Eatting enough hay?

[3crazybuns]

 I’m just curious…I fill this bin (see picture below) with hay only about every 4 days… Is he eatting enough?? Thanks!

 

[Beka27]

I think it will vary with each individual bunny. That looks like a pretty good amount. I know my buns seem to eat more if I refill their hay everyday, you don’t have to dump out the old (as long as it’s clean), just replenish it with another handful and kind of mix it around. They like that it’s “new hay”. You might also try putting some hay in one end of the litterbox or having a hay rack next to the litter. Most buns like to munch while they do their “business”.

[3crazybuns]

Thank you! I do put a small bunch in his litterbox so that he will go in it, although some days it doesn’t seem to help… But He does munch on that more I think. I guess I just worry to much…**sigh**

[Beka27]

As long as he ALWAYS has access to clean, good quality hay, that is the important thing. Some days my buns snarf it up like they haven’t eaten in years, other days they don’t eat quite so much.

Where do you get your hay? What is the rest of his diet?

[3crazybuns]

I order my hay, and pellet from BB.com–He gets 2 cups of leafy greens in the morning,I usually give him a sprig or 2 of parsley as well. He gets a sliver of apple about mid day…and MAYBE a rasin or 2, I usually give those as rewards when I see him use his box, or when he’s being exceptionally good. He also gets 1/2 cup of pellet, and then another cup to cup and a half of leafy greens for dinner. I buy the pre-washed, organic spring mix, it have several different kinds of green lettuce, along with some red lettuce too. I noticed alot more green than red though. I sometimes sneak a super skinny baby carrot in too, but only if he didn’t get rasins, or apple in the afternoon.

[RabbitPam]

BB.com you say? I think I’ve heard of them….

I agree with Beka, that you can get them to eat more by mixing it around so it seems fresh. I also have a little hay bin outside of the cage so when the hay is a day or two old, I transfer it to that one and replenish it with fresh. Sammy nibbles hers from her litter pan or from in front. She can reach both ways.

Your diet sounds very good. Using treats for training is a good way to dole them out.

 

[Deleted User]

I have a similar practice, where I move hay around to give it a second chance at being eaten. I have a huge hay bin, made from an NIC cube, above my rabbits’ condo that I fill once a week, my rabbits can reach it when they stretch but it is meant for me to replenish their hay rack with. When they don’t want it anymore from the rack I move the contents from the rack into the center of their litter box where they eat it like it’s going out of style… I found my rabbits eat the most hay if it’s on the ground or floor, but then they will also pee and poop on it, so a lot of hay eating happens while they’re on the potty.

[3crazybuns]

hummm…may have to see what I can come up with. My goal one day once I can get Oreo bonded with another bun is to make them an NIC condo, and have a big hay rack in there…for now he’s in a XLarge wire dog crate turned bunny home! LOL he has a big shelf to lay on, that he loves! I moved his hay up there today thinking that maybe he would like that better since he lays up there more, he seems to be nibbling more than normal too…maybe he just didn’t like where I had it! LOL Thank you for your help!!!!! =)

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