How Much Should I Feed My Rabbit? Hay, Pellets & Vegetables by Weight
Proper rabbit nutrition follows a scientifically established ratio: 80% hay (always available, unlimited), 15% fresh vegetables, and 5% quality pellets. This calculator determines the exact daily portions for your rabbit based on weight and life stage — from 8-week kittens to senior rabbits — following House Rabbit Society (HRS) and WSAVA guidelines. All calculations run in your browser; no data is stored.
A 2 kg adult rabbit needs: unlimited grass hay (minimum 60 g/day), 200 g of fresh mixed vegetables, and 50 g of pellets per day (adult cap). Key rule: hay must make up 80% of the diet; pellets are a supplement capped at 50 g/day regardless of the rabbit's size. Kittens under 6 months: unlimited alfalfa pellets + alfalfa hay ad libitum.
When to use this calculator
- Calculate the exact daily hay, vegetable, and pellet portions for your Holland Lop adult at 2 kg: 60 g hay minimum (unlimited), 200 g mixed vegetables, and 50 g pellets.
- Adjust feeding for a 8-month Mini Lop (1.8 kg) transitioning from alfalfa to grass hay, with pellets at the 'young' rate of 36 g/day.
- Determine safe pellet limits for a senior Flemish Giant at 6 kg: 72 g/day capped at 40 g, with no fruit due to obesity risk.
- Plan diet for a pregnant 2.5 kg doe before kindling: no pellet cap (87 g), mixed alfalfa hay, and 375 g vegetables for extra calcium and protein.
Example: Adult Holland Lop, 2 kg
- Weight: 2 kg · Life stage: Adult (1–5 years)
- Grass hay (timothy/orchard): minimum 60 g/day, available 24/7
- Fresh vegetables: 2 kg × 100 g/kg = 200 g/day in two servings
- Pellets: 2 kg × 25 g/kg = 50 g/day (at the adult cap)
How it works
2 min readQuick Reference: How Much to Feed a Rabbit by Weight (Adults)
| Rabbit weight | Hay minimum/day | Vegetables/day | Pellets/day (adult) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 kg (Mini dwarf) | 15 g | 50 g | 12 g |
| 1 kg (Holland Dwarf) | 30 g | 100 g | 25 g |
| 1.5 kg (Mini Rex) | 45 g | 150 g | 37 g |
| 2 kg (Holland Lop) | 60 g | 200 g | 50 g |
| 3 kg (Rex) | 90 g | 300 g | 50 g |
| 4.5 kg (New Zealand) | 135 g | 450 g | 50 g |
| 6 kg (Flemish Giant) | 180 g | 600 g | 50 g |
| 8 kg (Large Flemish Giant) | 240 g | 800 g | 50 g |
Hay is always ad libitum — values are the daily minimum. Pellets are capped at 50 g/day for adults regardless of size.
How It's Calculated
Rabbit diet portions are based on body weight (BW) and life stage, following the House Rabbit Society feeding guidelines and BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Medicine:
# HAY (always available, unlimited)
Hay_minimum (g/day) = BW_kg × 30
Type: Grass hay (timothy, orchard, brome) → adults & seniors
Alfalfa → kittens, young (transition), pregnant/nursing
# FRESH VEGETABLES
Vegetables (g/day) = BW_kg × 100 → young & adults
Vegetables (g/day) = BW_kg × 150 → pregnant/nursing
Kittens: none until 12 weeks; introduce one vegetable at a time
# PELLETS (supplement only)
Stage | g/kg/day | Daily cap
Kitten | unlimited | none (alfalfa-based, high calcium)
Young | 20 g/kg | none (transitioning to grass-based)
Adult | 25 g/kg | max 50 g
Senior | 12 g/kg | max 40 g
Pregnant | 35 g/kg | none (extra protein demand)
# FRUIT (occasional treat, not daily)
Adult/Young: BW_kg × 2 g/week (maximum)
Senior: none (obesity and kidney risk)Life Stage Reference Table
| Stage | Main hay | Pellets | Vegetables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitten (0–6 m) | Alfalfa ad libitum | Unlimited | None (≥12 wk gradually) |
| Young (6–12 m) | Mixed alfalfa + grass | 20 g/kg | 100 g/kg |
| Adult (1–5 y) | Grass timothy/orchard | 25 g/kg, max 50 g | 100 g/kg |
| Senior (>5 y) | Grass, monitor teeth | 12 g/kg, max 40 g | 100 g/kg |
| Pregnant/nursing | Alfalfa + grass mix | 35 g/kg, no cap | 150 g/kg |
Why Hay Is the Most Important Food
Rabbit teeth grow continuously throughout life (incisors: 4–5 mm per week). Without extended chewing of long-fiber hay, teeth overgrow, causing malocclusion and dental spurs that cut the tongue and cheeks. The second critical role of hay is maintaining GI motility: long fiber stimulates intestinal peristalsis and prevents GI stasis — the leading cause of death in pet rabbits. If a rabbit stops eating for more than 12 hours → veterinary emergency.
