Do i change or not?

Hmm not sure really what to do.....about the food.

Both on excel lite at minute but not because they are tubby buns its what Flopsy and his last wifey were weaned onto as she was a greedy bun

Well Flopsy lost Jem earlier this year and he was that miserable my first priority was getting him another friend (though it was so hard for me to do and accept).

We got Flora and she was already on excel lite at rspca, that was easy bit

Well after reading threads about buns being on food for mature buns do i need to start Flopsy on this?

Its a hard one as he is 4 1/2 yet Flora is approx 2 year old.

They both seem fine on excel lite and Flopsy is in amazingly good health but just wondered about the pros and cons of mature food and when you have buns of different ages.

Any help greatly appreciated

I am by no means an expert on this topic but I would say if it's not broken, don't fix it

But let's see what everyone else thinks

Thanks Thumper

Was thinking that way myself.

Both bunnies fit and healthy though Flopsy has slowed down a bit

If they are both ok on it I wouldn't bother changing it , maybe when they get to be older buns you can change to the mature types then.

Thanks Maysie

I was thinking Flopsy was an older bun at 4 and 1/2

Josie wrote:Thanks Maysie

I was thinking Flopsy was an older bun at 4 and 1/2

I always think they are getting old when they turn 6-7.

I agree with above, if they are both healthy and happy them I would leave things as they are x

Bruce has just started to show signs of slowing and he is 7. It is only very marginal - he still binkies like mad in the morning but he is more sleepy in the afternoon and later in the evening. But he still gets up on the dining room table and off again no probs. I feed a mix of mature and light. I think this is really been carried over from the way I feed my guinea pigs. Piggies can be really fussy about changes in food and so I have always fed them a mix of foods so they will accept whatever I can buy them. Also I am one of those people who like to give the animals some variety, but by feeding a mix of pellet foods it means the selective feeding issue is not there. One of the reasons I started feeding mature food from when he was relatively young is because he has dental issues and I wanted to take advantage of the higher fibre no sugar benefits of the mature. But if you are not seeing the signs of slowing and you have no other concerns then there is probably no need to change. I think the age on the packet is somewhat of a red herring. For the giant buns 4+ is older than for the little buns like my Bruce.

Thanks all

Like someone said, if they are happy and healthy, I would leave them as they are.

I would agree, I give mine mature and normal, normally they have the normal but if i see a mature bag (seems to be not much stocked around here) I chuck it in the food bin too, and its all mixed together but to be honest i wouldnt worry about it, if they are healthy i would leave them as they are

What is the difference anyway? The vet suggested I gave my trio excel light as they were ever so slightly overweight. TBH I just feed them a little less of the regular stuff and make hay eating more interesting by putting it in more interesting places. Surely pellets are a complimentary food so the hay/ grass and greens are more important, so what does it matter?

Due to thumpers age, she has a delicate tummy and her main source of food now is pellets. Although, I do still give her a few veggies I know won't upset her tummy.

As far as I know, it's quite common for older rabbits to have to lay off the veggies.

Thumper also doesn't eat hay. Never has really, despite having a constant supply and trying endless brands.

Thumper2001 wrote:
As far as I know, it's quite common for older rabbits to have to lay off the veggies.

I'll have to store that bit of info away in the brain - I will go into shock if Bruce ever goes of his veg

cheryl'n'bruce'flo wrote:

Thumper2001 wrote:
As far as I know, it's quite common for older rabbits to have to lay off the veggies.

I'll have to store that bit of info away in the brain - I will go into shock if Bruce ever goes of his veg

There was definitely someone on here (sorry I forget who ) who said their rabbit went on a dry food only diet from 7 onwards.

It's not so much them going off it, it's just sometimes their stomachs can't take the veggies so well when they're older.

Of course, this won't always be the case

I purchased the excel mature for Lily as it has glucosamine I think in it and some herbs to help the urinary tract. The pellets were baby pellet size but she turned her nose up at it.

I feed my bunnies Tyson (8) on normal with a tiny bit of the mature but thats because Ive got a bag of it. I dont think I would otherwise.
Besides that Tysons girlies are only 2!

If you still want those benefits Karen try the selective. Mine hated the excel but love the selective.