Alfalfa

I was saying the other day that we don't feed Alfalfa and I have just found this while I was looking for something else on the internet.

http://www.cockadoodlemoo.org/animal_care_tips/rabbits/no_alfalfa_even_pellets_for.html

mmm very interesting that maysie i am now going to chec my ones ingredients

When we had Keegan he had calcium problems and we were told to not give him alfalfa as it was bad for him and we had to check everything he ate for alfalfa and products with calcium in. He was a sickly bunny he had so many things wrong with him but he was also the best bunny I have ever had.
I have sort of always remembered what our old vet said about alfalfa and we tend not to give the buns anything with it in, but that is our choice.

just checked the nuggies and no mention of it in them what foods do they tend to put it in

fiver wrote:just checked the nuggies and no mention of it in them what foods do they tend to put it in

It's the alfalfa cubes and hay cakes and treats we tend to not buy , I would think most rabbit pellets have a touch of alfalfa in them anyway.

Isn't the extra calcium good for baby bunnies though? That was my understanding. I'm confused

Thumper2001 wrote:Isn't the extra calcium good for baby bunnies though? That was my understanding. I'm confused

The link does say:

Our vet said alfalfa-based feed is OK for young rabbits, until about a year and a half, because they're growing so fast but that it should be discontinued for adult rabbits.

Whoops That's what I get for skimming it

Thanks Sparky

Am trying to remember the other word for alfalfa

I have a feeling it may be lucerne????

Certainly when I had trouble with excess caecotrophs I put it down to the alfalfa in the Excel and Science Selective pellets that I was using. I don't know if they have changed the make up of these since - but if you find lucerne listed I am sure that this is alfalfa.

I use Oxbow Bunny Basics/T pellets which are timothy hay based. I avoid anything with alfalfa in now.

Now I was going to bring this up as I'm pretty sure I read that it is in SS Selective pellets which I feed my pair and that Alfalfa isn't ideal for adult buns.

I have emailed supreme this evening to ask why their pellets are alfalfa based - out of curiosity not as to ask them to change. I will be interested to hear what they say. I have to say my primary concern when reading the labels is fibre content and then my secondary concern is to check there is no added sugars.

I always went by the fibre too, that's why I stuck with SSS and not once thought about Alfalfa until I saw it on the label.