Switched Timothy for Orchard Grass: normal?

[GeorgieTheBunny]

We only adopted little Georgie just over a month ago, since then fur dad has developed hay allergies.

Orchard Grass by Oxbow has solved the allergy problems but Georgie’s poop has become smaller, darker, and harder.

She is a 1.5kg mini Rex.

She still gets her 1/8 cup Timothy pellets throughout the day and her 3/4-1 cup veggies for breakfast and dinner; with unlimited orchard grass hay in her feeder.

Is there something MORE we should be doing for her?

What does this poop change mean?
Bad or Fine?

With everything we’ve read it concerns us, can we add anything diet wise to help her?

[LittlePuffyTail]

Would you say she’s still having the same amount poops? Is she eating a lot of the hay? And how old is she?

I feed my buns Orchard Grass. They much prefer it to Timothy. Darker poops are perfectly normal. The Orchard is a darker colour. When my buns eat Timothy their poops are a lightish brown and with the Orchard they are almost black.

[GeorgieTheBunny]

We believe that the quantity is still the same.

Her behaviour is still the same. Still loving eating all of her meals and the new grass.

When we first brought Orchard Grass home we introduced her to small amounts while still having the feeders full of Timothy; the Timothy would go 100% untouched and she’d finish the orchard grass.

I guess the biggest concern is that the poops have gotten smaller, and that’s a sign of digestive issues.

[GeorgieTheBunny]

We think the quantity of poop is the same.

Her behaviour is the same. She’s still very motivated by any of her food and delighted by hay feeder refills.

We introduced orchard grass while Timothy was still in her feeder; she would 100% ignore the Timothy while any orchard grass remained. (Think she likes it)

Georgie has a June birthday, she’s now 14 months. She’s fixed.

If dark poop is okay, I guess the concern is mostly the smaller size and its relation is digestive upset.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Is she shedding? Shedding can sometimes cause smaller poops. If yes, make sure to brush her every day.

[CSP]

Perhaps you can introduce her some small amounts of fresh foods(can check out https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/VeggieList/tabid/144/Default.aspx). You can get her some Oxbow’s Papaya Fruit Plus if you are concerned about her not pooping normally.

[vanessa]

Orchard will make the poops darker. Smaller could indicate eating less, harder could indicate drinking less.

[GeorgieTheBunny]

Shedding: Yes
It has been a very slow shedding. When we brought her home June 22 there was a shed line on her body just past half and she is still attempting to shed it. The vet gave some mobility drugs for her to take starting July 2 for 7-10 days.

Fresh Foods:
About a week after we brought Georgie home we had a scare; she wouldn’t eat. We could hear gas and Georgie was in pain therefore wouldn’t eat. When we looked at what we were feeding her versus what the rescue fed her we suspected diet.
Mandatory at the rescue, rabbits were to have 1.5-2 cups of greens a day; romaine,green or red lettuce the staple. There we 5 other suggested greens but only permitted 2-4 times per week. Other treats were not permitted.
My little bun lived her whole live with this diet, I’m afraid to venture far from it due to this gas issue.

Is any fresh food safer compared to others?

Any idea where to get papaya that isn’t sweetened?

Heat:
She has been drinking and peeing a lot in this heat wave Ottawa is having. She has frozen water bottles to lay next to and an oscillating fan that gives her breeze (from a distance).
Harder and smaller could be indirectly because of this heat… I guess I’ll have to see.

[Author]

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