Our favorites include the Oxbow brand healthy urinary treats to keep their bladder and overall digestion healthy. Many rabbits also like
timothy hay cubes
(not alfalfa hay), which make a good treat.
Are hay pellets the same as hay for rabbits?
Yes, pellets are part of a
rabbit diet
too. It’s possible to feed a non-pelleted diet, but this requires a careful balance of nutrient sources from many types of veggies and hay. Most rabbit owners prefer to provide a
pelleted food
in addition to the hay and vegetables their rabbit eats. Pellets are made from hay.
Are pellets or hay better for rabbits?
While pellets can be part of a balanced diet, you should not give your rabbit a completely pellet-based diet. Instead, it’s important to feed your rabbit mainly grass-based hay A healthy rabbit diet should consist of about 80% of your rabbit’s daily food being grass-based hay (such as timothy hay).
Is timothy hay the best for rabbits?
timothy grass
is a cool-season grass and it works well for bunnies with delicate digestive systems It provides very good fibre content and is a thick, coarse hay. Timothy Hay is high in fibre and low in protein which is a combination critical to the health of rabbits and other small animals.
How do you feed timothy hay pellets?
Usually 15-20 lbs per day of alfalfa or timothy pellets for a 1000# horse. pellets daily over 2-3 weeks. Put the pellets in a bucket, cover with warm water, and then dump them into a large muck bucket and feed immediately.
How many pellets should a rabbit eat a day?
Many experienced rabbit veterinarians are now recommending no more than 1/8 cup of quality pellets per 5 lbs. of rabbit per day , and some even consider commercial pellets a “treat food” that can promote obesity in spayed/neutered adult rabbits.
How often should I feed my rabbit pellets?
Don’t overfeed pellets – one eighth of a cup for a small rabbit per day is more than adequate OR you could choose to not feed pellets at all! There are no pellets out there in the wild and rabbits do very well without them! Don’t skimp on the hay – a ball about the same size as your bunny per day is a great guide.
What’s the difference between hay and timothy hay?
What is Timothy Hay? Timothy Hay is made from Timothy Grass, which is a tall grass that has a ‘cat tail’ with broad leaves Due to how stalky the grass is, timothy hay is high in fibre and is great if you’re looking for consistent texture and ‘stalkiness’.
What is in timothy pellets?
Timothy Grass Pellets are composed of pure timothy hay that is ground and pelleted The pellets are low in protein (8%), high in fiber, and are suitable for mature and overweight horses as well as horses with metabolic issues.
What is the best hay for rabbits?
The main diet for a rabbit is either fresh grass or hay. Some people may not be able to provide a fresh forage diet for their rabbits, so the next best option is hay. Timothy hay is the best choice for an adult rabbit, while alfalfa hay is ideal for bunnies once they are weaned and up to six months old.
Can a rabbit survive on just hay?
Rabbits should be fed in a way that is as close as possible to their natural diet: mostly grass or hay. In fact, rabbits could live on hay and water alone , but we recommend providing some fresh leafy vegetables and a small amount of commercial feed.
What is the healthiest rabbit food?
Hay is the most important part of a rabbit’s daily intake. Unlimited, high-quality grass hay, such as Timothy, orchard or brome , should make up the bulk of a rabbit’s diet. Grass hay is high in fiber, which is critical to maintaining a rabbit’s healthy digestive tract.
Can a rabbit eat too much Timothy hay?
Overeating can cause obesity and digestive problems which could lead to death A rabbit’s diet should consist of 85% grass hay, such as meadow, timothy, or orchard hay. The rest of the diet should be fresh vegetables, fruit, and pellets. Rabbits will overeat if given a chance.
What pellets are best for rabbits?
Alfalfa pellets are fine for younger rabbits but timothy pellets are preferred for older rabbits.
What is better for rabbits timothy or alfalfa?
When looking at which type of hay to feed a rabbit or guinea pig, Timothy hay and Meadow hay are often considered the better and healthier options Alfalfa is known as a great hay for baby rabbits, as it contains higher calcium and protein levels to help support healthy growth and development.
Can rabbits survive on timothy hay?
Timothy is a good all-around hay for the general dietary needs of bunnies It has balanced levels of protein, fat, and fiber and will help keep your bunny happy and healthy. If, for some reason, your little fuzzy refuses to eat Timothy, you could try orchard or oat hay.
At what age can rabbits eat timothy hay?
Once rabbits reach seven months of age , gradually switch them over to timothy, orchard grass, and/or oat hay.
What can I feed my rabbit instead of hay?
PS: In nature the rabbits would always choose fresh leaves instead of dried ones or hay. The most time of the year fresh leaves are available, so pet owners have no need to force their rabbits to eat hay, when they eat enough fresh leave-like greens instead.
Can rabbits overeat pellets?
It is nearly impossible for a rabbit to eat too much hay. However, if a rabbit has other foods that are easier to eat available, they will typically forgo the hay in favor of these other foods. So when a rabbit is given too many pellets or sugary treats, they will end up overeating them instead of munching on hay.
Can a 10 week old rabbit eat Timothy hay?
