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| I think Mom will knock them into the next aisle. |
Please stay healthy.
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Monday, October 28, 2019
Monday, February 18, 2019
Monday, October 1, 2018
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Ethel bossing her bowl around
This is the bowl in which the bunnies get their dried willow leaves.
It was empty.
Ethel does not like empty.
She has taken to bossing their food dishes around; we will find them shoved under the ramp to their castle tower or in their tunnel. She will turn it over and sometimes eat the little bits that come out from the bottom of the bowl. Then she'll flip it back over and see if there is anything she missed, or if more has magically appeared.
It was empty.
Ethel does not like empty.
She has taken to bossing their food dishes around; we will find them shoved under the ramp to their castle tower or in their tunnel. She will turn it over and sometimes eat the little bits that come out from the bottom of the bowl. Then she'll flip it back over and see if there is anything she missed, or if more has magically appeared.
Friday, November 18, 2016
Hay is a necessity for bunnies
Bunnies should have access to unlimited hay 24/7, along with clean fresh water. Primarily, Bunya and Ethel eat Timothy hay; we get the first and second cut from Small Pet Select. To change things up, we get them a variety of "treat" hays (but not alfalfa - they are way too old for that).
[Disclosure: Rabbit Ramblings, its bunnies and its humans have no ownership or financial interest in Small Pet Select.]
We just got a new cut of hay, Small Pet Select's "third cut". To see if the bunnies liked it, I put it in its own bowl. It was a bedtime treat.
What I found the next morning:
I formed a hypothesis that... just maybe, perhaps, it could be... they liked this new "flavor".
And to test this hypothesis, filled the bowl up again.
Then add bunnies. (Actually, they added themselves as soon as I put it down).
Of course, silly human that I am, I put the best pieces of hay in the bottom of the bowl, so they had to fluff it up to access those. (Will have to develop another study sometime, to see what makes that perfect piece of hay.)
Here's video of bunnies eating hay. Watch as much as you want - it doesn't change much:
select piece of hay, chew it, select another.
For more on bunny diet, see the post What is a treat?
[Disclosure: Rabbit Ramblings, its bunnies and its humans have no ownership or financial interest in Small Pet Select.]
We just got a new cut of hay, Small Pet Select's "third cut". To see if the bunnies liked it, I put it in its own bowl. It was a bedtime treat.
 |
| "Before" |
What I found the next morning:
 |
| "After" |
I formed a hypothesis that... just maybe, perhaps, it could be... they liked this new "flavor".
And to test this hypothesis, filled the bowl up again.
Then add bunnies. (Actually, they added themselves as soon as I put it down).
Of course, silly human that I am, I put the best pieces of hay in the bottom of the bowl, so they had to fluff it up to access those. (Will have to develop another study sometime, to see what makes that perfect piece of hay.)
Here's video of bunnies eating hay. Watch as much as you want - it doesn't change much:
select piece of hay, chew it, select another.
For more on bunny diet, see the post What is a treat?
Monday, October 10, 2016
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Ethel sneaking food pellets
Since Bunya is off bunny pellets for now, Ethel can also be deprived. Ethel and I have developed a little scheme... when Bunya's not in the kitchen but I am, she will sneak in and wait for pellets.
So, basically, I suppose you could say Ethel trained me to give her pellets when Bunya's not around. She sits on the floor and stares at me until I remember. This is her big blue-eyed "what took you so long" look.
So, basically, I suppose you could say Ethel trained me to give her pellets when Bunya's not around. She sits on the floor and stares at me until I remember. This is her big blue-eyed "what took you so long" look.
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| Bunya hanging out elsewhere (in the hay cube box) |
Thursday, January 8, 2015
One day in the bunny pen
We (majorly) clean the bunny pen once a week, usually on Sunday morning. To accomplish this, we empty all their bowls, toys, boxes, tunnels, castles and tubes... so we can vacuum.
This time, the first thing back in the empty pen was their clean food dish, including food.
The second thing back in the pen was the bunnies.
P.S. Here's what their pen looks like with their stuff in it. Or some of their stuff. A lot of other stuff is in the areas they run around in. Even though the gate is open, they often hang out in the pen, like Lucy & Ethel are doing here.
This time, the first thing back in the empty pen was their clean food dish, including food.
The second thing back in the pen was the bunnies.
Eating is an activity pursued with great focus.
And enthusiasm. And wiggly noses....
