Ideas...Suggestions...Thoughts.....

[Random Rabbit]

We have been feeding the same brand of feed for well over a year. Rabbits (usually) love it... eat it up and look pretty dern good on it.

Right now there are four Does that are 'off feed' ( or 'on food strike' )... They are is four different parts of the barn. Cages on either side of the striking does, are eating just fine. Two of the does are bred.. the other two are not...but Are old enough to be bred.

They will eat hay, willow, carrots ( from the winter garden) with great gusto... just Not the regular pellet ration.

I'm running out of ideas and thought i would ask here...( and i Am a bit concerned about the two that are bred.) Thank You for any suggestions. :bunnyhop:

 

[MamaSheepdog]

No idea- mine do that sometimes too, in fact pellet consumption has been way down for a while now. They seem to prefer the hay, grain mix, and weeds. I figure it's there if they need it... but I always reach into the feeders to make sure the pellets aren't clogged, just to be safe.

The kits on the other hand are eating machines! It is only the more mature animals that shun the pellets.

 

[MaggieJ]

Does the feed look and smell normal? Is there any sign of dampness or other damage? Sometimes pregnant does will go off feed a day or two before kindling, but this sounds like more than that. I think you are right to be a bit concerned.

You could supplement the does with hay and oatmeal, but they won't likely go back to eating pellets if you are giving them tastier things instead.

The main concern is that there could be something amiss with the feed. Can you remember if this started when you opened a new bag? That would be a strong indicator that the batch might not be good.

 

[Random Rabbit]

Does the feed look and smell normal? Is there any sign of dampness or other damage? Sometimes pregnant does will go off feed a day or two before kindling, but this sounds like more than that. I think you are right to be a bit concerned.

You could supplement the does with hay and oatmeal, but they won't likely go back to eating pellets if you are giving them tastier things instead.

The main concern is that there could be something amiss with the feed. Can you remember if this started when you opened a new bag? That would be a strong indicator that the batch might not be good.

This is what throws me for a loop... All our rabbits get this same feed. I go down the rows dishing out each in turn... one right after the other... these four does are scattered randomly thry the barn... so i can't say... "this Group over here is off" It is litterally one on one end Top row, one way at the other end bottom row, one out in another part of the building, and one way off in yet another area. All the other buns are eating up just fine. ( i honestly think they are doing it Just to drive me nuts !... and it is working !!!!!!! )

 

[Jessykah]

Try emptying their feed dishes of the old stuff, and give them new fresh pellets, from a DIFFERENT batch. On the bags will be dates or codes, telling when the batch was processed, and so you can differentiate each bag and each batch. If there are codes that you need to decipher, look to google for help, or your feed dealer.<br /><br />__________ Thu Mar 22, 2012 12:07 pm __________<br /><br />http://www.thenaturetrail.com/rabbit-he ... code-bags/

http://www.fuzzylop.com/News_10_Home.htm Scroll down to "how fresh is your feed"

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

My larger buns are a tad off their feed, as well-- I think it is the weather-- unususally and suddenly warm right now--

 

[Miss M]

Sometimes one or another of our rabbits will all but stop eating pellets for a few days... a week even. No explanation, and then they start guzzling them again.

Have you checked the pellets that are in the tray where they eat from? Maybe they've gotten damp or something from sitting too long.

 

[arachyd]

Has the temperature gone up just before they went off their feed? That's a big appetite killer.

 

[ladysown]

seasonal changes can lend to rabbits going "off feed". as long as they are eating something I tend not to worry on them. When they adjust to the temperature changes they will start eating again, probably mostly at night when it's cooler and calmer.

 

[AnnClaire]

Yah, anyone that hasn't cleaned the pellets when I feed doesn't get any pellets that day. I have had them just seem to get tired of pellets, but as long as they are eating the other feed, it won't hurt for them to miss a day or 5 of pellets.

 

[MaggieJ]

The only problem with that, AnnClaire, is that the pellets in the feeder may become more and more stale... less appetizing and even less safe if humidity is an issue.

 

[AnnClaire]

I suppose I should have said more :lol:

If anything is left when I feed, I don't feed more. Generally, the next night it is usually cleaned up and they get a half ration. If, however, there is some the next night, I toss that and don't feed pellets until the next night, and that is only a half ration. Basically, if they don't want to clean up their ration, then I am either feeding too much, weather conditions have changed enough to cause them to not want to eat a full ration, or they are just "stale" on the feed. Whatever is going on, cutting back or eliminating the pellets for a day or so won't hurt an adult, they have free access to hay and get a ration of rolled oats each day and a ration of greens. These bunnies are not going to starve to death :lol: and I actually ration their pellets to bring their weight down, and sometimes just to vary their diets, I will give them alfalfa hay instead of pellets.

 

[MaggieJ]

Fair enough...

Some less experienced rabbit raisers might forget to consider that the pellets might get damp, stale or otherwise unacceptable. Just thought I should mention it.

 

[Random Rabbit]

Thak You one and all. I looked back at my records... when this started... it was two weeks ago... our daytime high jumped 20 degrees litterally over night. We have been running way above 'normal' since then... with record highs most of this week. Starting tomorrow it is supposed to be a bit more seasonable... we shall see if the eating improves.
I have emptied the feeders and been offering 'short rations'... the four must be more stubborn than i....guess time will tell.....
Thank You again.

 

[Miss M]

I'd say the dramatic temperature change caused it, then. Always happens to me when we have a jump like that. I'll go in to feed them the next night, and it seems like they haven't touched the food.

They eat much, much less in the summer.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Boy, you learn something new everyday here on RT. I didn't know temp changes would have that effect. A valuable bit of info to have.

 

[Random Rabbit]

Boy, you learn something new everyday here on RT. I didn't know temp changes would have that effect. A valuable bit of info to have.

Well, see California has near perfect climate... moderate temperatures... very little fluctuation....in a word Idealic..... You just don't have a thing to worry about there...... :lol:


* ducks and hides *

 

[skysthelimit]

I'd say the dramatic temperature change caused it, then. Always happens to me when we have a jump like that. I'll go in to feed them the next night, and it seems like they haven't touched the food.

They eat much, much less in the summer.

I am noticing. I was feeding one cup to the adults and free feeding anything under 6 mos. They still acted like they were starving. I switched to 1/2 cup a few weeks ago, and that seemed find. A few days ago, it was almost 80F and there were pellets left in the feeders.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Well, see California has near perfect climate... moderate temperatures... very little fluctuation....in a word Idealic..... You just don't have a thing to worry about there...... :lol:


* ducks and hides *

Hah! We had 4" of snow last weekend, and yesterday I was too hot while working outside, and today I woke to chilling fog! Mountain weather is weird, even in sunny California...

If we had any snow left, I'd chuck a snowball your way! :mrgreen: