jjgrappler
Member
I have two does that are scratching their feed out of their feeders when eating. Has anyone ever experienced this? I'm losing money while feeding these does. I looked this morning and there is a ton of it on the ground. :evil:
Anybody experience this
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Cattle Cait
Well-known member
A lot of rabbits do that. My only suggestion is get a hopper feeder and put it high enough that they can't reach in to scratch, or find a wide-lip crock (you'll know one when you see it) to feed them in.
ChopSuey
Well-known member
Yup, two of mine do that trying to get to the goodies in the food. I agree with raising the height of the feeder. Then I add a really heavy crock when there are kits in the hutch.
jjgrappler
Member
Sounds good I raised it up pretty good amount and I will have to put some crocks in because they just had litters, so the babies have to eat then.
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If the feed has various kinds of kibbles in it, they may be digging to find their favorites. Switching to a uniform feed might solve this.
On the other hand, are you sure it is being scratched out? One of my does was filling her mouth with food, and then biting at the edge of the feeder, dropping the pellets. She, too, ended up with mounds of food under her cage. At others' suggestion, I started giving her a consistent hay ration, rather than now and then. The problem stopped cold.
On the other hand, are you sure it is being scratched out? One of my does was filling her mouth with food, and then biting at the edge of the feeder, dropping the pellets. She, too, ended up with mounds of food under her cage. At others' suggestion, I started giving her a consistent hay ration, rather than now and then. The problem stopped cold.
A pellet feed and a separate dish for treats REALLY HELPS
as does raising the feeder, I installed all my J feeder at 4 inches instead of my first set up of 2.
AND if these don't work, take some scrap 1x2 wire and bend it kinda Z like to sit inside of the feeder, or if it's a dish cut it to stand up, anyways, make sure you have one cross bar, it will keep the rabbit from scrabbling, BUT you will have to tap the feeder to make sure the food is moving down, as it will get to a level the rabbit can't reach.
as does raising the feeder, I installed all my J feeder at 4 inches instead of my first set up of 2.
AND if these don't work, take some scrap 1x2 wire and bend it kinda Z like to sit inside of the feeder, or if it's a dish cut it to stand up, anyways, make sure you have one cross bar, it will keep the rabbit from scrabbling, BUT you will have to tap the feeder to make sure the food is moving down, as it will get to a level the rabbit can't reach.
jjgrappler
Member
I feed a grain mix so I thougt that may be the case with the scratching. It is scratching I witnessed it multiple times. I raised the j-feeder and it seems to have remedied the problem
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Great! Glad you seem to have found a solution! 
jjgrappler
Member
It did not remedy the problem it's so frustrating lol
DevonW
Well-known member
It could be they're bored or they just don't like the pellets. I use to have huge problems when I was feeding Purina, my rabbits just didn't like it so they dug it out of their feeders.
Devon's Mom Lauren
Well-known member
Rabbits WILL scrabble when the feed isn't the best or stale etc.