P.S. Here's what their pen looks like with their stuff in it. Or some of their stuff. A lot of other stuff is in the areas they run around in. Even though the gate is open, they often hang out in the pen, like Lucy & Ethel are doing here.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Bunny food taste test
Well, we put the bunnies' usual crumbles in one bowl and the Small Pet Select ("SPS") in the other. Now, maybe they were happy for a change, but the bunnies are gathered around the SPS bowl. Whenever we use the SPS pellets, those disappear first.
They have also polished off a box of Timothy hay from SPS. About 10 pounds worth.
So, bunny approved.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Small Pet Select donation program
Here is a way for you to get bunny supplies and have 10% of your order donated to help rescue bunnies!
The coupon code for the Georgia House Rabbit Society is GHRS. When you use that coupon code, you get free shipping plus 10% will be donated to GHRS on every sale that uses this coupon code. The coupon code can be used again and again -- there is no limit.
This picture/link will be in the right-hand column whenever you need to re-order:
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| Click here to go to Small Pet Select |
The first time you order, you may want to use the coupon code GHRSRING -- you get a free bunny wrap ring plus 10% of the sale will be donated to GHRS. This coupon code is only good for one use per person. After that, every time you reorder, please use the coupon code GHRS to have 10% of your order donated to GHRS. Thank you!
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Bunny Butt Cake recipe for Easter
Theses are the type bunnies you should have for the kids for Easter, NOT live ones. Get chocolate or stuffed bunnies for Easter. Or make your own...
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| Recipe is here |
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Bunny bedtime bedlam
When it's the bunnies bedtime (or when we otherwise want them in their pen), we grab some of their Oxbow Bunny Basics/T pellets, add a few Exact as a treat and plop it in their food dishes.
As soon as they know what's happening (basically, as soon as we head for the food and treat jars), bunny bedtime bedlam ensues. For grins, we decided to capture an episode for video posterity.
The video starts before any human heads for the food/treats. They come toward the camera in case I have pocketed some treats to give them through the fence ... Bunya is first in line, of course.
About 10 seconds in, they pick up on what's happening. Bunya and Lucy turn - Lucy takes off and Bunya's chasing her. Not to be left out, Ethel joins the parade.
When Bunya and Lucy start their second lap, Ethel veers off to the left and runs through their big white tube, just for a little variation. Then Lucy and Bunya run outside the pen to get closer to the treats and to join that parade back to the pen.
Once the food/treats are in their bowl, they form a perfect little Bunmuda Triangle. For a second or two. Then skittish Lucy jumps back; Bunya must have tossed her a look. Ethel jumps back, too, in case of danger she didn't see (video stops but the girls get more).
And Bunya just keeps on peacefully munching. Usually, we spread this between the two bowls and everyone can graze. Then lights out, goodnight bunnies, and see you tomorrow.
Every night, the same Three Stooges chase.
Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk.
As soon as they know what's happening (basically, as soon as we head for the food and treat jars), bunny bedtime bedlam ensues. For grins, we decided to capture an episode for video posterity.
The video starts before any human heads for the food/treats. They come toward the camera in case I have pocketed some treats to give them through the fence ... Bunya is first in line, of course.
About 10 seconds in, they pick up on what's happening. Bunya and Lucy turn - Lucy takes off and Bunya's chasing her. Not to be left out, Ethel joins the parade.
When Bunya and Lucy start their second lap, Ethel veers off to the left and runs through their big white tube, just for a little variation. Then Lucy and Bunya run outside the pen to get closer to the treats and to join that parade back to the pen.
Once the food/treats are in their bowl, they form a perfect little Bunmuda Triangle. For a second or two. Then skittish Lucy jumps back; Bunya must have tossed her a look. Ethel jumps back, too, in case of danger she didn't see (video stops but the girls get more).
And Bunya just keeps on peacefully munching. Usually, we spread this between the two bowls and everyone can graze. Then lights out, goodnight bunnies, and see you tomorrow.
Every night, the same Three Stooges chase.
Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Bunny care: What is a treat?
Telephone cords.
Well, no, that's another story: bunny proofing.
Let's briefly cover what is food and what is not.
Hay - This is the bulk of a bunny's diet, like 80-85%+. Our trio gets mainly Timothy hay or Western Timothy supplemented by a variety of "treat" hays: orchard grass, botanical hay, oat hay, and so on. ("Treat" hay is our term, mainly because they come in smaller bags than Timothy hay, which can be huge.)
Caveat: Alfalfa is for some young buns and should otherwise be very limited (we don't buy it at all).
