very worried about Clifford’s diet

[Deleted User]

He never used to get hay at his previous home and he doesn’t seem to clue in that it is for eating. He is not interested in hay cubes or fresh grass either, only clover or dandelions, fruit, vegetables and pellets. He never eats any hay. I thought he would join in with his two newly bonded buddies for munching on hay, but he doesn’t. –What to do for Clifford? I guess, his teeth might not be in good shape but should I test and not give pellets for one night and just leave him separate from his buddiies with hay to see if he will eat?

[QueSará]

What kind of hay have you tried with him?  Sometimes a variety of hay can tempt a bunny.

Also, how much are you feeding him in pellets or veggies?  My buns love their hay, but if there are pellets, those become priority #1! lol

So it might be better to lower the amount of pellets and veggies so that he’s forced to give hay a try. =)

[Furface]

I think I would try that.
Maybe different types as well.
You can give him bunny safe wood to chew on & a chunk of carrot every few days.
If you can’t get him to eat any variety of hay then I would make sure his pellets are one of the high fiber ones.

Edit to add: is the hay in an easy to access feeder or one of those ball thingys? Some buns will not bother to fight it out of the ball thingys.

[Deleted User]

thanks… thinking more about it, I’m going to get his new owner to have his teeth checked just to be sure. He is a Holland Lop after all, notorious for dental trouble.
Their pellets are measured, but Roger seems to eat most of them, being the dominant in Clifford’s trio. (Sorry I should have clarified Clifford’s situation more detailed, he’s part of a trio right now and there is a fourth rabbit waiting to be bonded to make them a quartett — these rabbits are not mine)
They are all on Zupreem’s Nature’s Promise, whis is a timothy-based pellet.
He won’t chew on any of the willow or lilac branches I supply either even though all the other rabbits here, including my own, consider them candy. He is the first rabbit not to touch them which is why I’m thinking his teeth might be the cause.
I have offered timothy hay to Clifford mostly but also a mix, and when he still didn’t touch it I offered clover hay knowing that he likes fresh clover.. . he didn’t touch the clover hay either. I’m worried about him.

Furface: actually, I put fresh hay in his litter box twice a hay to make it very easy, but he also has a rack. He just likes the hay to sleep in it seems.

[Furface]

Yes, getting the teeth checked does seem like the best option & then procceeding from there.

[RabbitPam]

I’d definitely get his teeth checked to be sure there isn’t a problem going on. But it’s not unusual for some bunnies to not like hay, especially if they have other tasty choices.
I would cut back on additional treats and try different samples of hay varieties. Notice if he likes the softer hay like things or the more dry types. Sammy loves oat hay, which looks really dry. Orchard grass is supposed to be much softer and sweeter, that lots of bunnies like better, and she doesn’t care for it. So try either one to see if he has a particular taste. There are some hay blends that can be tasty too.

Try an unpeeled willow ring toy. The unpeeled willow is more appealing than the peeled, and they are edible chew toys that add the fibre they get with hay. Also, apple tree sticks or branches (if outdoor ones, be sure they aren’t sprayed with pesticide. Buying apple tree sticks is safer.) are tasty too.

[Deleted User]

Woohoooo! — Sorry– I meant to say “Thanks, Everyone” first. Now the good news: turns out Clifford’s teeth were checked during his neuter procedure! (I phoned the vet). And, what’s more, I decided to skip pellets but leave fresh grass, as well as hay and some blueberries to appease everybunny. Clifford’s buddies Bugs and Roger had to ‘suffer’ through this, too, but I did sneak them some pellets in secret. I found Clifford soon munching on everything, grass, hay,… little twigs on the branch… !! I’m very glad for him. It was a case of a bunny filling up on pellets before he could get to the healthy stuff…..

[Furface]

Oh, that’s good.

[Author]

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