About feeding a rabbit
Rabbits are hindgut-fermenting herbivores with a digestive system built to process fibre almost constantly. The most important 'feeding' decision for a rabbit isn't pellets at all — it's making sure unlimited grass hay is always available.
How much should a rabbit eat?
Calorie needs use the veterinary formula 70 × weight(kg)0.75 (the Resting Energy Requirement), multiplied by a lifestyle factor of ×1.5 for a typical rabbit at the life stage shown. Enter your own animal's details in the calculator for an exact figure.
| Body weight | Daily calories |
|---|---|
| 1 kg | 105 kcal |
| 1.571 kg | 147 kcal |
| 2.143 kg | 186 kcal |
| 2.714 kg | 222 kcal |
| 3.286 kg | 256 kcal |
| 3.857 kg | 289 kcal |
| 4.429 kg | 321 kcal |
| 5 kg | 351 kcal |
What to feed
A rabbit's diet should be roughly 80-90% grass hay (timothy, orchard, meadow), a daily portion of leafy greens, and only a small measured amount of pellets. Muesli-style mixes should be avoided — rabbits selectively eat the sugary bits and leave the fibre, causing dental disease and gut stasis.
How often to feed
Hay is offered free-choice, topped up throughout the day. Pellets and greens are given in one or two measured servings. A rabbit that stops eating for 12 hours is a medical emergency (gut stasis).
Common feeding mistakes
- Feeding unlimited pellets instead of unlimited hay — the classic cause of obese, sludgy-bladdered rabbits.
- Offering muesli mixes that let the rabbit pick out the fattening parts.
- Too much fruit or carrot — these are high-sugar treats, not staples.
- Sudden diet changes, which disrupt the delicate gut flora.
Weight & health
Obesity in rabbits causes sore hocks, an inability to reach the caecotrophs they need to re-ingest, and dental problems from too little chewing. Hay-first feeding keeps teeth worn down and guts moving.
Frequently asked questions
How many pellets should I feed my rabbit?
A rough guide is 25 g of quality pellets per kg of body weight per day — so about 50 g for a 2 kg rabbit — alongside unlimited hay. Growing rabbits under six months can have more, plus alfalfa hay.
How much hay does a rabbit need?
Unlimited. Hay should make up 80-90% of the diet and be available at all times; a rabbit should eat a body-sized pile of hay every day to keep teeth and gut healthy.
What vegetables can rabbits eat daily?
Leafy greens like romaine, cilantro, basil, and spring greens — roughly one packed cup per 2 kg of rabbit per day. Introduce new greens slowly and avoid iceberg lettuce.
Can rabbits eat carrots every day?
No. Despite the cartoons, carrots are high in sugar and should be an occasional treat, not a daily food. Overfeeding sugary veg and fruit leads to obesity and gut upset.