The All Veggie Diet

When I first started out as a pet rabbit owner (as an adult! Not when I had them as a kid), I purchased the book "Rabbits for Dummies". It was great- had a list of good foods vs. bad foods for them to eat, etc. I dutifully avoided giving Scout fresh foods until he was 6 months of age, then limited carrots as treats, apple as a VERY rare treat and he got "Scout Salad" less than once every two weeks. (Scout Salad consisted of dark green lettuces- kale, romaine, broccoli which he didn't like...etc). He ate plenty of timothy hay.

When I became a breeder, I tried several feeds before deciding what to feed (Purina- it's just my favorite!) Now days, the rabbits get a single carrot perhaps twice a year.

There is a movement, out there in the world, for all domesticated rabbits to be moved to a purely fresh vegetarian diet.

That's what this post is about.

I believe, that if done PROPERLY by people who are not brain-washed in to thinking they can do no wrong, a MOSTLY fresh veggie diet is not a bad thing. Mostly, because I do believe PELLETS are necessary to make sure the rabbits get everything they need in a diet. Yes- I know that somewhere out there is a rabbit that has lived to be 16 on it. I have a 6 year old pet rabbit in my barn that ate a slim jim. Does that mean we need to start them on a meat by product diet? No.

Unfortunately, I feel 99% of owners on the Fresh Veggie Diet (let's call it FVD for short) are brain-washed in to thinking this is the ONLY possible diet. When your dwarf rabbit can't put it's front feet on the ground because of obesity, there is a problem. When rabbits have diarrhea constantly, fur loss, chafing, chapping and need to be fed gas drops DAILY- something is wrong. When animals are dying at under a year of age on this diet- there is a problem.

To begin with- pellets are not "CRAP". They are specially balanced foods that make sure an animal gets all of the nutrition it needs to survive. I know of a rabbit living to be 19 on a pellet only diet, and I can show you several now over 8 years old. A good pellet keeps the rabbit in beautiful condition- which is why show breeders feed it. It's also why we're always checking condition on our animals- because if they AREN'T getting all they need from their food, we want to know about it as soon as possible so that we can rectify that.

TOO MANY FRUITS WILL MAKE YOUR RABBIT FAT AND HAVE DIARRHEA. I'm sorry, fruits are high in sugars. Fluffy does not NEED them. If you had never had chocolate, would you NEED it and CRAVE it? No. By the way, these are animals. It's not about what they WANT, it's about what is good for them. Dogs will gorge on food until they get sick- does that mean they should be allowed to do that? No! Same with rabbits- they should NOT be allowed to gorge on junk food. If the rabbit gets fat, cut back the food!

Just use common sense- if the rabbit is sick constantly, does that REALLY mean that the FVD is the best for it? Should you have to dose it daily with medication? Should it have to live such an uncomfortable existence, such as being covered in it's own liquid feces, with the skin red and irritated? All for what, by the way? Because someone who's owned a pet rabbit once or worked at an animal shelter once told you that's the only way the animal should live?

Who would you rather have- someone who's been a nurse and had practice taking care of people, or someone who saw a nurse from across the room once?

I fed fresh foods in moderation when I had my pet rabbit. REMEMBER!!! These are not wild rabbits. They can't handle eating old vegetables, or snacking on anything they can find. They are not exposed to the same conditions as wild rabbits. Oh and need I mention the lifespan of a wild rabbit?

If you are experienced in rabbit care, experienced in their dietary needs and KNOW how to mix it so that they get the correct amount of food, plus all the vitamins and minerals they need- then feed your animal the way you want to. However, if this is your first pet rabbit and you can't even tell if it's male or female, a lop or an up earred breed, and can't figure out how to clip it's nails.... well, do you really feel qualified to say you know more about rabbit diets than a team of specialists who work for a large corporation who only gets paid based on how well their product sells? If the rabbit food is crap, breeders won't buy it- and that company fails to thrive. So they have the best interest of the rabbits at heart- because dying rabbits means dying sales.


Ok, taking a break from my soapbox.
-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

It appears to be working!

Well, just a few days in to the all hay diet, I'm getting some extremely hateful looks from my does and bucks! The bucks have been reduced down to a half cup like they should have been getting all along. No more "That doesn't look like enough food"...... half cup! End of discussion!

I picked out the "skinniest" doe, by which I mean the least fatty fat and popped her in a cage with my most eager buck- and I'm THRILLED to say he caught her 3 times! She even lifted on her own! Could it be working already?! I hope so!

We've also been running the rabbitry lights longer.

The third round of breedings are due on the 16th. We'll see how that works out. I *think* one of the does is definitely pregnant! Fingers crossed.

My first show is soon- Mocksville on the 24th! Hooray! I can't wait and I'll have several woolies and several hollands available for purchase :). So if you're looking for anything, lemme know!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

The old college try

Well-Bluebelle had 3, tiny, DOA babies. Hey- at least she's started! I can't help but wonder if they were affected by the Ivomec any, but you know- SHE'S STARTED! That alone makes me happy. I plan on rebreeding her immediately, either to Forest, who she was bred to this time, or to Tryon, who I'd LOVE to get babies from. Maybe Tryon...hmm. Though I want babies from both! Ahh, I'm feeling greedy this morning lol.

