rabbit growth in relation to diet

[meow1]

At what age to *most*/or the average house rabbit stop growing?  I’ve read ~1yr old, but to cut back pellets and switch from alfalfa to timothy hay at ~6 mos.

Let’s say the above is true.  Why would we change from alfalfa to timothy and cut back pellets ~6 mos before adult size? Just curious…

[Beka27]

Growth slows down at about 6-8 months old. HRS recommend feeding alfalfa in some form (pellets or hay) until 7 months, and then to begin gradually switching to timothy (over the course of a month). Some people do feed alfalfa until 1 year and then switch. Others (like myself) never fed alfalfa pellets, but instead supplemented with some alfalfa hay. There’s no “absolute” in terms of alfalfa vs timothy, just that timothy is better for non-breeding, adult house rabbits.

If you feed alfalfa hay, I do think it’s a good idea that the young bunny ALSO get timothy hay so he/she will be somewhat used to it when it’s time to switch.

[Deleted User]

It is a general guideline only. Some large breeds of rabbits could eat the alfalfa for an additional 2 months past the 6 mos. mark. Rabbit kits receiving alfalfa pellets or alfalfa hay apparently tend to grow larger. The alfalfa is meant to give them a little boost for starting out. Most rabbits stop growing at around eight mos. of age, but will still continue to build muscle. The giant breeds keep growing until a year of age and then still build muscle. The dwarves are finished at around 6 mos. I think the recommendation to cut them off from the rich alfalfa is to safeguard them from early obesity. I used Zupreem pellets for my rabbits and they don’t even offer a kit formula, so mine just ate timmy from the get-go.

[meow1]

Thanks for all the info.! I weighed Sunny today, he is 5 pounds and will be 4 months old on the 6th (Thursday). I don’t know if this is normal or not, but he doesn’t seem to be “fat”, and I feed him alfalfa & oat hay, and alfalfa pellets, as well as his daily veggies.

Both of you have given me some useful information to help me understand better, thanks!

[KatnipCrzy]

I did not even consider switching or reducing my bunnies pellets until they were spayed/neutered and well recovered from the surgery- at least 2-4 weeks.  And I like to do a very gradual change- and if you plan in advance it is easy to do.  I will mix up enough pellets for about a week 25% of new- then go to 50% new- 75% for a week then 100%.  It takes about 3 weeks instead of 1 week to make the switch- but I prefer a gradual change for my young bunnies.  I did get an adult bunny that was on cheap pellets- and I switched him as quickly as possible since he was thin and had a poor hair coat. 

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