Selected greens - in limited quantities - give bunnies more vitamins and nutrients. Examples include lettuce (NOT iceberg), parsley, cilantro, carrot TOPS, basil, clover, endive and wheat grass.
Certain vegetables should be very limited - those that might negatively impact the bunnies complex and sensitive digestive system, for example: kale, collards, mustard greens, spinach and broccoli leaves/stems. If a fruit or vegetable is considered "gassy" or "binding", think small amounts or none.
Pellets - Oxbow Bunny Basics/T is recommended by our vet and GHRS. How much depends on weight. If the bunny is under a year old, there is a "baby" version of pellets.
Water is also very important. Your bun should have access to a clean fresh bowl of water 24/7. The same with hay. Read this post to find out a way to get your buns to ingest more water.
While discussing feeding your bunnies, it is worth noting that it is good to feed them twice a day. Whatever is the right amount of food for their age and weight, divide by two. This helps them keep the digestive system going. (Not applicable to hay - that's the other 7/24 food, always available).
So, now that we covered a little basic bunny diet, WHAT IS A TREAT?
Other than speaker wires and phone cords.
Exact - We were advised that this multicolored pet food is not a good basic pellet BUT it s fine as a treat. The bunnies think it's special and react that way.
Probios - The ones for horses. It comes in apple and peppermint flavors. Our bunnies range between 3-5 pounds so a whole cookie is too much. They end up with maybe about half a cookie a day in total. It is good for their digestive systems and they LOVE it.
Papaya - Purchased from our HRS chapter Hop Shop (no sulfur, low sugar). Another treat they LOVE. In fact, this is one way we assess whether our bunnies are sick - if they will not come and eat either a Probios or a papaya piece, something is wrong. The papaya we get from the Hop Shop are diced into little tiny cubes about 1 cm per side.
Hay cubes - Compressed Timothy hay. They love to nibble on them. We toss them in a box they can hop into, but they sometimes carry them off to eat. You will know where by the little puddle of green "sawdust". Stepping barefoot on a hay cube is a little less painful than stepping on a Lego (that's why we try to get the bunnies to enjoy them in a dedicated purpose box).
Carrots - Are like doughnuts are to a human. So ignore Bugs Bunny and only give them a little, like the size of your small fingernail. The green tops - a different story; the bunnies love them and that part can be a part of their regular greens rotation.
Fresh fruit - The bunny is small and it's unhealthy for them to pack on the pounds, so think small portions (a piece about pinkie fingernail size). Our bunnies like: pineapple, blueberry, apple, banana, grapes, melon, peach, pear, strawberries ...
DANGEROUS TREATS
Unfortunately, some pet food companies sell treats that are bad for bunnies; one of the little furries on the package may be a bunny. When we first had Bunya, we gave him those and he loved them, but we stopped once we learned better. Avoid the ones with seeds and yogurt; the chart above has a little list of never foods for bunnies (little longer list below).
ABSOLUTELY NO - THE NEVER FOODS:
Bread, Cabbage, Chocolate, Cookies, Crackers, Cereals, Corn, Nuts, Onion, Pasta, Raw potato or skin, Rhubarb, Seeds, Sugary treats,Yogurt drops, Human snack foods - don't share them with your bunnies.
So, there are plenty of treat alternatives for bunnies. Just keep in mind an overall "how many treats have I given my bunny today?" limit. Wish I could do the same for me.
Great bunny care advice is on the GHRS website, including a section on "Your Rabbit's Diet".
Well, no, that's another story: bunny proofing.
Let's briefly cover what is food and what is not.
Hay - This is the bulk of a bunny's diet, like 80-85%+. Our trio gets mainly Timothy hay or Western Timothy supplemented by a variety of "treat" hays: orchard grass, botanical hay, oat hay, and so on. ("Treat" hay is our term, mainly because they come in smaller bags than Timothy hay, which can be huge.)
Caveat: Alfalfa is for some young buns and should otherwise be very limited (we don't buy it at all).
 |
| "Treat" hays |
Selected greens - in limited quantities - give bunnies more vitamins and nutrients. Examples include lettuce (NOT iceberg), parsley, cilantro, carrot TOPS, basil, clover, endive and wheat grass.
Certain vegetables should be very limited - those that might negatively impact the bunnies complex and sensitive digestive system, for example: kale, collards, mustard greens, spinach and broccoli leaves/stems. If a fruit or vegetable is considered "gassy" or "binding", think small amounts or none.
Pellets - Oxbow Bunny Basics/T is recommended by our vet and GHRS. How much depends on weight. If the bunny is under a year old, there is a "baby" version of pellets.
 |
| Pellets - Oxbow Bunny Basics/T |
Water is also very important. Your bun should have access to a clean fresh bowl of water 24/7. The same with hay. Read this post to find out a way to get your buns to ingest more water.
While discussing feeding your bunnies, it is worth noting that it is good to feed them twice a day. Whatever is the right amount of food for their age and weight, divide by two. This helps them keep the digestive system going. (Not applicable to hay - that's the other 7/24 food, always available).
So, now that we covered a little basic bunny diet, WHAT IS A TREAT?
Other than speaker wires and phone cords.
Exact - We were advised that this multicolored pet food is not a good basic pellet BUT it s fine as a treat. The bunnies think it's special and react that way.
 |
| Use as a treat (not the pellet part of the diet) |
Probios - The ones for horses. It comes in apple and peppermint flavors. Our bunnies range between 3-5 pounds so a whole cookie is too much. They end up with maybe about half a cookie a day in total. It is good for their digestive systems and they LOVE it.
 |
| Whoever finishes his/her piece first tries to snatch some away from the others. They LOVE it. |
Papaya - Purchased from our HRS chapter Hop Shop (no sulfur, low sugar). Another treat they LOVE. In fact, this is one way we assess whether our bunnies are sick - if they will not come and eat either a Probios or a papaya piece, something is wrong. The papaya we get from the Hop Shop are diced into little tiny cubes about 1 cm per side.
Hay cubes - Compressed Timothy hay. They love to nibble on them. We toss them in a box they can hop into, but they sometimes carry them off to eat. You will know where by the little puddle of green "sawdust". Stepping barefoot on a hay cube is a little less painful than stepping on a Lego (that's why we try to get the bunnies to enjoy them in a dedicated purpose box).
 |
| Hay cubes - of Timothy hay |
Carrots - Are like doughnuts are to a human. So ignore Bugs Bunny and only give them a little, like the size of your small fingernail. The green tops - a different story; the bunnies love them and that part can be a part of their regular greens rotation.
Fresh fruit - The bunny is small and it's unhealthy for them to pack on the pounds, so think small portions (a piece about pinkie fingernail size). Our bunnies like: pineapple, blueberry, apple, banana, grapes, melon, peach, pear, strawberries ...
DANGEROUS TREATS
Unfortunately, some pet food companies sell treats that are bad for bunnies; one of the little furries on the package may be a bunny. When we first had Bunya, we gave him those and he loved them, but we stopped once we learned better. Avoid the ones with seeds and yogurt; the chart above has a little list of never foods for bunnies (little longer list below).
ABSOLUTELY NO - THE NEVER FOODS:
Bread, Cabbage, Chocolate, Cookies, Crackers, Cereals, Corn, Nuts, Onion, Pasta, Raw potato or skin, Rhubarb, Seeds, Sugary treats,Yogurt drops, Human snack foods - don't share them with your bunnies.
 |
| (Came across this in 2016) |
So, there are plenty of treat alternatives for bunnies. Just keep in mind an overall "how many treats have I given my bunny today?" limit. Wish I could do the same for me.
Great bunny care advice is on the GHRS website, including a section on "Your Rabbit's Diet".
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
What makes that perfect piece of hay?
Often wondered, what makes that special piece of hay that the bunnies go after?
Lucy really likes our home-made hay server. Of course, it's atop a litter box, since efficient little bunnies often like to eat and poop at the same time. All of them, especially Lucy, will work on one of the holes that has the flavor she wants. She will eat a little cave into the container of hay, to get the ones she's after.
One of these days, we will have to conduct a hay taste test.
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| In a fresh littler box, Bunya, buries his face under a pile of 5 or 6 different kinds of hay to find that one perfect piece that Paul Masson would bless. |
Lucy really likes our home-made hay server. Of course, it's atop a litter box, since efficient little bunnies often like to eat and poop at the same time. All of them, especially Lucy, will work on one of the holes that has the flavor she wants. She will eat a little cave into the container of hay, to get the ones she's after.
One of these days, we will have to conduct a hay taste test.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
A fun Easter post
Awww, c'mon people ...
Anyway, to make rabbity things yourself for the holiday, check out this recent crafty post.
To bake rabbity breads for the holiday, check out this post: The way bunnies roll.
To fold napkins like bunnies, check this post (and other link to which it refers).
Please send the Facebook link to your bunny loving friends.
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| Easter bunny that poops jelly beans. Guess that's better than pooping raisins. |
Anyway, to make rabbity things yourself for the holiday, check out this recent crafty post.
To bake rabbity breads for the holiday, check out this post: The way bunnies roll.
To fold napkins like bunnies, check this post (and other link to which it refers).
~ REMINDER ~
Please "Like" the Rabbit Ramblings Facebook page by 03-31-2013 to raise funds for the Georgia House Rabbit Society to buy the bunnies' shelter home (explained here).Please send the Facebook link to your bunny loving friends.
Thank you!
Friday, March 1, 2013
The way bunnies roll
Well, bunnies "roll" in several different ways, apparently ...
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| Bunny bread |
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| Bunny cinnamon rolls (Cinnabunnies) |
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| Bunny buns(Use frozen or homemade bread dough, form your rolls, snip and lift/shape the ears during rising and carve the eyes once baked) |
Update - Comment from Cindy:
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| Step by step instructions are here! |
See - you have to read the comments!
This one was so cute and on target, I didn't want you to miss it.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Bunny juice
No! Not juice made from bunnies. (You people ... really!)
Juice made for bunnies.
Sleepless nights and infomercials are a dangerous combination. But that's just my suspicion. For whatever reason, Dr. Mrs. Bunnymom got a juicer (it has more parts than a nuclear power plant).
Bunya, always willing to be first in line where food is concerned, dove right in.
Then he sat back on his haunches
and cleaned his face ... very cute.
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| Ethel really liked it. We took it away so there was no overload on this new treat. |
For a minute there,
it looked like we had
four bunnies running for the bunny juice.
Just to be clear, this was treated as a "treat". It was a very small quantity composed of organic fruits and vegetables that bunnies are otherwise allowed to eat (e.g., carrot and apple).
Does your bunny (or other pet) have a favorite treat?
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Bunnies munch a box o' grass
Grass is one of the bunnies' favorite treats.
They have different chewing styles. Bunya is a bottoms-up grazer. Lucy is more top-down. Ethel, well, sweet little Ethel is just all over the place.
It is easier to notice when the treat box is a little further along. Bunya's portion is clear-cut, practically down to the dirt. Lucy has an even growth of stubble, about a half inch high. Ethel's section is like a little city skyline, just all over the place ... some short, some taller than Lucy's section. Lucy & Ethel's patches look like they might have a chance to grow back with a little water and sunshine. Bunya's ... not so much.
In this clip, they get a brand new box. Lucy is the first to spot it and starts right in. With a short "kissy" noise, Bunya knows there's a treat to be had and hops out for his share. He doesn't need to be told twice. Ethel follows. They graze until the box is taken away, so they have some for next time.
Yeah, I know it's too long, but there are some things about bunny activities that are almost Zen-like. I find it peaceful to watch some of the things they do. They concentrate, persisting at their "task", making no sound (other than the air filter) and with a sense of purpose. I think it lowers my heart rate and blood pressure.
And I can use as much of that as I can get.
They have different chewing styles. Bunya is a bottoms-up grazer. Lucy is more top-down. Ethel, well, sweet little Ethel is just all over the place.
It is easier to notice when the treat box is a little further along. Bunya's portion is clear-cut, practically down to the dirt. Lucy has an even growth of stubble, about a half inch high. Ethel's section is like a little city skyline, just all over the place ... some short, some taller than Lucy's section. Lucy & Ethel's patches look like they might have a chance to grow back with a little water and sunshine. Bunya's ... not so much.
In this clip, they get a brand new box. Lucy is the first to spot it and starts right in. With a short "kissy" noise, Bunya knows there's a treat to be had and hops out for his share. He doesn't need to be told twice. Ethel follows. They graze until the box is taken away, so they have some for next time.
Yeah, I know it's too long, but there are some things about bunny activities that are almost Zen-like. I find it peaceful to watch some of the things they do. They concentrate, persisting at their "task", making no sound (other than the air filter) and with a sense of purpose. I think it lowers my heart rate and blood pressure.
And I can use as much of that as I can get.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Bunnydom activities of daily living - 1
This week, RR will try to explore the Activities of Daily Living for bunnies. Won't hit them all in a single week, but we'll see what we can do.
#1: Eating
#1: Eating
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| Sharing a bowl of crumbles (FYI, Oxbow Bunny Basics/T, as recommended by vet & GHRS) |
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| Sharing a plate of greens. This one includes fresh carrot tops (not the comedian) - one of this trio's absolute favorites! |
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