I haven't checked on the other does yet. Mainly because it's cold outside and I'm still in my pjs. I'll update when I know if I have other cause for celebration.


I plan on putting my does on the "Hay Only" diet. They are going to get a TON of hay and hay only until they lose some of this fat. I overfeed (especially in the winter!) and I think that's effecting my baby results- especially since this ton was one of the "thinnest" ones (by which I mean, not mildly obese like the others lol).

I'm going to have some very angry bunnies on my hand soon. But hopefully, they'll be very angry pregnant bunnies!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Perhaps I spoke too soon?

Bluebelle, the wry neck doe who is 95% healed, is currently nesting in the living room! We placed her in a small solid bottom cage with a thick layer of hay and the poor girl is wandering around looking for a suitable nesting place. I don't think she'd really do well with a box right now, and the only cages we have available right now are tiny anyway.

I need to remember to remove her water bowl and give her a bottle- it would be my luck that she'd kindle right in the middle of it!

Fingers crossed for healthy babies, she's a first timer who's been medicated for a while. Shoot though, at this point I'll just be happy for anything!

Definitely gonna be bringing in some does to the warm, happy, bright house! It'll be hard choosing who to bring in, but I'll manage somehow.

I plan on writing about what I do when I get my most successful breedings and my views on the all "veggie" no pellet diets and the dangers of feeding this when you don't know what you're doing.

So, a few good topics coming up!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Duds

Five does due today- NO babies, no fur lined nests- just a lot of frustrations.

I'm getting irritated.

My first thought is "SELL THEM ALL". When I calm down some, my next thought is "I've got more due in a few days..."

Ugh, as the days tick by, we're getting closer and closer to Ohio. I wanted some nice juniors to show, it's looking like I won't have any worth taking- any I might get will still be babies!

I'm thinking I'll pick some of the larger carriers, pick the "most important" does, bring em in and keep them inside a few days, then try breeding- then bring them back in to stay a few more days before they go back outside. I am so frustrated right now!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Survey

Well, I took this from 4 Kings Rabbitry Blog :)

1. How did you deceide the name for your rabbitry?
Keep or Keepee is actually an old screen name I've used for years- and since on some non-rabbit-related websites, I've become known as "Keep", I thought "Keep's Rabbitry" was perfect :).

2. Youth or Open?
Open! I missed out on the joys of showing in youth competition, as I didn't become aware of showing until I was 20.

3. How long have you owned rabbits?
Hmmm, I've had pet rabbits all my life, at various different times :). I had a Babs, a Thumper, a Whiskers...then of course Scout the mixed breed who prompted me to buy the book "Rabbits for Dummies" which mentioned...RABBIT SHOWS!

4. What's the biggest win you've had so far(not that winning is everything!)?
Hmm- Best in Show :). Best Reserve was a biggie too, since it was at the NC State Convention :).

5. What's the most embarrassing or 'Ah Ha' moment with rasing rabbits?
Oh no, do I have to share that? Geez, maybe my mini lop buck that sprayed EVERYONE whenever he was put on the show table- and since it was 4 shows over 2 days...yeah... I still get teased about that one.

6. How did you decide what breed to raise?
Our first purebred rabbit was a holland, so we just kind of dropped in to those and I've been working on them ever since. With the woolies though- Shhhh, I thought woolies were UGLY when I first saw them. But I started talking to Lisa of Wooligans on a forum and she'd post these drop dead gorgeous rabbits- I knew I'd have to have some.

7. What is your current 'set up' and how many cages?
I've got about 45 holes right now. I don't really plan on going above that, but I hope to get a nice barn to put them in within the next few years!

8. What's your short term goal (now to June 2009)?
Hmm- GET SOME BABIES!

9. Long term goal?
I just want to make some beautiful animals and get some big wins :). ;)

10. Anything else we need to know?
Not really- we'll be moving around a lot, so it's always going to get my does stirred up, unfortunately.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Doe with head tilt

Well, the doe who had head tilt due to the weather is doing much better! She's still tilted, but rather being at a 90 degree angle, she's now around a 30 degree angle! Her balance has improved greatly as well!

I'm still not 100% sure if she's pregnant or not, because I was unable to palpate her due to the freak out following the one attempt I made (she ended up rolling along the ground trying to get away!)

My plan is to put her in a solid bottom cage with plenty of hay as a thick flooring. That way, if she does kindle, at least the babies can snuggle down in to the hay, if she's incapable of making a good nest to keep them warm. If she kindles and some of the other does kindle, I'll try to do a fostering, to keep the strain off poor Bluebelle.

Ahhh well, we'll worry about babies when and if she has them. Right now, I'm just thrilled to see improvement!

Check out my website to see my newest pet, Roni, (I pronounce it like Rice-a-RONI), who is featured as the homepage picture!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry