What food can I give my 9wk old netherland dwarf rabbit.?

Question

I was told I can give her carrots (I think I was told once a week) but i give her half a carrot the other day and it was gone by the next and wondered if you can actually give them more than once a week. I know you cant give them fruit until they are 16weeks old cos then they are classed as fully grown adults.( Any advice on that would be grateful.) She is currently getting pellets high in vitamins and fibre and a little bit of rabbit musilie and her hay. But just wondered what other ppl feed their baby rabbits of this age. Thanks for any advice. I have asked a few questions about Dusty lately. I do read the books but I think ppls personal advice and experience is much better.

Answer 1

There are 2 important rules to remember when you feed a rabbit greenstuffs;
1) Don't give big portions of any one thing. A whole cabbage is no good, 1/2 a cabbage leaf is fine.
2) Don't give wet greenstuffs. For safety's sake, if the stuff has been washed let it go bone dry before you feed it. Wet greenstuff causes stomach upsets.

Greenstuffs once a week isn't very often; you have a tiny rabbit so give tiny portions every day; no more than she can eat in 15 minutes. Its a good excuse to sit with her and fuss over her anyway!

Answer 2

This question is VERY easy to answer! Your rabbit has begun puberty. I'm assuming you've not had her spayed? Once a female's hormones begin to flow, her number one priority in life is to dig a hole, make a nest, and start breeding. She becomes territorial quite often, sometimes even aggressive and will make a mess of anything she can tear up or dig into. Of all the rabbits I've been bitten by - and there have been quite a few - it's been the hormonal females who have really sunk their teeth in, and who've been the most common biters. I would suggest having her spayed now. The longer you leave it, the more any bad behaviours will be imprinted on her, and you'll find that your once sweet bunny will be much harder to deal with. Also, since uterine cancers are very common (80% have it by the age of five!!) in female rabbits that are not bred regularly, or spayed, spaying is a good way to prolong her life and have her healthy for life. Addition: no, it's not dangerous spaying her at 5 months. Some vets are a bit iffy about it, but if she's showing signs of puberty, she's old enough. Five months seems to be about the age most girls (except for the very large breeds) start puberty. The only reason your vet might hesitate would be if she was especially small. If that's the case, I would get her done as close to 6 months as possible, to avoid some of the difficult behaviour than cat start shortly after that age.

Answer 3

I have kept rabbits for a while, mine always enjoyed dry bread, I put mine in a low oven for a while, (the bread, not the rabbit!!)
They also love dandelion leaves, grass. Though hay is the absolutely best for a rabbit, I always used hay for bedding so they can munch as much as they liked.

Just one other thing, check her bum regularly for fly strike, I have lost 3 rabbits to this over the years. You can get something from the vets, that you dab on the bum every 3 weeks or so, this should keep the flys away, nothing worst than finding maggots.
I also used to dab citronella around the hutch door to try and keep the flys away.

Answer 4

You can fed your rabbit fruit as an adult just not too much. The House Rabbit Handbook is a great book to read. Also check out these websites.

Answer 5

Rabbit pellets, hay, and only dry foods/grains for treats. Domestic rabbits are not fully grown until they are 6 months, NOT 16 weeks! You shouldn't give them any vegetable treats until then, and even then, only in very small amounts.

Answer 6

My rabbits are on a pellet food every day as well but i give mine treats every day as well. dandelion leaves are good, i give her half a carrot at night to give her something to do. hay constantly, apples and pairs, Broccoli, she likes Mellon as well. really any veg that they will eat but never lattice its not good for them. my rabbit also likes a slice of bread a day and will and will sit by the back door until she gets some.

Answer 7

i found with my rabbits fresh vegetables like carrots and cabbage are a really nice treat. I give my rabbits a fruity mix mainly apple its best to feed them twice a day

Answer 8

well carrots are not very good for rabbits.it gives them an upset stomach.but some other things you could give them are bananas,Shredded Wheat , cherios, apples, parsley, kale, cilantro, dried papaya,brussel sprouts.give one of these treats only once a week.dont give them the whole treat just a little piece of it.but you can give them hay every day.try grass,timothy ,or orchard hay.they can have a handful everyday.hope this helps.

Answer 9

I'd stay away from getting too adventurous. 9 weeks is still extremely young. The best advice is to talk to an experienced rabbit veterinarian.

Answer 10

i have 4, 6 week old rabbits and they have been eating dried rabbit food and fresh veg since they started to eat solids and they are nice and healthy,i thought you couldn't give baby rabbits veg at a young age but i asked my vets and he said it was fine as long as you don't give them a massive amount,i feed mine spinach,carrots,leafy green cabbage,cucumber,apple,pear,banana(small amount)ones a week,tomatoes,celery,they have access to grass everyday,fresh hay,hope this helps.