Whats wrong with him?!

[ButtonsPalace]

My little runt who is about a year now and his brother HAVE to share a cage currently my little runt is shedding just like everyone else is but he doesn't seem to be keeping any weight on him even though I feed him double what everyone else gets and I remove his older brother from the cage while they eat so he*runt* will get a chance to eat after eatting his belly is big and round like the rest of them after they have ate but when I go back out in the afternoon the next day he looks like he hasn't ate in days! Is he sick!? If he is WHAT DO I DO?!.. By the way I don't know if this helps but they are given about a cup of food daily and have constant access to water in their bottles which is changed out daily. My cages are VERY clean and there is not much poop accumulated underneath currently since I just cleaned out and under the cages about two weeks ago

 

[Nyctra]

Rabbits basically have to eat constantly...if he's only allowed a short amount of time to fill up, he's probably not getting what he needs to last him the rest of the day, so that would explain the weight loss. Molting and regrowing fur can take a lot out of them. And a big belly doesn't sound real good either...sounds bloated.

Do the boys share a single dish, or do you have multiple food dishes? If they only have one, it would be a good idea to have multiple in a shared cage, preferably at different ends so the little guy doesn't get bullied away while you aren't looking. Hay and water with multiple access spots would be advisable as well. <br /><br /> -- Wed Apr 29, 2015 2:10 pm -- <br /><br /> Don't forget wool block is still a thing in short hair bunnies. Since the rabbit feels full, they don't eat so much and lose weight.

 

[ButtonsPalace]

Everybody gets fed once a day the only ones that eat all their food immediately is my two boys and my doe the other two kind of spread it out into the next day I will definitely put another food bowl in there maybe that will help and they will be able to eat through the day and bloated belly is not good.. Thats good to know I just thought it was cause he finally got his fill. His brother and him are separated during nom time so they nobody gets bullied and they are given several bowls I will put some hay in the back of their box for them to munch on as well Thank you so much for your advice!! I'm still a bit new to this whole Rabbit dealio and it kinda scared me

 

[MaggieJ]

If you absolutely cannot provide a second cage, it is possible to divide the one they have? How big is it?

Nyctra is right . . . rabbits are nibblers and it is undesirable for them to eat a whole day's ration in a short time. Can you get hay for them so that they have something to nibble at constantly? Hay also helps their digestion. You could try supplementing the runt with kitchen oatmeal (large flake/old fashioned type) since it is more easily digested than pellets and may help to put some weight on the little guy. Dividing their daily ration and feeding twice a day may also help.

 

[Nyctra]

I've had some awful scares too... Good luck! I hope he gets better. <br /><br /> -- Wed Apr 29, 2015 2:18 pm -- <br /><br /> I bet having competition for food might be why they empty their dish so fast as well.
I second breakfast and dinner servings.