How much to feed my 13 week old rabbit?

Question
QUESTION: my rabbit is a nether land dwarf but I've seen pure nether land dwarfs and their ears are really small but my rabbit's ears isn't.i think it's a mix,he is white with black eye rings.

also rabbits poop those soft poop that they eat right?but my rabbit'isn't eating it.does that have to do with age or is he sick?he is about 13 weeks old.

I've done some researching online but a website (http://www.allearssac.org)said they need to eat 1/2 oz. of veggies but another website says that only feed it veggies as a treat.which is the truth?

also some people says that we should feed them 1/8 cups of pellets every time the food bowl is empty.should i listen to them?if i do ,can you tell me how much to feed to a 13 week old rabbit?

thanks!

ANSWER: Dear Julia,

It sounds as if your rabbit may be a Dwarf Hotot, a breed with that coloration.  Very inbred dwarf rabbits have tiny ears, but many small and dwarfed rabbits have relatively long, normal ears.  That's nothing to be worried about, and it's actually probably a good thing, since it might mean he's not too inbred (and hence, likely more susceptible to various illnesses).

Baby rabbits will sometimes leave a few cecotropes behind, uneaten.  As long as they are of normal appearance and texture (like a little, stinky bunch of grapes, and a bit rubbery), it's nothing to worry about.  He's eating enough to keep himself healthy.  If his poops are mushy or pasty, though, please read:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/poop.html

Sometimes a diet too rich in carbohydrates or protein can make a bunny leave cecotropes, so check the diet here:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/diet.html

to be sure you're feeding the right type of pellets.

Slowly introduce fresh greens as per the instructions in the article above.  Fresh greens are an important part of the diet, and not just treat food!  

The MOST important item in the diet is grass (not alfalfa) hay, which should be given in unlimited amounts all day.  Pellets should be limited once the baby is an adult, but while he's growing he can have pretty much free choice of pellets, since they'll provide him with nutrients for healthy bone and other tissue growth.  Once he's about 8 months old, gradually cut back the amount of pellets to about 1/4 per day for maintenance, but be sure he always has all the hay he can eat.

For all the best rabbit care information, go to:

www.rabbit.org/

You can find a good rabbit vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

It's always good to have a vet relationship established BEFORE you need one!  :)

Hope that helps!

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hi again!!!
my friend has a male dutch and when she visited she checked my rabbit and said it was a male.but then her rabbit came over and tried to mate with him.is that normal?because i looked online on how to tell if it's a male or female and mine really is a boy

also my friend's and my rabbit are both not neutered/spayed.
she is getting her rabbit neutered but mine is a male can they just be friends without mating after she got him neutered?

and i researched online and it said that a dutch is a small rabbit but her rabbit is about 3 times that size!!and she said that he was a purebred and bought it on a farm.
is that normal?(just curious)

Answer
Dear Julia,

Rabbits of both sexes will mount each other not only out of sexual energy, but to establish dominance.  This can cause fighting if both rabbits want to be dominant, so if you want your two rabbits to be pals, it's more likely this will happen if both are neutered.  Please read:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/spay.html

and find a good rabbit vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Dutch rabbits can range in size from 4 - 6 pounds, but I've seen some that are even bigger.  Size is controlled by several genes, so babies even from the same litter can vary quite a bit in size, once they're adults.

Hope this helps.

Dana