How should I feed my young male bunny for optimal health and growth?

It's correct that fiber is very important for rabbits. This is because they have a digestive system that is made for a high-fiber diet and can get a great deal of nutrients from fiber. For this reason, it's actually best to feed a pelleted diet that is high in fiber like Oxbow. Fruits and vegetables should be considered treats and limited and no more than 10% of their diet. High quality hay (timothy or brome are good choices) should be offered all the time. Grass and dark leafy greens should also be offered regularly. There is a lot of information about how to feed a rabbit out there and it can be difficult to know what's correct and what's not. Below is a link to a some good information that should answer all of your questions. I hope that helps and all is well with your bunnies.

For an adult rabbit the percentages should be 85-90% hay ( timothy, grass hay, oat hay and so on) up to 10% veggies and up to 5% fruits (no more than 1 oz. per 3 lbs. body weight). The rest can be given in pellets.

Pellets can predispose a rabbit to obesity. They may not provide the amount of fiber needed to maintain a healthy gut. You don't need to feed just produce. Ellie should be fed as much timothy hay, oat hay or similar grasses as she wants to eat. These grasses are relatively inexpensive. You can feed alfalfa until she is about 7 months old then discontinue feeding it. Supplement the diet with a cup or two of fresh, dark, leafy greens and vegetables daily. Up to 1/4 cup of commercial pellets can be offered daily.

I think this article will answer most of your nutrition questions. http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=18+1803&aid=1638 The only thing you need to limit as a rabbit reaches maturity is the pellets. They should make up less of the diet. She should be eating mostly hay and vegetables. Overfeeding pellets in mature rabbits can lead to obesity and other medical conditions. Hope this helps. After you read the article if you still have questions feel free to post again. Best wishes.

Thumper should definitely be eating hay by now. I'm not sure why the breeder would say that, but any healthy rabbit that age should be eating hay. Bunnies should start eating hay within three weeks of age and should eventually be eating grass and hay (good quality like timothy and brome) as the majority of their diet. Below is a link to some more helpful/good information about caring for your rabbit. https://www.chittendenhumane.org/files/galleries/Rabbit_information.pdf I hope that helps and all is well with Thumper.

Timothy hay is what they should be eating, timothy grass is the fresh form of timothy hay but it is less commonly used. Pellets and timothy hay are a very good combination, you can add some fresh veggies to their diet occasionally.

Oxbow has pellets and timothy hay in their product line. The majority of the diet should be timothy hay or similar grasses. Pellets should be limited to no more than a 1/2 cup daily. Alfalfa should not be offered after 7 months of age. Trim nails every 3-4 weeks if necessary. Your veterinarian can show you how initially. Teeth should be checked monthly. A yearly exam should include a dental exam and teeth trimming if indicated. Symptoms of overgrown teeth include decreased appetite, drooling, pawing at the mouth, swelling or discharge.