Finicky eater. Normal?

[BunnyBuns7]

Hey Everyone. My netherland dwarf is a really pick eater. Basically all she likes as treats is Celery, fresh romaine lettuce, her yogurt treats and licking hunny off my finger. Is this normal? I just feel like she should like so much more. She doesn’t even like carrots the goofy little bunny butt. Any suggestions? Is this pretty common?

thanks,

  Kayla

Aka (previous Display name: EstoicForest)

[Scarlet_Rose]

Hi Kayla! Hmm, it sounds like she is getting a lot of treats which may be why she refuses to eat other things like carrots, kale and other veggies. You might want to think about not giving her honey or yogurt treats, they are packed full of sugar and can throw the bacteria off in the GI tract of a rabbit and really aren’t that healthy for them. Also, when offered too many sweets, many rabbits will refuse to eat anything else to “train” you to give them only goodies. Try weaning her off of the sweets and give her a sprig of mint, parsely, cilantro or carrot top and for a treat, a fresh slice of apple (no core or seeds). The rule of thumb with treats like fruit is not more than 1/2 teaspoon per pound of body weight per day. Is she eating any pellets or hay?

[jerseygirl]

Carrot are prob not sweet enough for her after honey or yog drops! She’ll most likely just wait it out until something better is offered. I find mine can be fussy about new veggies but I try stay firm and she eventually comes back to eat them. If that’s all that’s on offer, she’ll eat them.

[Beka27]

welcome again! ;o)

the basis of her diet should be grass hay in unlimited quantities. that is followed by fresh green veggies: romaine, escarole, collard greens, parsley, cilantro are some favs of my bunnies. she should get betw/ 2 and 4 cups of veggies per day.

timothy pellets need to be strictly limited, about 1/4 cup per 5 pounds of bunny. if she’s smaller (you said an ND) she could probably get about 1/8th cup per day.

for treats, you will want to offer healthier items. like Scarlet said, the digestive system is SOOO delicate and too much sugar is not good! so a couple raisins, a little tiny piece of fruit a couple times a week…

this is a great article from rabbit expert Dana Krempels… http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/diet.html

from this article: 

NEVER feed your rabbit commercial “gourmet” or “treat” mixes filled with dried fruit, nuts and seeds. These may be safe for a bird or hamster–BUT THEY ARE NOT PROPER FOOD FOR A RABBIT. The sole function of “rabbit gourmet treats” is to lighten your wallet. If the manufacturers of “gourmet rabbit treats” truly cared about your rabbit’s health and longevity, they would not market such products.

Don’t feed your rabbit cookies, crackers, nuts, seeds, breakfast cereals (including oatmeal) or “high fiber” cereals. They may be high fiber for you, but not for your herbivorous rabbit, who’s far better able to completely digest celluose (“dietary fiber”) than you are. Fed to a rabbit, the high fat and simple carbohydrate content of “naughty foods” may contribute to fatty liver disease, cecal dysbiosis, obesity, and otherwise cause health problems.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Welcome again

Sooo true that they can develop a sweet tooth and train you!! Some can turn into quite the litte beggers and are harder to say no to then most dogs!!!

You’ll have to show some “tough love’ ignore the disapproving rabbit stares and thumps and just keep offering the healthier stuff.

Great treats to give are little peices of fruit (like berries) raisins or craisens or peices of banana

* Can I jump in and say you should toss out the yogurt drops? They can be really bad for your rabbit -frustrating since they are sold *FOR* rabbits, but definitely not OK even as a treat! I think we’ve all been duped into buying them when we were new to rabbits!

[Beka27]

i hear you K&K. i used to buy the honey-seed sticks for my first rabbit (compacted seeds held together with honey, looks like a bird treat but marketed for bunnies!) let me tell you, he loved it. my husband loved giving it, but once i learned how bad seeds were for bunnies and how the honey was way too sweet, i had to put my foot down and throw away what i had left. a couple times i got home and saw he had gone out, purchased more and had given it to Stephen… against direct orders (lol!) same thing with carrots. he’d stick an entire carrot in there for Meadow and i’d have to dive in and “rescue” her…

the seed sticks are just one of the mistakes i made when i was new to bunnies… we all learn as we go along what is best/healthiest. it’s not always what’s easiest, or most socially accepted, or what makes the bunny happiest… but we’re the grown-ups (“parents” if you may) and we’re in charge. our buns are counting on us to do what is best for them. ;o)

[EsotericForest]

Thank you. I really didn’t know that the yogurt drops were so aweful. I also thought that because yogurt is so good for many animals that it would be good for rabbits too. I did know about the seed thing. And yes she is eating her hay and pellets. I give her timothy based pellets, and she loves hay! I switch it up with Orchard Grass and Oat Hay. Is that ok or should it strictly be timothy? Also, what about mineral and salt blocks? Are those a good idea or not so much?

