New bunny, was on not-ideal diet.. weaning onto new food?

[bunnnnnnie!]

So the bunny I’m bringing home Saturday lives at a vet office.  I asked them what brand of food she eats.. they said “Whatever we pick up that week, we change it a lot.  We usually go to Meijer and get Meijer brand food”.  They did say she gets consistent hay, it’s always Meijer brand alfalfa.  She’s young (approx 4 months) so I think alfalfa is okay?

I’m a little surprised a vet’s office would change up a bun’s food so often, but what’s done is done I suppose.  I really don’t want to put her on generic grocery store brand food.  Should I just start her on a quality pellet like Oxbow, start with maybe a teaspoon and work my way up?  Not sure how to wean a bunny who hasn’t had a consistent diet to begin with.

Also, as long as I get alfalfa hay, it doesn’t matter what brand, correct?  I mean, if I get Kaytee brand alfalfa when she was on Meijer brand alfalfa, is that okay?

She’s coming home a day after being spayed, so I want to make sure to try and get her eating and the GI system going as much as possible.

[Sarita]

I think that would be a good idea. She may be fine with just putting her totally on the Oxbow too. That is what would happen if she went into a rescue – they don’t start weaning rabbits based on what they had (because they just don’t know what they had). I would give her whatever you give Zeus personally (she doesn’t have to have alfalfa) – maybe just some alfalfa hay along with the grass hay.

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By Sarita on 06/20/2013 10:56 AM
I think that would be a good idea. She may be fine with just putting her totally on the Oxbow too. That is what would happen if she went into a rescue – they don’t start weaning rabbits based on what they had (because they just don’t know what they had). I would give her whatever you give Zeus personally (she doesn’t have to have alfalfa) – maybe just some alfalfa hay along with the grass hay.

Zeus actually doesn’t get Oxbow (he won’t eat Oxbow pellets, picky bun!).  But he does get a high quality, alfalfa-based pellet (he gradually stopped eating all timothy-based pellets…). Can’t think of the brand right now, ack!  But yeah, I can put her on that.  And I’ll pick up some alfalfa hay, and mix it with the orchard hay Zeus gets.

 

[LittlePuffyTail]

I agree with Sarita.

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By LittlePuffyTail on 06/20/2013 12:35 PM
I agree with Sarita.

 

Thanks for the input guys!  I picked up Oxbow brand Alfalfa hay on my lunch, and I’ll let her eat the same pellets Zeus gets.

[Author]

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