “coarser”. I’m just terrified of him not getting enough roughage probably due to PTSD from my previous bunny.

I was told by fellow members that orchard grass is also a good grass hay. But I just feel his poop is smaller and darker from eating only orchard. Buns who eat Timothy  have lighter and bigger poops. Does it matter? The “coarse” orchard grass we have still doesn’t have any stems though the leaves do feel very sandpaper like.

I guess I just really assurance that eating only orchard grass is OKAY. After napping or a period of not eating much hay, his poop sometimes even looks pointy on one end. I’m just worried.

[Wick & Fable]

All fine! It’s good to make new topics to keep these topics up to date with people’s different experiences.

This is good place to learn about poop!: https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Rabbit_poop

Lighter and bigger is generally healthier. That being said, if the smaller, darker poops are still of good size and are still dry and crumble, those are likely still completely healthy as well. My Fable’s poops are much darker than my Wick’s, yet she eats loads of more hay, haha.

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.

[MMmm]

thanks for the poop information link. I think his poop looks more like the first picture under “Problem poop”. I guess my goal now is to get him to eat more of whatever kind of grass hay. Picky little baby 🙁

[DanaNM]

Mine get darker poops from orchard hay as well. The important thing is that he eats as much hay as possible, so if he’s eating a lot of orchard then I would stick with that for now! It can take young rabbits to really start to get a taste for hay, but you are doing the right thing by offering different cuts, etc.

If you’d like a second opinion feel free to post a picture of the worrisome poops!

. . . 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.  

[MMmm]

it might look pretty good overall.

[MMmm]

But he’s always had quite a lot of this kind of dark and misshaped poops. Apparently due to not eating enough hay.

[Bam]

These poops don’t look bad. As you are saying yourself, its great if you can get buns to eat lots of hay. Color of poop will often vary between types of hay. Rabbits that get fresh greens and grass tend to have darker poop than rabbits that mainly eat hay and a limited amount of pellets.

[MMmm]

Thank you. I’m trying to make one last try as he was okay with 2nd cutting from rabbit hole hay before. If he insists on orchard grass then orchard it is.

[LBJ10]

I wouldn’t go by color alone. Different hays can alter the color of poop. I have noticed as well that orchard hay tends to make poops look darker. It isn’t a bad thing as long as they are a good size and crumble.

[Bam]

I have noticed that oat hay tends to give almost golden poops. This doesnt mean that oat hay is better than timothy or orchard or meadow hay (which in Europe is the most common type of hay and consists of a mix of various grasses.)

Its very good too keep an eye on poop though, like you’re doing. Amount and size is more important than color.

 

[MMmm]

Yes, I’ve noticed that too and that’s why I’d like to push oat hay too… he doesn’t care for it at all so I gave up on it. Good to hear that it isn’t a “better” hay anyway

[Author]

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