Timothy hay is best for rabbits , but there are other kinds that are also good for a rabbit’s digestion. Add in handfuls of other grass-based hays, such as orchard hay, oat hay, or meadow hay to make the transition more appetizing to your young rabbit.
How much pellets should I feed my rabbit?
Pellets: Feed a bunny small quantities An average-sized (6-10 pounds) adult rabbit only needs one-quarter cup of pellets daily If your rabbit is under five pounds, feed just one-eighth of a cup. Rabbits larger than 10 pounds do not need more than a quarter of a cup, since it’s not a crucial part of a bunny’s diet.
When should I stop feeding my rabbit alfalfa pellets?
You should phase out alfalfa at around four to five months old Around six months, slowly start swapping out alfalfa in favor of grass hays and ease up on the pellets. Adult rabbits should eat around 1/4 cup of pellets per day for every five pounds of weight they have, according to Helmer.
Do timothy pellets need to be soaked?
Feeding Directions: Stampede Timothy Grass pellets can be fed as is right out of the bag or they can be soaked to facilitate mixing a grain and forage mash but soaking is not necessary.
Can timothy pellets replace hay?
Pellets can be used to completely replace loose hay or supplement pasture for horses, cattle, sheep, goats, rabbits, etc.
Can rabbits live without pellets?
Rabbits can get by without pellets as long as hay and fresh green vegetables are given every day Avoid cereal/grain mixes (such as rabbit mix muesli) as these can encourage selective feeding, nutritional imbalance and obesity [1, 4]. Providing other objects to chew on is also a good idea.
How do I know if my rabbit is eating enough?
- Too much sugar.
- Poor quality hay.
- Too many fresh veggies.
- Too much protein.
- Not enough fiber.
Do rabbits miss their owners?
This means that yes, rabbits remember their owners If rehomed, a rabbit may be confused and disoriented by new owners for a while. As rabbits enjoy routine, a rehomed rabbit will also miss a former owner. The expressions and reactions of a previous human will be comforting.
What time should I feed my rabbit?
Providing pellets or fresh greens during the evening feeding is optimal. Rabbits are most likely to eat their pellets during the evening and overnight hours Providing food during this time decreases the number of unwanted behaviors (chewing, playing with water bottle) that may occur in the overnight hours.
How much greens should a rabbit eat?
A good rule of thumb is 1 tablespoon of
non-leafy green veggies
per 2 pounds of body weight per day For example, a rabbit that weighs 3 pounds should get roughly 1/8 cup (2 Tbsp) pellets, 1.5 cups leafy greens, and 1.5 tablespoons of chopped veggies (non-leafy greens).
What greens can rabbits eat daily?
- Feed a variety of greens daily – ideally 5-6 different types, such as cabbage, kale, broccoli, parsley and mint.
- Introduce new types of greens gradually, in small amounts, to avoid potential stomach upsets.
Is timothy hay just grass?
Timothy hay is a grass hay Another type of grass hay is meadow hay. This is softer than Timothy hay, and may include some edible plants such as dandelions. Because it contains a variety of plants, it can also be a bit more variable in contents than Timothy.
Why do rabbits need timothy hay?
High in Fiber Timothy Hay is extremely high in fiber, which is essential to your small pet’s digestive health Too many treats can throw off your rabbit’s, guinea pig’s, or chinchilla’s digestive system and can lead to obesity and potential diarrhea.
Is timothy hay high in sugar?
Timothy hay is considered a medium sugar hay This warm-season grass measures at the low end of the normal range for ethanol soluble carbohydrates, measuring between 4.7 percent and 10.9 percent.
Can you make pellets from grass?
You can dry the grass in the sun for a day or use the dryer to do that. Then turn on the pellet mill and put the processed grass pellets into the pellet mill, then the pellet will begin to work The raw material will enter the working room.
What are hay pellets?
Hay pellets are hay that have been ground and processed with heat and steam It basically just changes the form of the hay. Bermuda pellets are the same as Bermuda hay, etc.
Which cut of Timothy hay is best for rabbits?
Premium 2nd cut Timothy hay is preferred by most grass eating small animals (Bunnies, Rabbits, Chinchillas, Gerbils, Hamsters, Mice, Rats, and Tortoises). 2nd cutting is called “second” because it is the hay that is harvested after the 1st cutting.
What’s the difference between alfalfa and Timothy hay?
Alfalfa hay is higher in protein and calories, but timothy hay has more fiber and better calcium to phosphorus ratio If you feed your horse a mixture of these two types of hay, it will get the best combinations possible for optimum nutrition.
What type of hay should adult rabbits eat?
- Grass hays include timothy, oat, and orchard:
- Timothy Hay. First up, we have one of the most popular forms of hay – Timothy hay
- Oat Hay
- Orchard Hay
- Legume hays include Alfalfa, clover, peas, beans, or peanuts.
- Alfalfa Hay
- Kaytee
- Rosewood.
Sources
https://www.vrra.org/wp-beta1/wp-content/uploads/bunphotos/Types-of-Rabbit-Hay.pdf