About the Netherland Dwarf
The Netherland Dwarf is one of the smallest rabbit breeds, with tiny calorie needs — so it's very easy to overfeed pellets and tip them into obesity. A typical adult weighs about 0.5–1.1 kg.
How much should a Netherland Dwarf 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 |
|---|---|
| 500 g | 62 kcal |
| 586 g | 70 kcal |
| 671 g | 78 kcal |
| 757 g | 85 kcal |
| 843 g | 92 kcal |
| 929 g | 99 kcal |
| 1.014 kg | 106 kcal |
| 1.1 kg | 113 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.
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).
Frequently asked questions
How much should I feed a Netherland Dwarf rabbit?
Only about 20-25 g of pellets a day for a ~1 kg dwarf, alongside unlimited hay and a small portion of greens. Their small size means pellets must be strictly measured.
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.