She seems ravenous

[coffeenutdesigns]

I have a Cali doe who has kits about 10 weeks old. The kits have been weaned and out of the cage for several weeks, but she still acts like she is starving for food all the time. I feed twice a day (actually once a day, and recheck before dark) and she is right there waiting, practically crawling out of the cage to get to the food cup I use to pour with. She did nurse 7 kits after 2 died from the heat, but they've bee weaned for a long time and she doesn't look or feel to be losing weight or condition. I can't breed her right now due to the heat and I worry about her getting fat before I am able to start breeding again. On the other hand, I don't want her to feel hungry all the time. I have started giving her more hay as filler trying to keep her pellets down to normal. She did have 2 litters very close together, but the first time she weaned she didn't act like an apocalyptic locust. Poops are good, attitude is good, fur is nice...she just wants to eat a LOT. My other rabbits are fine with less rations than she gets.

If I give her more hay, will that keep her from getting fattier before breeding? If not, what is a good way to fill her up without letting her put on too much weight?

 

[Fire-Man]

I have a Cali doe who has kits about 10 weeks old. The kits have been weaned and out of the cage for several weeks, but she still acts like she is starving for food all the time. I feed twice a day (actually once a day, and recheck before dark) and she is right there waiting, practically crawling out of the cage to get to the food cup I use to pour with. She did nurse 7 kits after 2 died from the heat, but they've bee weaned for a long time and she doesn't look or feel to be losing weight or condition. I can't breed her right now due to the heat and I worry about her getting fat before I am able to start breeding again. On the other hand, I don't want her to feel hungry all the time. I have started giving her more hay as filler trying to keep her pellets down to normal. She did have 2 litters very close together, but the first time she weaned she didn't act like an apocalyptic locust. Poops are good, attitude is good, fur is nice...she just wants to eat a LOT. My other rabbits are fine with less rations than she gets.

If I give her more hay, will that keep her from getting fattier before breeding? If not, what is a good way to fill her up without letting her put on too much weight?

That rabbit is Got You wrapped around her "foot" LOL. As long as she is getting some protien and her weight is staying good. I would not be adding to much extra. I feed my non-working does a shallow dog food can of pellets once a day and then later in the day I give them something out the garden. They had rather have the things out the garden than the pellets.

 

[Andrei]

You should cut the pellets and give more hay or greens.

 

[dayna]

I would up the "forage" type foods. That's what I do when my buns seem extra hungry.

 

[Secuono]

Rabbits, like many other animals, learn to beg once they know you bring the food. If she is skinny, she needs more food, has worms or another health issue. If she's fat, feed less.
I have a cali buck that is ripping the cage wall apart, one weld at a time.

 

[Andrei]

I have a cali buck that is ripping the cage wall apart, one weld at a time.

Junk Yard Buck?

 

[Secuono]

I have a cali buck that is ripping the cage wall apart, one weld at a time.

Junk Yard Buck?

Hah, I guess so. One corner is all mangled, he sits up with his feet on the wire, teeth on a wire and just pulls and shakes like crazy and runs back and forth between a few shakes until I give him anything to keep him nibbling. He's kind of like a kid throwing a tantrum. Everyone else either gets up or sit by the door waiting, but he can't wait. I'm sure he'd prefer a tube with food flowing all the time...

 

[MaggieJ]

Grass hay is often helpful in situations like this. It gives the rabbit something to nibble all day long without adding a lot of calories. Some safe tree branches might also be good since they take the rabbit a lot longer to eat than do pellets. The rabbit could be bored. Maybe some simple toys like a tuna can that she can fling around to make noise with. Rabbits seem to like that kind of thing.

 

[coffeenutdesigns]

She has chunks of wood and pine cones to play with and chew on. I did put a really large chunk of hay in with her last night and this morning she actually had some pellets left. I am feeding alfalfa, but I also have Sudan and oat hay. Which would be best for keeping full but not fatty?

About the tuna cans. I'm always worried about sharp edges. How do you avoid them getting cut?

 

[Secuono]

Do you have a hammer or pliers? Just flatten the edge down.<br /><br />__________ Wed Jul 10, 2013 5:32 pm __________<br /><br />Here he is begging again. Fed him an hour ago, so he's not begging as bad.

 

[Andrei]

I would give him some serious branches to work on.

 

[Secuono]

He only does it when I come by. Most of the time he keeps busy or lounges around. He'll literally spring up from a nap when he hears the food bins open. When I keep going and vanish, he finds something else to do again.