Bunched or Spaced Feeding and Activity Level?

[Thibaud Bun]

Another question regarding diet in buns…I’m lucky enough to be a stay at home mom so I’m around the house most of the day.  Our newly adopted bun, Thibaud, has proven to be so social and litter box trained that basically when we are home, his X-pen is left open and he has free reign of the house (we did also bunny proof although he has to date only tried to chew one candle which we simply put away…he expresses no interest in anything else although we are always vigilant).  He usually follows me around everywhere in the house which to me suggests that he may be getting more exercise than a bun that is only out of his X-pen three hours a day (Thibaud is out probably 8 to 16 hours a day).  Does this mean he could get more greens than the recommendation of his roughly two cups a day (he’s 8 months old and 5.5 pounds)? 

Likewise, if I’m home most of the day is there any benefit to just feeding him sprigs of his greens thoughout the day rather than in two bunched feedings?  It seems that the spaced feedings may be closer to what bunnies would do naturally but I’m new to this.  The only real issue to me is that the spaced feedings are sometimes harder to track quantity wise as I love to just go to the garden and snatch a little of this and a little of that and feed it to him on the spot.  Still, I could pick everything in the morning, measure out two cups, stick it in the fridge and then just dole it out a little bit at a time across the day. 

Thanks for any advice!

 

 

[MoveDiagonally]

2 cups is the minimum so feeding more would be better. Some rabbits do have mushy poo issues when they eat more greens but if you’re rabbit doesn’t have any issues than pushing more greens should be fine  

The only thing I would worry about with feeding greens throughout the day instead of all at once would be a lowered interest in hay. Hay should be approx 80% of a rabbits overall diet and I wouldn’t want my rabbits choosing to munch greens instead of their hay throughout the day. If you feed greens throughout the day and your rabbit still eats lots of hay then I don’t think it would be a problem.

[Deleted User]

You might try serving two main servings of vegetables in a specific bowl or place and just drop the odd bits in/on there when you come in from the garden. I generally give my two one large plate once a day. Some times it is all eaten in an hour or so, others they’ll have finished it a little before its time for the refill. If I’m checking my herbs during the day or make a salad for myself (as an example) I’ll just add to their plate and they free feed nicely. Move Diagonally’s point about hay is very important though, … which is why I’m mentioning the free feeding, your rabbit may self regulate well (or not) if the greens like the hay are simply available. And it sounds as though that might work for your own habits. (Lucky lady to have such a fab garden, … lucky rabbit too!) As long as he doesn’t gain too much weight and his droppings continue to be normal I don’t think you’d need to worry about giving him more of the leafy greens.

[Eucalyptus]

While feeding smaller, multiple meals a day is more natural, the main reason people don’t is because this lowers hunger and can, in turn, lower hay consumption. And we all know how important it is to eat hay. That would be the only problem, I’d say.

In regards to the amount you feed, it’s really about the individual bunny. I would learn how to tell an underweight bunny from a proper weight and an overweight bunny. Then, just monitor your bunny. If there’s a weight loss, then of course, increase the food. As mentioned, 2 cups is just the minimum. Also, the amount of pellets you’re feeding is a factor. With less pellets you increase the amount of greens.

Hope this helps!

[Bam]

I space-feed my indoors bun and my (temporarily) outdoors bun gets food twice a day. Plus unlimited hay and twigs. Each have about one 3-litre bag of fresh picked leaves and weeds every day + pellets.

Bam is not a big hay-eater, perhaps because I space-feed him. I’ve tried not to, but then he grows frustrated and chews carpet and tries to get to cables because hay is obviously not sth a royal prince will make do with. (Yes, he’s royalty. Just ask him.) I keep him happy with unlimited twigs though. He is free-range inside.

Yohio eats his hay in the night. He’s less spoilt than Bam but he’ll probably get there =/

Thibaud mum, mabe if you limit his food to only hay when he is in his x-pen he’ll eat hay then (like a bunny should and needs to) and then you can space-feed him leafy greens during the day + some pellets. If he’s a docile bunny you could weigh him in a bowl on a kitchen-scales to keep an eye on his weight. I do that with Bam every Monday.

I also want to thank you for the great links.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I think bunnies should definitely get several meals a day. There tummies should always be moving and they are foraging animals so it’s very unnatural for them to eat only one big meal a day. My buns get two meals (breakfast and supper consisting of veggies and small amount of pellets) and then Romaine lettuce before bed. They have hay all day. Sometimes I give them a piece of vegetable here and there during the day if I’m making a salad or something. Olivia knows the sound of the veggie crisper.

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