Feedng

Question
I have 2 baby bunnies 1 is 8 weeks and the other is 12 weeks can you give Alfafa, if so for how long? i was told that at 5 months you have to stop and just give them the Timothy hay. Is this right?
Thank you very much for your time in helping all of us with our questions.

Answer
You can give hay to both of them, just give the one at 8 weeks a little less.  His gi tract is less mature, but 8 weeks is an acceptable time to give him hay.

You should give them both alfalfa and timothy hay while they are under 1 year old.  They will like the alfalfa more, but give them both.  I'd say 1/3 alfalfa, 2/3 timothy, so that they will have to eat timothy hay.  If they are 'crafty' they may just try to eat the alfalfa and ignore the timothy, hoping you'll give them more alfalfa - they may try to 'wait you out'.  Just stick it out and make sure they eat the timothy, they will eventually.  They sometimes are like little kids that way with food.

You want them to develop a taste for it because after they are 1 year old (and done growing), they should not be given alfalfa hay anymore.  Too much calcium, it will cause bladder/kidney stones.

But if you give them Timothy hay while they are young, they will develop a taste for it and it won't be so hard to wean them off the alfalfa.

Lee