This is mostly theorizing here... but i'm still trying to figure out this GI Stasis thing.....
For over a year we have fed the same brand of pellets. The rabbits seem to dig right in. I also, on a Daily basis, fed a handful of rather coarse timothy hay. We had No problems with the stasis. Poops were the large 'normal' rabbity poo size.
It was this past January, that i was a bit concerned about a couple of our breeding does...losing flesh condition. Since our hay was over a year old... i figured it was not giving them the nutrition they needed. Bucks, Young stock were still doing great. It was the Brood does that were losing ground.
So... we decided to try the alfalfa hay cubes... thinking that might boost the protein some. We also bought lovely green leafy 'horse hay' bales. I would alternate ...one day the cubes... one day a handful of the lovely hay... It was also around this time, that i noticed that the rabbits were gnawing on the edges of their water crocks. So i increased the lovely hay amount. It was in March that the first of the does "went on strike"... they started leaving half the pellets. Would still eat the lovely leafy hay......and the poops started getting smaller... It was gradual and only the four does.... The poos got to the size of BBs. we lost three of the 'striking' does. The fourth was still eating some... but definitely not pooping as (i think) she should.
We finally have been able to locate some Good coarse timothy hay. It still has green to it ...but it is stemmy. As i was feeding it...Each and Every rabbit was Standing up at the door anxiously waiting their turn.... Even the doe who was 'off'.
It seemed like over night... ( but more likely a few days)... but her poops are back up to 'normal' size. She is almost cleaning up her pellets... And... i am noticing a lot Less gnawing on the crocks and/or cage wire with the rest of the rabbits.
I'm hopeful that the lack of coarse fiber was the leading cause of the problem. Guess time will tell... It has been a heart-wrenching time for us. this is yet another Hard lesson learned.
For over a year we have fed the same brand of pellets. The rabbits seem to dig right in. I also, on a Daily basis, fed a handful of rather coarse timothy hay. We had No problems with the stasis. Poops were the large 'normal' rabbity poo size.
It was this past January, that i was a bit concerned about a couple of our breeding does...losing flesh condition. Since our hay was over a year old... i figured it was not giving them the nutrition they needed. Bucks, Young stock were still doing great. It was the Brood does that were losing ground.
So... we decided to try the alfalfa hay cubes... thinking that might boost the protein some. We also bought lovely green leafy 'horse hay' bales. I would alternate ...one day the cubes... one day a handful of the lovely hay... It was also around this time, that i noticed that the rabbits were gnawing on the edges of their water crocks. So i increased the lovely hay amount. It was in March that the first of the does "went on strike"... they started leaving half the pellets. Would still eat the lovely leafy hay......and the poops started getting smaller... It was gradual and only the four does.... The poos got to the size of BBs. we lost three of the 'striking' does. The fourth was still eating some... but definitely not pooping as (i think) she should.
We finally have been able to locate some Good coarse timothy hay. It still has green to it ...but it is stemmy. As i was feeding it...Each and Every rabbit was Standing up at the door anxiously waiting their turn.... Even the doe who was 'off'.
It seemed like over night... ( but more likely a few days)... but her poops are back up to 'normal' size. She is almost cleaning up her pellets... And... i am noticing a lot Less gnawing on the crocks and/or cage wire with the rest of the rabbits.
I'm hopeful that the lack of coarse fiber was the leading cause of the problem. Guess time will tell... It has been a heart-wrenching time for us. this is yet another Hard lesson learned.
