How to Encourage Your Rabbit to Eat More HayHay is the most important thing for rabbits to eat in order to maintain their gut and teeth. It should make up 80% of their daily diet. When rabbits turn away from hay or simply seem to not like it, it can put a lot of stress and worry onto their guardians. If your rabbit has always enjoyed hay, but suddenly seems disinterested, you should examine the freshness of the hay and schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. Any time a rabbit becomes disinterested in food is a cause for concern. If your rabbit has always been a fussy hay eater, then this blog is for you.
Here are some ways to encourage your rabbit to eat more hay: Change the type of hay Timothy, orchard and alfalfa; there are many types of hays and each have their own unique flavour and crunch factor. Some rabbits find timothy hay to be too bland, and may prefer a sweeter or softer variety like meadow or orchard. Try switching or blending different hays together to see if you can gain your rabbit's interest. You can learn more about different types of hay here. Hide treats in the hay Foraging is a very natural thing for rabbits to do. You can hide some of your rabbit's favorite treats (fruit, veggies, pellets, treats, herbs) into a pile of hay for your rabbit to search out. Some rabbits will eat the hay while they're searching for their rewards. Foraging is also a good activity for busy bunnies that need something to do. Change the location of they hay Rabbits can hold small protests over the smallest inconveniences. If your rabbit isn't interested in eat hay, try moving it to a different location or put it in a different container. Some rabbits will happily eat out of hay racks while others prefer to have it left free in a dish, on the floor, or even in their litter boxes. You could even try leaving little hay bundles in multiple locations for your rabbit as they move around throughout the day. Make hay toys You can hide hay in easy-to-make toys for your rabbit. Stuffing hay into toilet paper rolls or into brown bags can make it more interesting for your rabbit, and they may feel more motivated to eat the hay as a toy. This is also a good way to provide an enriching activity for your rabbit. Bunny Approved has some excellent plans for DYI toys where hay could easily be incorporated. Feed less pellets Some rabbits prefer to eat their pellets over hay. Adult rabbits should only receive about 1/4 cup of pellets a day for every 5lbs of their body weight. By slowly reducing the amount of pellets you give your rabbit, their appetite may have them searching for extra food to eat. If you decide to feed less pellets, keep a very close eye on your rabbit. If your rabbit doesn't eat enough food, they could develop GI Stasis. Mild Irritation and hand feeding Rabbits will often become irritated if you brush/tickle/gently poke them with a toy or food. They will often reach by grabbing that item with their teeth. You could try to gently irritate them with a few strands of hay to see if they might grab it from you and "accidentally" eat it. Your rabbit may learn to like hay after they accidentally try a few pieces. This is not a common technique, but something you could try once or twice. You can also try to encourage your rabbit to eat some pieces of hay directly from your hand. Try compressed hay Timothy hay cubs or Oxbow hay stacks have a different texture and shape that could get the attention of your rabbit. While not ideal, it could be a good starting point for getting your rabbit to start enjoying hay. Rinsed hay You can try rinsing a small amount of hay with water or a tiny bit of apple juice to see if it gets your rabbits attention. Do not leave wet hay with your rabbit longer than 1-2 hours as it will spoil. Any remaining hay should be removed and thrown out. The most important thing when it comes to fussy hay eaters is: don't give up. As their guardians, the responsibility falls to us to ensure that they have long and healthy lives. A proper diet is one of the most important ways to ensure that. Comments are closed.
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