Debating about pellet choice for new bunny- English Lop 8 weeks old

[KatnipCrzy]

My new English Lop bunny will be 8 weeks old when I pick him up in about a week.  The breeder is going to give me some of the pellets that he has been on- and he has been on a mainly pellet diet.  She said the pellets were “Pride” pellets- I am sure this must be something purchased at TSC (Tractor Supply Co) or another feed store.  She said since English Lops can be prone to being overweight they are lower protein pellets. 

I am obviously going to switch his pellets since it would not make sense for me to feed bulk pellets since at adult weight I assume he might get 2 Tablespoons twice a day, and Cotton and Schroeder get 1 Tablespoon twice a day.

He should get to be about 9-10 lbs- do young larger rabbits have any different nutritional requirements than young smaller rabbits?

I am guessing the pellets he must be on must be alfalfa based since I don’t think there are any bulk feed pellets that are made with Timothy.  So would it be best to switch him to Oxbow 15/23- and then later to the Oxbow Basics T that Cotton and Schroeder are on?

I think I am overanalying this a bit- and that there is no difference in feeding an English Lop and a Mini Lop at 8 weeks old other than amount- everything else should be the same?

This is new territory for me- I am used to 5 1/2 pound bunnies and smaller!

Since I have a week before I go to pick him up I would like to have decided on which pellets to transition him to so I can buy a bag before I even pick him up.

 

[Sarita]

Most of my rabbits are larger. I don’t think they have any differences nutritionally other than they continue growing longer than the small rabbits and you may even want to continue to feed unlimited pellets longer than a smaller size rabbit. Right now I would definitely do the 15/23 for him since he’s going to be a big boy. He may continue to grow up to a year old.

You might even start introducing him to vegetables too – maybe a sprig or two of parsley since he’s been only on pellets and hay.

You may even do fresh alfalfa hay as well as the timothy hay – but maybe only a handful here and there since he’s on alfalfa pellets – I think both may be alfalfa overload and you don’t want him to shun the timothy hay.

[BinkyBunny]

I think Sarita has given excellent advice.

 I don’t know if larger bunnies have to grow “faster” in a way  –  It’s not like they take that much longer to grow into their adult size than a smaller bunny does, they just seem to have more to accomplish as far as growth goes so I think besides having the alfalfa pellets, mixing in alfalfa hay is good too for all that energy that is needed for growing.   If you find that he chubs up too fast, then obviously you can scale back, but otherwise, I think it’s a good plan!

[KatnipCrzy]

Thanks for the advice.  I tend to overanalyze all pet care decisions- especially diet!  (that can be a good thing sometimes but also a bad thing).  I will go pick up some Oxbow 15/23 this week but probably won’t start to mix them into his food until I have him home.  I am picking him up and then spending one night at my Mom’s house, then driving home the next day.

[HippityHopMom]

I have a Dwarf Holland Lop and a large Lop Bunny.   My large lop eats so much more than my little Holland Dwarf.

I have to mix the pellets for  my large lop since I can not afford to feed her  fully with Oxbow pellets.   I love the Oxbow …. so I buy her the Timothy based Oxbow pellets …. and I mix it with Kaytee Alpha based pellets.     I am hoping the Kaytee is a better pellet than the bulk pellets found at feed stores.   

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