What's wrong with alfalfa hay?

[she_skis]

Okay, I've heard so many different things and I'm really confused. I've read online that alfalfa hay is too high in calcium for rabbits, but rabbit owners and breeders I know in real life say it is fine. Pellets are made of alfalfa hay, so that confuses me even more.

Is there anyone out there who uses only alfalfa hay (with maybe a little bit of pellets or greens) that has never had any issues with their rabbits?

I believe in scientific evidence, not so much word of mouth. So if you have articles or whatever stating what to feed a rabbit, I'm interested in reading them.

Sorry I'm just trying to set the record straight in my head.

 

[alsea1]

I think the rabbit pellets are made with alfalfa but the ratios are properly balanced out. Calcium and phospherus and all that. Especially for rabbits.
I just give mine the beaver brand 18 percent protein pellets in the eve feed and grass hay in the morn. I don't like the idea of them having empy tummys all day and I think it helps keep things moving. Grass hay is pretty bland and safe I think.

I could be wrong but thats what I think.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

As far as I know alfalfa is fine for babies and pregnant mothers.

You *can* feed it to rabbits, but just not for a long time. It can cause kidney stones because of the high calcium. Granted that won't happen in a day or week.

Rabbit pellets are made out of it, but they have the rest of the nutrients added to balance out the calcium.

I do use alfalfa hay as a treat and to reduce the amount of pellets eaten, with lots of grass and greens and mostly pellets and my rabbits are fine. (Though I've never ultrasounded them to find out if they have kidney stones).

Hope this helps!

 

[alsea1]

I'm gonna guess if kidney stones are there you will find out pretty quick. I bet they are just as painful to bunnies as they are to people

 

[DianeS]

Alfalfa hay is just fine for rabbits to eat. The issue is that it isn't a *complete* feed for them. It needs other nutrients in order to provide a balanced diet, and if the diet isn't balanced then problems happen down the road (like kidney stones).

I don't know the chemistry well enough to balance a diet of just hays and grasses, myself. I'm sure it can be done, though - just not by me. So I feed mostly pellets, with hays, grasses, veggies, etc. No single item in excess so even if I'm unbalancing something I'm not doing it severely.