I also didn’t realize that they needed to have so many fresh vegetables a day. I found iso many websites that treated them like fruits and said only in moderation. It through me because I looked into a raw died too. It at seems like they market so much for animals arn’t good them like PINE and CEDAR! Some places, it’s all they sell! I find myself looking in other sections for toys too. haha. I just bought her a bag full of different shaped balls with bells. She sure loves bells. I’m also nervous about buy coloed wood and the sight string chew toys? Should I be staying away from those or am I worrying about nothing?

I will defenitely get right on getting rid of the yogies and honey and give her a better fresh variety of veggies.

Kayla

[BunnyMuffin]

I was just scanning the other posts, so I’m not sure if this has already mentioned here – but after they get out of the baby phase where they live off of their mothers’ milk, rabbits actually become lactose intolerant, which is at least part of the reason why the yogurt drops are a no no. Now, I’m technically lactose intolerant and I still eat all the stuff I shouldn’t and just suffer through the consequences (which for me are rather hit and miss and really mild, which is why the benefits of the ice cream outweigh the consequences that follow!) – so it’s not like you’ve been putting them at risk of death or anything, it’s just not so easy on the tummy.

I think some people do mix it up with orchard and oat hays as well, so it doesn’t have to be strictly timothy, just definitely not alfalfa. And the salt/mineral blocks are either not suggested or not necessary – I can’t remember which. But my buns don’t get either and they get by just fine!

I’m not sure I know which toys you’re talking about, so hopefully some other enlightened person will come along soon to answer those questions! (and to clear up the salt block issue since my memory fails me.)

[Beka27]

you’re welcome! like i said, many of us didn’t know when we first got bunnies what was good or bad. and you’re right, the websites and books that are available are misleading also. you can go to ten different websites about rabbits and get ten different opinions and viewpoints (some good, some not so much.)

the best place to get info on bunny care is the House Rabbit Society (rabbit.org) and the House Rabbit Network (rabbitnetwork.org… go to education and resources —> HRN articles) most of us here have learned a lot of what we know from those sites. there are others as well, but that’s a good place to start and that is where you will get the most well-rounded, accepted advice. i must have read every article on both those page at least twice… lol.

timothy pellets are perfect. bunnies can have any type grass hay (timothy, oat, brome, meadow, orchard). timothy is the standard, and it’s sometimes a little cheaper than the other blends, but you can feed any of those. oat you’ll need to feed in moderation as it is a little bit higher in fat. alfalfa is a legume hay and should only be used in babies, seniors, rabbits with longer fur sometimes, or a handful given occasionally as a treat. i feed timothy but i mix in orchard hay as well for some variation. mineral and salt blocks are not necessary and in some cases can cause problems. also, additional petstore supplements (like the drops you put in water) are not necessary. bunnies should get everything they need from their diet.

for many of our buns, veggies are their favorite thing. wild rabbits exist on vegetation so it makes sense that greens would be (along with hay) the foundation of their diet. here’s a god list of what veggies are good for bunnies… https://binkybunny.com/Default.aspx?tabid=144

at the top of the binkybunny page you will see a green bar that says home, store (lots of great bunny toys available in the store!), bunny info… if you click bunny info it will take you to a page that has a variety of topics on bunny care. this is a great place to look for info as well!

take a look at those sites, and if you have any questions about anything, please ask! or if you want to just share some pics or stories, you can do that also!

[Beka27]

here’s a thread about salt licks from earlier this year…

https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/forumid/1/tpage/1/view/topic/postid/35389/Default.aspx#35753

[BunnyBuns7]

Ok, awesome. I’ll take a look at those articles. I’m really glad you suggest these articles. They are indeed very helpful. I will also check out the toys. It’s strange to think that rabbits are lactose intolerant. My poor little bun. No wonder she’s crabby. Hee hee.

Today I tried to give her spinach and she refuses to take it. She still just wants the romaine and celery, but I’ll defenitely keep trying. I will also try to get some pictures of her on here. I’m curious to know what her coloration is called. I tried to put her picture under my screen name like all of you have, but it didn’t work.

