How can i make my rabbits lose a half pound or ,more before saturday at 2?

Question

i have 4h rabbits and they need to lose between 1/4 to 3/4 lbs. before saturday August 2nd.

Answer 1

Whatever you do, don't listen to Susan.  She has no idea what she is talking about.  The veggies will make your rabbit fat and not the pellets.  The pellets will only make your rabbit fat if you use a low quality pellet that is high in energy and has a high amount of corn in it.

A quarter pound you might be able to safely attain in that amount of time, but 1/2 to 3/4 of a pound is too much to lose in that amount of time and even in the long run it's not healthy to make your rabbit lose weight like that because normally you make them lose muscle instead of fat.

I would recommend cutting your rabbit's food off or at least cutting it in half between now and the show.  If you give pellets only give a small amount of pellets.  Your rabbits should only be on half rations at the fair anyhow.  If a rabbit is given full ration at the fair, they tend to want to go off of food when you get them back home.  When you feed half ration at the fair they are more likely to eat properly when you take them home.

Make sure you give your rabbit water still.  With the heat during summer, it is important that your rabbit gets the water it needs.  About a half hour to hour before the show you may want to pull the water away from your rabbit.  Once your rabbit is done showing, make sure to put the water back in for it.

A rabbit can lose about a quarter pound by reducing the amount of food in its stomach.  That's basically all you are trying to do.  For meat pens it is also a good idea to pull the feed away the night before.  Otherwise the meatpen will be pot-gutted and you will get docked points when they are judging meat pens.

Answer 2

There is no safe way to diet a rabbit. You could damage their GI tract.

Review diet http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/r...

I know 4Hers and breeders advocate fattening and poor quality pellets and no hay or veggies, which is fattening.

Limit the pellets slowly and start free feeding grass or oat hay, and introduce veggies.  

Answer 3

I am curious as to why the deadline...

But, how active are they?  Are you letting them out in the yard or house to play in the mornings and at dusk?  If not, make sure they are getting supervised play time.

Answer 4

The poor bloody b******s. Let the little rabbits be!

Answer 5

i previously showed bunnies. i dont know if its too late but for the future let them out in a pen occassionaly for them to hop. also dont feed as much

Answer 6

Have them run around your house, play with them, put them on a diet, and teach them to chase you This is how i do it.  

Answer 7

I don't think there's a safe way to loose much in less than 48 hours...1/4 maybe, but 3/4 is too much.

Answer 8

I reallly dont think its safe to try to make them lose weight in that time period. Just feed them less and you could shave them or make them go to the bathroom...

but whjy do they need to lose weight at that time?

Answer 9

Put them on a treadmill and dangle a carrot in front of their noses

Answer 10

It's to later to fix there diet now, with show rabbits that have a max weight, You should moniter there weight extra careful. but not starving them. feed them the right ounces of pellets for there size, and also include hay and veggies/fruit. But also makes sure your rabbits gets a lot of play, EVERY day.

Your going to have to wait till next year if you want rabbits that will fit the weight standard.

Answer 11

hi there!! to get them to lose pounds is to just feed them hay for a few days gave them as much hay as u can they will not put on with eatinf hay i had to put my lop on a hay diet its fine but only do it 3 days tops!! good luck!! are they off to a show??