my friend has a bunny/ rabbit that is roughly around 4 to 5 months. she does not know if it is allowed to alfalfa mixed in with its food and treats. she bought the food already. how old does Domino (that is the rabbit/bunny's name) have to be to eat the alfalfa?
2006-10-02 09:31:03 · 10 answers · asked by Moe [momoshobobo] 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
A guy I know fed his rabbits too much alfalfa and they got diarrhea.
2006-10-02 09:38:56 · answer #1 · answered by nokhada5 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Please disregard what many of the other people have told you about feeding alfalfa. Many of them have not raised or shown rabbits for an extended period of time like I have. I have been raising and showing them for 24 years.
Yes, you can give the rabbit alfalfa. However, it should be given in moderated amounts. Too much alfalfa can give the rabbit diahrrea. Alfalfa is a broad-leafed hay just like clover is. Broad-leafed hays can give rabbits diahrrea if too much is given to the rabbit. They also contain more protein than stemmy hays such as orchard grass or timothy. Normally, orchard grass or timothy are better hays to feed for this reason. You don't run the risk of diahrrea and you don't increase the protein. Increasing the protein will also help the rabbit produce new fur, meaning the old fur has to be lost or pushed out, thus the rabbit molts. However an increase in protein can be good if you want the rabbit to get through a molt quicker.
The age of the rabbit for feeding it alfalfa to a certain extent doesn't matter. A rabbit does need more protein when it is younger to grow and does need more protein when they are pregnant or milking babies. The amount of alfalfa you can feed it will depend mainly on the size of the rabbit. The bigger the rabbit the more alfalfa you can safely feed it.
Please disregard what the one person told you regarding veggies. Feeding your rabbit veggies is a very good way to give your rabbit diahrrea. Secondly, the rabbit feed you are feeding should contain all of the nutritional value your rabbit needs. Sometimes rabbit breeders that show their rabbits will add things to the feed help improve the fur or increase the hardness of their rabbit, but that is done through many years of experience. And that is best done by asking the breeder you got your rabbit from.
I also studied animal nutrition in college at Purdue and learned a lot about rabbit nutrition from rabbit veterinarian Doctor Terry E. Reed, who was the leader in rabbit nutrition. Take the advice of an expert like me, not someone who is guessing.
2006-10-03 07:32:31 · answer #2 · answered by devilishblueyes 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Alfalfa is a clover based hay, and bunnies up until 9 months can have it. After that they need timothy hay (grass based hay). Alfalfa is too rich, and can cause digestive problems if given as food. Alfalfa should only be given as a treat after 9 months.
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http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-3/fiber.html
Many experts advise against giving alfalfa hay to adult rabbits, particularly those who are not under the stresses of a breeding program and hence, do not have the calcium requirements of breeding rabbits. Alfalfa, particularly the tasty leaf part, is higher than most hays in calcium and protein and can, when fed in conjunction with high-calcium feed, cause dangerously high levels of calcium in the system. On a dry weight analysis (more accurate than straight percentages), alfalfa comes out among the highest in calcium content, and lower than most grass hays in fiber.
2006-10-02 09:50:49 · answer #3 · answered by Nikki T 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Good question! I have a bunny, this is what I was told:
Vegetables should be introduced to bunnies around 12 weeks of age, in small quantities and one at a time. As more vegetable are added watch for diarrhea and discontinue the most recently added vegetable if this occurs. Over time, the amount of vegetables fed is increased, and the amount of pellets decreased, so that by 1 year of age the adult feeding recommendations are followed.
Pellets are basically designed for commercial rabbit production, and are quite high in calories. As a result, house rabbits fed unlimited pellets may end up with obesity and related health problems, as well as an excess of other nutrients. Pellets do have a place in rabbit nutrition, as they are rich and balanced in nutrients. However, experts recommend restricting the amoung of pellets fed, and compensating with fresh vegetables (see below) and grass hays.
Choose a fresh, good quality pellet. The House Rabbit Society recommends a minimum of 20-25% fiber, around 14% protein (with no animal protein), and less than 1% Calcium for most house rabbits (spayed/neutered). For adults, the amount should be carefully regulated, depending on the size (weight) of the rabbit. As a rule, give about 1/4 cup for rabbits 5-7 lb, 1/2 cup for 8-10 lb rabbits, and 3/4 cup for 11-15b lb rabbits. Baby rabbits can be fed pellets free choice (available at all times), decreasing to 1/2 cup per 6 lb. of body weight by around 6 months.
The House Rabbit Society recommends 1-2 tablespoons of fresh fruits be given daily as a treat. Treats sold in pet stores marketed for rabbits are generally unnecessary and in some cases could cause digestive problems due to their high carbohydrate or sugar content. Instead of food treats, consider offering twigs from apple or willow trees (pesticide-free only).
2006-10-02 09:35:06 · answer #4 · answered by Knoxie 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
As a baby (under 7 months) you should definitely feed your bunny alfalfa hay, but as your bunny gets older you will want to switch and stop feeding the alfalfa hay and start feeding timothy, broome, orchard, and oat hay. It is good to feed your bunny different types of hay as your bunny will enjoy the variety and eat more hay and get all the different nutrients.
Here are some sites about feeding your bunny:
http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/diet.html
www.carrotcafe.com and
http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/rabcare.html#diet
As far as pellets, just be sure you pick a plain pellet and check out the sites listed above for guidelines for sellecting a quality pellet.
2006-10-02 14:10:06 · answer #5 · answered by Martha G 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i have 5 6 week old bunnies that eat alfalfa hay timothy hay grass an weeds that we pull out of the yard they also eat saltine crackres an lettuce an cornies an rabbit pellets we also have a 5 month old thats eats it as well an our oldest is 1 yr old an they all eat this let domino have his food he will be fine
2006-10-02 09:46:42 · answer #6 · answered by misty w 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Alfalfa pellets and alfalfa hay is for bunnies less than 6 months previous, as long as your bunny is below that (which it really is) then he may have all he needs. even as he receives about the 5 month mark, you should initiate including in timothy hay and timothy pellets so he receives use to them, and then even as he hits 6 months, in worry-free words timothy hay and timothy pellets. also, even as he's previous 6 months previous, he must have a cup of pellets and that is ALL in line with day, something of each and every thing he needs to eat should be filled up with timothy hay, keep his hay rack complete!!!!!! also, after 6 months, initiate including vegetables: turnip, dandelion, mustard, kale, etc. verify the food market, they have lots to pick on from. they ought to have 2 cups of vegetables and a small volume of greens in line with day too. Bedding: in case your rabbit is muddle field experienced, or in case you'll muddle field prepare him, then fleece will be maximum proper, so as now to not confuse him about what's litterbox and what's no longer. in case you do not opt to muddle prepare him, then use KILN DRIED ASPEN or care clean. Yesterdays information is a strong muddle field muddle variety. cellular Sorb and different kinds like that are ok too.
2016-10-16 03:12:37 · answer #7 · answered by catharine 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I give my rabbit alfalfa, but most of their diet is hay. Alfalfa is mainly a hay to get up their weight. Timothy hay is best.
2006-10-02 09:34:21 · answer #8 · answered by I ♥ my fjords! 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I fed my rabbits alfalfa their whole lives. I would think it would be just fine.
2006-10-02 09:33:35 · answer #9 · answered by Mama R 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
the bunny will eat it if it wants to and it is ok to put this in with its feed. yes u can mix it in but also buy the type that kinda looks like straw also and put in the cage with the bunny he will love it
2006-10-02 09:39:34 · answer #10 · answered by KARI S 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