Kayla

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Oh man the honey sticks; They sold them to me in the rabbit ‘starter kit’ i bought when I brought Kokanee home with. She didn’t touch them but I left them around and she finally ate them; I bought them as treats, thinking they must be healthy-seeds and nuts and yogurt are healthy for people duh? LOL

Now of course we know better-thank goodness for good sites like this one!!

If you post a pic of her, I can probably definitely find out her coloring-I have a breeder friend who’s awesome and will help if I show her the pic

[jerseygirl]

The pics in BunnyBuns profile! BunnyBuns, your avatar may show up next time you log in. That happens sometimes.

[EJP]

I have a dwarf and to be honest with you, I think they are picky eaters in general.
Pixie has always loved hay and some pellets, but she just nibbles on lettuces and only really likes carrots. (When she feels like eating them.)

To treat her, I give her cereal (ON OCCASSION) or give her different kinds of hay I can find like Brome grass. Man she loves that.

Don’t mess with that bun’s hay.

[BunnyBuns7]

Hopefully the pic will show up now. I think she may be a shades sable…but I could be totally off. What I love is her white stripped accents on her front paws and up her foreleg.

Today I have her a peice of banana as a treat. She seemed to like that. She still doesn’t like the carrots, but I thing she’s eating the spinach and she loves the orchard grass. I completely understand not messing with the bunny’s hay. haha. As soon as I grab the bag to refill her ball she comes running… or should I say hopping.

Right now she’s flopped on her side with her legs sticking straight out behind her. I love when she does that. She been running around all day. Ya know when she’s really pooped when she slowly closes her eyes and her dead slowly gets closer and closer to resting on the floor. However, she resists as much as she can and pops out of sleep and starts all over again.

I have to be honest, it’s difficult not to give her the yogies. but I shall resist. 😀

Kayla

[EJP]

Your bunny is TOOO KA-UTE, ma!! lol
Really she’s just adorable.

Now what kind of dwarf do you have?

I know mine is a bigger variation, unless yours is just young yet and not full grown. But I really don’t know if Pixie is a netherland or some other kind, or perhaps even a hybrid.

[BunnyBuns7]

(smiles) Thank you. She’s a netherland. I love the dwarfs. i love that they stay small. I love her little white paws. Hee hee. I really like Pixie’s markings too. She looks so precious! It’s hard to resist loving on them. haha.

[sweetbluebun]

I’ve got a ND as well and he is very picky too, I’ve tried just about every rabbit safe veggie out there and he will just completely ignore them. The only treat he will eat is banana, and that’s something that needs to be given in moderation, other than that he goes crazy for his timothy hay pellets and he’ll finish them in 5 minutes (he’s only getting 1/6th of a cup). He’s picked up on his hay eating since I switched the pellets and reduced them too, but it’s just the pellets that he really loves

[BunnyBuns7]

I gave her a banana the other day and she absolutely loved it!

[BunnyMuffin]

I hope when you say “a banana” you really mean “some” banana! Cuz that’s a LOT of a banana for a little bunny! 😀

[BunnyBuns7]

Haha. Yes I only mean some banana. Lol. I ate the rest. I kept biting off little peices for her. she loved it! I was so suprised!

[luna]

 

 

Oh my gosh…Henry my netherland dwarf is just like Pixie. He eats his hay, pellets and carrot but sticks his little pug nose up at everything else. If i give him kale, lettuce, spinach etc. …..he will usually sniff them and gradually eat them later on but he never seems too pushed! He definitely cant be bribed by food like some of the bunnies on the forum or my other bunny Poppy who gobbles down any veg iv given her. I also use food as a way of getting her back into her enclosure and it always works. But not with Henry. Not even carrot gets him back into his cage. Netherlands are funny little guys

 

[sweetbluebun]

They are, they’re just the cutest lil guys too, Lily is very adorable btw! I love her coloring. Has she started shedding yet? Cheeky just started a molt and he’s got soooo much hair for such a lil guy. His hair is very fine but it’s just coming out in bunches.

[BunnyBuns7]

She sheds all the time! I use the furminator on her. She doesn’t really like but it gets the fur out. Your little bun is adorable too. The two look so similar or at least have a similar coloring.

[sweetbluebun]

Aww thanks, I just love Netherlands, they’re so cute. Cheeky is considered a blue, but his fur is really gray with some white ticking here and there. I will definately try to get my hands on a furminator. Cheeky is a fairly tolerant bunny so hopefully he’ll let me brush all that hair off. I was about to buy a small slicker brush but I’m glad I didn’t considering all the stories I’ve read on here about buns hating it.

