mini rex feeding

Question
hello

i just bout a mini rex and it is between 7-9 weeks old and probly about 1-2 lbs. guesing  i was wondering how much pellets i should be feeding him.
I currently give him a TBL Spoon in the morn and a Tea spoon at night.I am told with unlimited pellets this breed of rabbits will get over weight very easly. i dont want to over feed and or under feed by know means so what would you suggest.

thanks

Answer
Hi,

diet is important for all rabbits, esepcially young ones and mini-rexes.

For young bunnies under 6 months old, do not give greens or fruits.  Their gi tract is still maturing and is not yet ready to handle these items well.

Youngsters do not have the same calorie restrictions that an adult, fully-grown rabbit does.  Rabbits grow for about 1 year.  At one year old they will not be getting bigger, in most cases.  So at the one year mark, calories become more important.  

Even though this is true, it is still good not to feed unlimited pellets because you want your rabbit to enjoy eating hay, because that is the item that keeps him healthy, and will be the thing he eats the most of during his life.

For mini-rexes, I would say between 1/8-1/4 cup in the morning, and 1/8-1/4 cup in the evening.  If he is active you can give the higher amount, if he sits a lot and is not as active, adjust it towards the 1/8 cup measurement.  He will be doubling in weight and size this year, so he will be using these calories for growing, so it isn't critical to watch amounts until 1 year old.

I would also give him both Alfalfa pellets and timothy pellets the first year.  Oxbow pellets are excellent.  They make both kinds, and they do not have any extra garbage (seeds, nuts, fruit, etc) in them.  You don't want the other stuff, just straight pellets.  At age 1, you will need to stop giving the alfalfa pellets as they are higher in calcium and will lead to bladder sludge/kidnet stones.  While he is growing extra calcium is okay, but not when fully grown.

Hay: he can have until year 1, alfalfa and timothy hay (or orchard grass hay).  At age 1, wean him off the alfalfa hay.  

You can also give him hay cubes (compressed hay pieces).  They don't take the place of regular hay, but you can give small sections as a treat.

At age 1, pellets need to be monitored better.  Vets generally say that domestic rabbits should not have more than 1/4 cup of pellets, per 5 pounds of body weight, per day.  From my own experiences with mini-rexes, this can be too much, especially if they are not as active.  For my mini-rexes, I have seen better luck at no more than 1/8 cup per 5 pounds of body weight, per day.  My most active guy gets 1/8 cup plus a smidge more.  

Besides, you want them to get most of their calories from hay.  

So right now, you don't have to worry too much about calories.  The thing you want to avoid is giving him too much because he will not eat as much hay as he should to remain healthy in the gut.  At age 1, is when you start becoming more concerned with amounts in order to keep him at a healthy weight.

Lee