What's best for a rabbit.....?

[scoobysoo]

I know most of a rabbit's diet needs to be made up from hay, so what do you think is better:

1. Having straw as bedding, then adding a pile of hay every day to eat

2. Having hay as bedding, which they can eat whenever they like

I currently go with option 1, and hubby said "why don't you just use hay, then you wont have to worry about her not having enough"...but I don't think she'd eat her bedding that's been weed on!!

Any ideas please?

[doglady]

Having straw as bedding and adding hay. Especially if you put the hay in a hay-rack so it doesn't get weed on.

[coco pops]

Having hay as bedding can make your rabbit too hot

[scoobysoo]

Really? Didn't know that cocopops. Thank you both. I shall stick to straw for bedding, hay for eating then

[amonty1144]

I have shavings on the base of the cage, a hut thing that the rabbit sits on top and sleeps inside, hay as food. No straw at all.
The rabbit is happy and healthy

[cris r]

I agree with amonty, Hay and wood shavings are fine I would use straw in the winter for extra warmth Rabbits go to the toilet in the same corner of their hutch which is why it is easy to house train them Hay should be in a hay rack. The corner they use as a toilet should be cleaned every day

[lawsanass]

rabbits eat hay and straw. we fill up a ball of chicken wire (modified by us !) and fix it to the inside of the cage, a bit like horses have hay hanging in a stable. Lilly just pulls the food as she wants it.

[scoobysoo]

Lots of good ideas, thank you

[helen 13]

Rabbits need the hay for their teeth to help keep them short but i have had about 6 rabbits and some eat their hay some eat the straw some dont eat any the best advice i can give you is what does your rabbit like? straw or hay? if neither they need grass. they dont need rabbit food they need fruit and veg not to much wet veg like cucumber and do not give them lettuice as this is not good for them, it can kill them cabbage can make them smell real bad. they also need lots to chew on carrots, wood, etc. they do need alot of stimulation touching cuddles playing also. anotherthing that is useful to know is that rabbits can not be sick fur gathers inside them which can be a comon cause for death but about once a week put a small amount of pineapple juice in the watter and this will break down fur balls which a cat or dog would bring up but a rabbit cant. another thing is you can house train a rabbit like a cat or a dog et a litter tray for rabbits and as your rabbit does the toilet scoop it into the litter tray till it gets its smell in there this will take about a week or two depending on the age of the rabbit. as long as the litter tray is cleaned every two days once trained the rabbit will enjoy its home more and you will find out weather it prefers hay or straw. please get back to me if you need any more information .

[scoobysoo]

Wow, thanks Helen - lots for me to think about there