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Hey, I just got my baby bunny on the 25th. I’m probably worrying for nothing, but she’s not eating as much hay as I thought she would, and I gave her a bowl of pellets and she hasn’t finished it yet (it’s been two days since I’ve filled it) I see her eating several times a day but her hay and pellets are still full and I read and watched videos on rabbits eating tons of food every day. Is this normal for her since she’s so young? She’s eating as I speak, but she’s not constantly munching on her hay. Just nervous as a new bunny owner
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How old is the bunny? Generally, you’ll want to feed babies alfalfa hay. I’ve seen that they can have it until they are 1 year, but I started phasing my bunny off alfalfa hay to timothy hay at 6 months. Alfalfa is more nutrient rich than other hay, so it’s great for growing bunnies to have. It is too rich for adults, and will just make them gain excessive weight, this is why it is only recommended as a staple for young bunnies.
Sometimes baby bunnies take a while to settle in. When I brought my 8 week lop home he didn’t eat much for the first two days, and he didn’t really get a “normal” appetite (where he was eating all his hay throughout the day) until about a week. Maybe she needs a little more time. For hay, you can just switch it. Pellets and veggies need to be introduced slowly but hay is fine to switch instantly, from my understanding.
As a new bunny owner (I’m assuming it’s your first time?) it’s very important that you familiarize yourself with….her poop. I know, it sounds strange. In rabbits, their poop can tell you many things, depending on size, color, moisture, etc. There is a great poop guide on here, I believe it is in the diet & care section. Their poops should be a firm ball, but easily squish between your fingers, and inside it should just look like, well basically like you threw some hay in a food processor and ground it to tiny pieces. Yes, you will need to squish the poop and check out the inside too!
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My bunny was around 9 weeks old when I got her, and I’m so glad you told me that hay can be switched instantly because I was confused whether that was true or not from what people were saying
I understand about the poop xD It’s round and hard and I see little bits of hay in it, and it’s dark brown.
She’s started to eat more already, when I got her she was on unlimited pellets but I’m giving her a small bowl that I fill whenever it’s empty. (She eats almost all of it in one night, but she leaves a small amount) I usually refill her hay once in the morning.
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Posted By BunNoob<3 on 7/31/2017 7:26 AM
As a new bunny owner (I’m assuming it’s your first time?) it’s very important that you familiarize yourself with….her poop. I know, it sounds strange. In rabbits, their poop can tell you many things, depending on size, color, moisture, etc. There is a great poop guide on here, I believe it is in the diet & care section. Their poops should be a firm ball, but easily squish between your fingers, and inside it should just look like, well basically like you threw some hay in a food processor and ground it to tiny pieces. Yes, you will need to squish the poop and check out the inside too!
I can see that when I finally get my bunnies, I am going to have to invest in some boxes of latex gloves on top of everything else…
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Posted By joea64 on 8/01/2017 9:40 AM
I can see that when I finally get my bunnies, I am going to have to invest in some boxes of latex gloves on top of everything else…LOL at first I used gloves… but really its just a ball of hay! I am fearless now – bare handed poop squishing!
it’s particularly funny to people when I am walking around and I see a stray poop, I’ll just pick it up and squash it then toss in the box. Welp I screwed up that quote job, but you get the point!
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I was already used to poop from my mice, gerbils, and hamster xD
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