Weaning at 8 weeks, banana, hay.

Question
1. What are the disadvantages of not weaning at 8 weeks?  As you can see the mother is still eager to nurse her kits.
http://tinypic.com/r/dmphqf/4
http://tinypic.com/r/o8xw10/4

2. My rabbits likes banana skins.  Is there any harm feeding them just the skins?

3. If they don't eat hay are they really hungry?  What's in pellets that make them go for them as if they were starving?

Thanks in advance.

Answer
Dear Tom,

1.  If mama still wants to feed her babies, then the only disadvantage is to her, as she'll be needing extra food to make all that milk.  If the bunnies are living in the small cage all the time, it's hard for mama to get away from the babies to force them to wean. She doesn't look too upset, though, does she.  Pretty dang cute.  :)

2.  Unless they're organic, I would not feed the skins.  Bananas are one of the most pesticide-intensive crops, and the residues on the skins could be harmful over time.  Skins from *organic* bananas should be safe, but wash well.  And note that they are very starchy and sugary, so feed in moderation, only as a special treat.

3.  Growing babies are always hungry, and they also should have unlimited timothy hay available at all times, since pellets are fattening if they continue to eat unlimited quantities as adults.  Rabbits naturally eat all day long, and it is abnormal for them to ever have a completely empty stomach/intestine.  So providing timothy or other grass hay in unlimited quantities will keep them full and happy (and their teeth very healthy) without too many calories.

But the pellets are like treat food.  Loaded with flavorful alfalfa (high in calories) and sometimes flavoring agents that bunnies really like.  So you have to be careful not to give too much, once they're no longer growing.

Hope that helps.
Dana