Is it ok for a rabbit to be on an all hay/alfalfa diet? Would it cuase health issues, if they don't get any pellets(which are mostly Alfalfa anyway) Also would it cuase them to loose weight? I would be only doing giving this diet to my adult rabbits.
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ANSWERS: 3
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The best for your adult rabbits are unlimited timothy hay, and pellets that are made of timothy hay. Depends on the size of your rabbits will determine how much pellets to give them, you only give them pellets once a day, and they say feed them at night. Also they need veggies in there diet, I give my buns organic spring mix, and a couple of carrots, the spring mix gives them a variety of greens. And once in a while you can give them a treat like slice apple with out skin or core, bananas, but only in small pieces. The key to great rabbit health is unlimited timothy hay, thats more important than any other food. Senior buns and babies till there 1 should get alfalfa in their diet, in moderation. For a lot of info on rabbits, go to rabbit.org.
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It's very difficult to do just a hay diet. Pellets are not just hay. Pellets were designed for commercial rabbit raising and they were made to put weight on rabbits quickly. I good diet for a rabbit would be 1/4 to 1/2 cup of pellets per 6 lbs of your rabbits weight PLUS unlimited alfalfa hay. And also 2 cups of good veggies, again per 6 lbs of body weight. EACH DAY. Never feed your rabbit those gourmet treats with dried fruit and nuts and seeds. Rabbits should never be given crackers, nuts, seeds, oatmeal, those breakfast type cereals. NO corn or legumes like beans peas, soybeans, either. Here are some good veggies Alfalfa, radish & clover sprouts Basil Beet greens (tops) Bok choy Broccoli (mostly leaves/stems) Brussels sprouts Carrot & carrot tops Celery Cilantro Clover Dandelion greens and flowers (no pesticides) Endive* Escarole Green peppers Kale (go easy on the kale only once or twice a week) Mint Mustard greens Parsley* Peppermint leaves Raddichio Radish tops Raspberry leaves Romaine lettuce (no iceberg or light colored leaf) Spinach (go easy on the spinach!) Watercress Wheat grass
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... Unlimited alfalfa hay for grown rabbits will make them horribly obese and will in turn create a very sad bunbun. I have seen a rabbit that was fed alfalfa for a long time and when the owner started feeding it properly, the rabbit ended up having saggy skin all around! Sad but true! I give my rabbits all the timothy hay they want, veggies and sometimes pellets for treats.
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