help with setting up a schedule?

[kralspace]

Hi all,

I need help from some organized minds! With 4 buns (plus one more I’m babysitting) 2 guinea pigs, 1 dog and 3 cats I’ve become very disorganized.

The dog and cats are no problem and the piggies will follow what ever I do for the buns, but with hay, pellets, greens, tablets, etc. I’ve gotten a bit lost. I commute to work in another town, so I need to work around being gone from 7:30 am til 5:30 pm on weekdays. I’ve been giving them greens, some pellets and hay in the morning, then repeating at night and papaya tablets and apple snack at bedtime.

But maybe I shouldn’t be giving them everything each time? I’d love to hear some suggestions and opinions about how to schedule their meals during the day.

One bun pair, Daisy and Lola get much less pellets because Lola and I are on a diet…she’s doing better than I am at this point.

thanks, Kathy

[Beka27]

there are different ways you can split it up. i would still give fresh hay each feeding. maybe try lots of greens in the mornings, and then the day’s pellets at bedtime. does each pair have one bowl for pellets that they share?

[kralspace]

Yeah, I was wondering if I’ve been giving too many greens by feeding twice a day. (guilty slave feelings for leaving them alone all day I guess)

I just read on binkybunnies schedule for the webcam that she scatters the pellets about, that sounds like it make it more fun. Right now, each couple shares a bowl and they do try to outeat each other I think.

[Beka27]

i think scattering the pellets might make them work a bit harder for them. i don’t think there’s a set amount that is too much for greens. i think as long as their poops are normal and they are still eating hay, you shouldn’t feel bad for more feeding greens if they’re eating them. it’s better they eat more greens than more pellets.

[JK]

OK I’m like super organized to the point my family thinks I have a problem!!! I have a rabbit, cat & dog so I’ll give you my daily schedule which may help you.

5:30am – Rabbit: dump litter box and replace with new litter, feed pellets, refresh hay, refill water, clean up area

                 Cat: clean litter box, feed her

                 Dog – fortunately my husband walks her

                 Make coffee!!!!!!!!

7:00am -Vacuum floors (with this many animals I have to keep my floors clean)

1:00pm – walk dog

5:00pm – Rabbit: feed 2 cups of greens, refresh hay

                 Cat: clean litter box

                 Dog: walk & feed

10pm:     Rabbit: refresh hay, refill water, clean up area, bedtime treat (papaya tablet, slice of apple, sliver of carrot or mint sprig)

Somewhere in here I have to feed the humans!!!! I really stick to this schedule and my bunny is always anxiously waiting for food!!!

 

                

 

  

[kimberleyanddarren]

i get up between 7 and 7:30 everyday (except sunday my lie in day!!) and i always give hopscotch hay let him out for half hour (while i get dressed and have my breakfast) then i give the dogs their breakfast (complete biscuits) and then the rabbit goes away with his pellets and then the dogs go outside for a wee wee. Then i go off to uni and when i get back i let the bunny out again and the dogs out for another wee i then have my dinner, feed the dogs theirs and watch telly lol then at bed time the dogs go out once more for a wee, the rabbit gets his veggies for the nightime and the rest of his pellets and is tucked up for sleepy time!

[kralspace]

sounds good, I think I’ll begin trying to work into a schedule like you guys have. I was wondering if giving them greens and pellets both times was cutting back on the hay they eat. thanks!

[Sarita]

AM – I give fresh water, fresh hay, and greens in the morning (around 5am) and clean the rabbit area. Also craisins for treats.

PM – Fresh water, pellets for those that get pellets, fresh hay. (around 6pm) – also clean again.

[kralspace]

thanks, Sarita. I’m thinking of giving Daisy a full ration of pellets while Lola’s out in the evening (he usually stays in voluntarily). I know Lola’s not supposed to have but a few, but I feel sorry for Daisy, he’s pretty slim. Then take out the dish when Lola’s back in for the evening. She’s lost a little bit of weight, but of the little pellets I give them, she snorts them up quick before he can eat more than a couple.

PS. I accidently ‘tranced’ the bunny I’m babysitting, wow, I never thought a bunny could be so still. Would love to try it on the lovely Pringles, and probably lose a finger.

[rabbitsmba]

I have two bonded pairs and I re-fill water and hay in the morning and at night. In the morning, they get pellets and in the evening they get their greens, and then a treat before bed.

Someone on my other messageboard found an interesting article regarding the feeding of pellets and greens. It mentioned that when a rabbit eats pellets, it takes a little longer to digest. If you feed them greens at the same time, this slower digestion could be responsible for the greens not being digested fast enough, resulting in gas. The general conclusion of the article was that, for best digestion, feed greens and pellets 12 hours apart.

I have been doing this for the better part of a year and have had no gassy episodes with my bunns. The lady who originally posted this article had two bunnies that were very gassy and when she switched to this feeding method, it eliminated the gassy episodes.

That’s not to say that combined feeding is wrong, just something interesting I found. Perhaps if anyone out there has bunns that are prone to gas, you might want to give this a try.

If I can find the link, I will post it for everyone.

[ConnBunnies]

I have too many animals to count so we have quite the schedule. As for the bunnies – they get fresh hay, water and a mixed salad at 5:30AM and then another mixed salad at 2:45 when I come home from work. Finally at bedtime the kids give pellets, hay and fresh water. They get two apple sticks when my husband goes to bed at 11 (Mango was a huge furniture chewer) I incorporate treats sporatically – sometimes they get a treat to top the salad. (I have to admit they get more on the weekends when we are all home) I find that keeping this schedule keeps the bunnies happy. Whenever I get stuck at work I hear about it. There is usually a mess to be cleaned like shredded paper!

[Beka27]

Posted By rabbitsmba on 04/06/2008 3:20 PM
Someone on my other messageboard found an interesting article regarding the feeding of pellets and greens. It mentioned that when a rabbit eats pellets, it takes a little longer to digest. If you feed them greens at the same time, this slower digestion could be responsible for the greens not being digested fast enough, resulting in gas. The general conclusion of the article was that, for best digestion, feed greens and pellets 12 hours apart.

I have been doing this for the better part of a year and have had no gassy episodes with my bunns. The lady who originally posted this article had two bunnies that were very gassy and when she switched to this feeding method, it eliminated the gassy episodes.

That’s not to say that combined feeding is wrong, just something interesting I found. Perhaps if anyone out there has bunns that are prone to gas, you might want to give this a try.

If I can find the link, I will post it for everyone.

please post the article link if you can find it!  that is very interesting.  i would have never guessed that.  i’ve started feeding them separately b/c Mead was scarfing down the pellets and then the greens would get all wilty.  now giving her just greens early, they get eaten quicker.  then at bedtime she gets her ration for the day.  i’ve had to completely take over feeding b/c Mike would fill her pellet bowl TO THE TOP.  ugh.

[JK]

I have always split up pellets and greens. Pellets in the morning and greens at night. That way too they have something different to look forward too!

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