Switch from Alfalfa pellets to Timothy

[Ali925]

Hi all,

I have a question about my bunny’s diet.  Right now she’s still eating alfalfa based pellets (same since we got her) that I’ve been gradually reducing while increasing more greens.  We want to get her mostly eating greens over time with just  a small amount of pellets.  This was all discussed at a recent vet visit.  We also discussed switching over to timothy based pellets sooner than later.  I know the alfalfa based pellets are for buns <1 year, but our vet thinks it's fine to switch now.  He's a highly recommended bunny vet, so I trust his advice, but I just wondered how your transition was to timothy pellets for your buns?  I guess it probably varies from one to the next.  If I didn't have to worry about stomach upset I think she'd be content eating all greens at this point.  Every kind I've tried with her she's devoured in seconds...

The good thing is, she has always eaten timothy hay…and she loves it.  So at this point is it fine to stick to all timothy (pellets and hay) once we make the gradual switch?  Right now she’s a good and healthy weight, and I don’t want to continue to feed the rich alfalfa if I don’t have to.

By the way, my bunny is almost 6 months old…

Thanks in advance!

 

[Beka27]

It’s recommended (by HRS) that rabbits get slowly transitioned to timothy pellets at about 7 months… not one year. At her age, it is perfectly fine to start the transition. I adopted my bun at 4 months and she was receiving timothy pellets, so I kept her on them (just transitioned her to a better brand). I didn’t see any point to putting her on alfalfa and then back off a few months later. So I say that you go ahead and make the switch now. What brand are you using? Now would be a good time to transition to a better brand if you wanted.

[Ali925]

 Yes I do remember seeing 7 months…  Thanks.  I consults HRS and my House Rabbit Handbook for everything …    

I was planning to use Oxbow Bunny Basics/T.  I’ve been using PenPals 15% (15% protein), it was what she was eating when I got her so I kept her on it.  It’s a good quality pellet, based on my research at least (although hard to find).  

 

Thanks for your advice.  Would it be the same transition time as if it was from brand to brand or is it longer since it’s completely different composition?

[KatnipCrzy]

The brand transition won’t matter as much as the fact that you are transitioning to different pellets- no matter who they are made by.

The usual recommendation is 25% new pellets/75% old pellets the first week, 50/50 the next week, then 75% new/25% old the 3rd week- until the 4th week you are 100% on the new pellets. Though if you have some of the older pellets left it will not hurt to extend any of the transition times- unless otherwise directed by a vet.  I think I have usually taken longer than 3 weeks since I buy the new pellets well in advance.

And be prepared for your bunny not to prefer the TImothy pellets- they are not as “tasty” generally to bunnies.  But in time the bunny usually comes to accept the pellets.  Cotton in particular was not happy about the transition- and you would never guess that today- she dances and spins when she hears me giving out pellets- and even though she only gets 1 Tablespoon of Oxbow T twice daily she snarfs them up.  I think in general sometimes/ and some bunnies do not like change.

[Ali925]

 Okay great, thank you both.  I’ll start switching her over this weekend, I’m heading to the store to get the timothy pellets sometime soon.  I have plenty of her alfalfa pellets to make the change gradually, so that’s probably what I’ll do.  

 

Thanks again.

 

~Ali

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