Feeding hay

[BunnyHop]

I have heard of rabbits being fed a pellet only diet with the occasional treat once or twice a week. Is that healthy for them? I have NZW, californians, as well as a pair of mini rexes and these brats end up wasting half the hay I provide them! Is it ABSOLUTELY necessary to feed hay?

 

[terri9630]

Hay isn't necessary if you feed a quality pellet.

 

[BunnyHop]

Should I provide something else for them to munch on in place of hay? I just don't like that they waste a lot of it but won't mind replacing it with something less messy and less possibility of waste. One reason I have been feeding hay was the claim that it will help their teeth trimmed, another is to help their full balls pass when they groom themselves.

 

[AZ Rabbits]

Good pellets help keep their teeth trimmed. Also, some people like to put a small piece of wood in their cage, attached to the wall about 4 to 6 inches above the floor (so they don't pee on it). A small piece of 2x2 or 2x4 works. That's completely up to you though. Something like Timothy hay is a treat, but doesn't really do much for the rabbit as far as nutrition is concerned. But they do enjoy some every once in a while if you have some extra laying around. I use Timothy hay in my nest boxes, so I let them munch on some sometimes just because...

 

[BunnyHop]

Thanks, I will try a piece of wood for a couple days and see how much is wasted. I'll probably start offering it only once a week now that I learn that hay is not necessary for them. Fed timothy hay daily to my rabbits for the past 10 years, just imagine all that wasted hay!

 

[brentr]

Thanks, I will try a piece of wood for a couple days and see how much is wasted. I'll probably start offering it only once a week now that I learn that hay is not necessary for them. Fed timothy hay daily to my rabbits for the past 10 years, just imagine all that wasted hay!

Small pieces, small quantities help me to reduce waste. If I have long-stemmed grass hay, I cut it in half before feeding. I liked an idea I read on here to twist grass into knots to give them. I might try that one and see how it goes.

 

[terri9630]

I give mine pine cones to play with. keeps them entertained and keeps their teeth trimmed.

 

[oneacrefarm]

Thanks, I will try a piece of wood for a couple days and see how much is wasted. I'll probably start offering it only once a week now that I learn that hay is not necessary for them. Fed timothy hay daily to my rabbits for the past 10 years, just imagine all that wasted hay!

Small pieces, small quantities help me to reduce waste. If I have long-stemmed grass hay, I cut it in half before feeding. I liked an idea I read on here to twist grass into knots to give them. I might try that one and see how it goes.

I find that this works well and they get to toss it around to play with too. It is a bit time consuming but I have a bucket that I keep them in and I will knot a few here and there as I am in the shed and toss them in the bucket so I always have a few ready to go.

 

[sawfish99]

I would rather feed lots of hay, even when it is getting wasted. $6 for a good quality bake of hay or $13 for the cheap 50lb bag of pellets. The more hay they eat, the less you spend on feed. Rabbits don't even eat enough hay for me to measure the difference in consumption. 9 rabbits compared to 5 goats and 4 horses.

 

[terri9630]

I would rather feed lots of hay, even when it is getting wasted. $6 for a good quality bake of hay or $13 for the cheap 50lb bag of pellets. The more hay they eat, the less you spend on feed. Rabbits don't even eat enough hay for me to measure the difference in consumption. 9 rabbits compared to 5 goats and 4 horses.

I wish quality hay was $6. Not even the bad hay is $6 here.