Any Rabbit advice ?

Mice_Elf

Was just wondering if anyone had a name or a link to a supplier of bulk inexpensive rabbit food.

We have 3 rabbits and they get through a 15kg bag every 2 weeks or so. They have a charmed life with plenty of room to move (they have a 1/3 o our garden as their run! We even built them a small patio to put the hutch on and to give them some dry ground as the bottom of the garden does become quite boggy in rainy times). They do eat the grass in the run, but get through a bowl of rabbit food every day.

Currently we buy the 15kg bag from Pets at Home for £7.99 which is great value except there isn't really a PaH near to us, so it's either a special journey or we top up from Tesco / village shop until we're over that way.

I have looked online, but while I can find cheaper bulk rabbit food, the postage / delivery costs are astronomical.

Ideally I'd like to bulk buy Rabbit food, hay, straw, sawdust and possibly cat food as well. (4 cats).

Can anyone recommend anywhere?

I'll stop waffling now!

lil_me

Do you have a local pet shop that isn't part of a chain like PaH is ?

I have one a few miles away who orders everything I need in for me, can get the pet foods in bulk and will drop it off if I need her to. Aswell as being a reasonable price, it's there exactly when I order it for and supports local traders.

you_wicked_gay

As lil_me said, if you have a local pet shop close to you, call in and see if they can hook you up with delivery of bulk bags. I get 12.5kg bags of bakers puppy dry complete from my pet store - they deliver it to my front door for me

Also - if you're not looking to spend much, i noticed today that Poundworld in my town has started selling fairly large bags of rabbit/hamster/guineapig food.

Mice_Elf

I live in a tiny tiny village, so there's nothing around here at all. There is a pet shop, well an aquarium shop about 12 miles away that does do cat & dog food, but it's in a totally different direction to everywhere that we currently go.

They might deliver though....I shall try to get over there one day and ask them.

Thank you!

niceblokejohn

It's worth looking at getting them a standard pellet food if they're not already on one. The PAH food sounds like the multi-coloured flakes, which they eat selectively and therefore don't get as much good stuff as they need, and it doesn't help their teeth so can cost more in the long run when they have problems.

Try something like SupaRabbit - although change their diet over slowly, not all at once, or it will upset their stomachs.

tiamai_d

niceblokejohn wrote: »

It's worth looking at getting them a standard pellet food if they're not already on one. The PAH food sounds like the multi-coloured flakes, which they eat selectively and therefore don't get as much good stuff as they need, and it doesn't help their teeth so can cost more in the long run when they have problems.

Try something like SupaRabbit - although change their diet over slowly, not all at once, or it will upset their stomachs.

PAH rabbit food comes in the musli type or the nugget type.

and it is Burges (who make supa rabbit) who make it.

Some people feed horse food to rabbits. It is cheap (£8.00 for a 30kg bag of pasture mix) but I have reservations as to whether it is any good for them.

You can try to bulk it out with extra hay. Hay for horses is not suitable though as it will have mites, while horses don't mind the mites, the rabbits will!

Also, if your feeding the nuggets, check how much you actually need to feed them, most people waste money because they are over-feeding.

helping_hubby

I've been trying to find a registered pet sitting company that will look after my rabbits (house visits) while I'm away but I'm really struggling.

All the ones I've contacted so far in Surrey don't cover my area. I've been recommended dogsit.com, but I have to register and pay £10 just to access the list.

Any other ideas? I'm yet to try the yellow pages at home (I keep forgetting about old fashioned methods).

walwin

Have you looked on the notice board at your vets or local pet shop?

What about putting a notice on there, although if you need one quickly, might take too long to get a response.

Good Luck

duchy

Try asking around vets, pet shops, feed shops, animal shelters etc. Also check out your local libarary for a local rabbit keepers club (they hold lists of all local clubs and societies). Some catteries also take rabbits if all else fails but I'm sure you'll find someone by asking in the right rabbitty circles

scat

Do you not have access to a responsible teenager? Would have thought it the perfect thing to ask a neighbours older child to do as they could earn a bit of easy money. Most kids I know would take the responsibility very seriously and probably care for your rabbits far better than any money making organisation.

borderlakland

same as above post really we have a friend of my dd who comes in and looks after all our many animals like guinea pigs rats etc.she has a key and she knows where all the food is etc.we gave her my mum(who only lives 10 mins away)phone no in case of any probs. she is 13 and v responsible.she likes doing it and earns herself some pocket money.