[BunnyBuns7]

Does he have a cute all black tail too? Hee hee.

I suggest finding the furminator online. Or else I would suggest Petsmart. they seem to have a more reasonable price. We can find them online for 25 dollars where as in the stores they’re around 40. Also note that the Furbuster and the Furminator are different. They look extremely similar but I found that the furbuster just doesn’t work as well. the teeth on it are a little farther apart. And, just don’t brush him too often or the same spot too much because it can irritate their skin, but that really goes for any brush so you be the judge. I also keep a lint roller on hand for afterwards. haha. you’re going to be covered. Haha. I even roller my nose a little and get little fine hairs that have been tickling me. haha. Their hair just flys. … gee… i think i just kind of made it sound like i have really long, really fine nose hairs… hm… perhaps I should specify. Haha. The bunnies fine hair flys into my nose. 😀

I try to keep some veggies on hand too for right afterward so she knows to just sit still for a little while and then she gets a treat.

He’s considered blue, huh. That would make sense. Cool. I’m glad to know Lily’s color now. haha. it was always hard when people said “what color is she” and I would say… kind of grayish with black accents… which doesn’t do it justice. No I can say “oh, she’s considered blue. It’s really beautiful” 😀

[sweetbluebun]

No He doesnt have a black tail, it’s gray, but still cute I love love Lily’s feet though, she looks like she’s wearing little white booties!!! Thanks for the advice about the furminator I will definately look into getting one because this molt is pretty heavy, plus I’ve been noticing hair in his poops, and I don’t want any digestive issues because of this (if they happen, I get nervous about taking him to the vet because he does not handle trips well at all). I was thinking of maybe brushing every other day or once every couple of days. I’m sure the furminator will catch a good chunk of his undercoat. I mean it’s not a lot in terms of quantitiy, it’s just the fine hairs end up flying everywhere and end up irritating me later.

That bunny hair flies into my nose all the time too! Especially when I lean over and give him cuddles and kiss his head/ears area. He absolutely loves it and doesn’t want me to stop but I have to when I start sneezing because of all that hair. It’s very soft though, I wonder if I’d ever be able to collect enough to make something…

[BunnyBuns7]

Haha. You could make yourself a winter sweater. haha. j/k. I think you’ll be suprised at how much hair that furminator takes off. After I started using it, I don’t have problems with hair flying off her or when I pet her it coming off or flying in my nose. Let me know how it goes K?

I love her little feeties too. That’s my favorite. I was trying to decide between her and her brother when I got her and I fell in love with those booties. 😀 She also had the more outgoing personality. I love netherlands! Lily is starting to get a little bit more snuggly too. She wants me to pet her more. yay! She’ll hop up to me and i’ll take both my hands and scratch her sides and she puts her chin to the floor and stick her littly bunny butt up in the air like “oh mom, that’s the spot”. heehee. I love her!

How old is your little guy?

[sweetbluebun]

I’ve already ordered the small one off amazan, and I got it for a good price too! Hopefully I’ll get it soon so that I can start brushing out that coat. He’s got so many tufts that are starting to raise off his body, and I want his coat nice and smooth again.

Netherlands are very adorable, I love the shape of their heads and their fat little bodies. They’re pocket sized bunnies! Cheeky is just shy of 8 months and his personality has really started to come out now I’ve noticed. When he was smaller, he would still let me go near him, but it was more of a submissive petting. Now he runs right up to me and assumes the position which means “Mom pet me now!” and he’ll do the bunny purr of grinding his teeth while I rub around his face. He’ll literally fall asleep until Guppy my Holland lop will do some crazy binky and wake him up. He’s a very good bun (aside from the poop wars that I’m going through right now because of Guppy’s arrival).

[BunnyBuns7]

Awesome! I ordered that one too at one point. it came in pretty quick too.

I love them too. They sure like to be demanding sometimes. haha. I was rubbing my on Lily’s the other day and she was purring too. i was so excited. She was so comfy and was falling alseep. I was so happy. Now she mad at me though and I don’t know why. She was being so sweet and now she keep growling everytime I come by her. She so weird. I hope when she gets spayed in a few weeks she’ll be her sweet little self.

You’re right. they are little pocket bunnies. Haha. I love hollands too. They’re just all so wonderful! Ah! God made animals so awesome!!!

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