Can kits over eat?

[macksmom98]

We have 6 week old Holland Lop kits that are eating a ton of pellets and hay. I have two feeders I use and put several scoops of feed in each, but every time I feed they all act like they are starving! Including mama....Everyone has full, tight tummies and is growing well, seeming to do great. I would like to up their feed so they aren't so hungry but I an just wondering of it's possible to over feed. They get regular pellets like the adult rabbits and Timothy hay, and they are a litter of 5.

 

[Zass]

I always free-feed nursing does and kits.

 

[macksmom98]

Great-that's been my plan except the free feed keeps running out, lol. They are little piggies instead of bunnies! I'll up my number of scoops and go to and extra feeding a day and see if everyone is happier then....

 

[Miss M]

Most of us do free-feed our growouts and nursing does. And yeah, those kits can be little pigs!

 

[MaggieJ]

You could try feeding more hay in addition to the pellets. It takes longer for them to eat it and it helps them to feel satisfied. It's a good guard against weaning enteritis too.

 

[macksmom98]

Maggie J, what's weaning enteritis?

 

[MaggieJ]

Weaning enteritis is a digestive disturbance found mostly in young rabbits. It is usually accompanied by watery diarrhea and can kill in a very short space of time. If you google it, you will find tons of information. Here's one link to get you started, because it is something every rabbit breeder should know about.
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/GI_disease ... tis_en.htm

Many rabbit breeders believe that feeding hay helps to safeguard against this disease. Rabbits fed only pellets may be more at risk. Rabbits fed a natural diet seem rarely to have this problem.

 

[TF3]

My question is... Are they ever full?!
(10 Flemish kits need a LOT of refills!)