Safe and Toxic Vegetables
Safe (vary daily): romaine lettuce, arugula, chicory, endive, carrot tops, celery, bell pepper, cucumber, parsley, cilantro, basil, mint, dill.
Toxic — never feed: onion, garlic, chives, leeks (destroy red blood cells); raw potato and tomato leaves; avocado; rhubarb; fruit pits; chocolate.
In moderation (not daily): spinach, beet greens (oxalates), carrots (high sugar — treat only), iceberg lettuce (causes diarrhea, no nutritional value).
Disclaimer: Results are guidelines only. For rabbits with dental disease, kidney problems, pregnancy complications, or unusual weight loss, always consult a rabbit-savvy exotic animal veterinarian.
Frequently asked questions
How much hay should I feed my rabbit daily?
Hay should be available 24/7 without restriction. The minimum guideline is 30 g per kg of body weight per day — a 2 kg rabbit needs at least 60 g. In practice, a healthy adult consumes 80–150 g of hay per day. Hay represents 80–85% of the total diet: it maintains dental wear and gut motility, and cannot be replaced by any other food.
How many pellets should I feed my adult rabbit?
25 g per kg of body weight, capped at 50 g per day regardless of size. A 2 kg rabbit: up to 50 g. A 6 kg Flemish Giant: still just 50 g. Pellets are a supplement, not the main food — choose grass-based pellets without seeds, dried fruit, or artificial colors (Oxbow, Burgess, Versele-Laga adult ranges). If your rabbit is overweight, reduce to 15 g/kg.
Are fresh vegetables required or optional?
Required for adults and young rabbits: 100 g per kg of body weight per day (a 2 kg rabbit needs 200 g daily). Offer a minimum of 3–5 different vegetables per day. Recommended mix: 60–70% dark leafy greens (arugula, romaine, chicory), 20–30% other vegetables (bell pepper, celery, cucumber), 10% herbs (parsley, cilantro, basil). Introduce new vegetables one at a time every 3–5 days.
Why can't adult rabbits eat alfalfa hay as their main hay?
Alfalfa has very high calcium (1.2–1.5%) and protein (15–22%), which is ideal for growing kittens and pregnant/nursing does. In healthy adult rabbits, alfalfa causes: excess calcium in urine (bladder sludge and urinary stones), weight gain from higher caloric density, and long-term kidney damage. Transition from alfalfa to grass hay (timothy, orchard, brome) between 7 and 12 months of age, mixing gradually over several weeks.
What fruits can rabbits eat and how much?
Maximum 2 g per kg body weight per week as a treat (not daily). A 2 kg rabbit: ~4 g/week, about 2 thin apple slices (seedless). Safe fruits in small amounts: apple (no seeds), pear, strawberry, blueberries, papaya. Commercial treats with yogurt, honey, seeds or grains are prohibited: they cause gut dysbiosis, obesity, and dental problems. Give no fruit to senior rabbits.
My rabbit stopped eating and has no droppings — what do I do?
Veterinary emergency: if more than 12 hours have passed with no droppings, suspect GI stasis — the leading cause of death in pet rabbits. While getting to an exotic vet: offer fresh hay, warm water, gentle circular abdominal massage, and Oxbow Critical Care if available (2–3 mL/kg every 2–3 hours). Do not give baking soda, milk, soda, or human medication. Common triggers: insufficient hay, stress, dental pain, sudden diet change, heat.
How many times a day should I feed my rabbit?
Hay: 24/7, always available. Pellets: once a day (morning or evening), removing any uneaten portion after 30 minutes. Vegetables: 1–2 servings (morning and afternoon), each about the size of the rabbit's head. Water: always clean and abundant (rabbits drink 50–150 mL/kg/day). Rabbits graze 60–80 times a day in small nibbles — very different from dogs or cats.
Do rabbits need vitamin or calcium supplements?
No, if the diet is correct. Hay + vegetables + balanced pellets cover all nutritional needs. Rabbits synthesize vitamin C endogenously (unlike guinea pigs, so no supplement needed). Vitamin D comes from 10–15 minutes of filtered sunlight daily. Never add calcium supplements to an adult rabbit's diet — excess calcium is a major cause of urinary stones. The only exception: post-surgery or severe dental disease rabbits may need temporary Critical Care formula, as directed by a vet.
What's different between a dwarf rabbit diet and a giant breed?
The per-kg formula is the same for all breeds, but total amounts vary dramatically: a 1 kg Dutch dwarf needs 30 g hay, 100 g vegetables, and 25 g pellets; an 8 kg Flemish Giant needs 240 g hay, 800 g vegetables, but still only 50 g pellets (adult cap). Giant breeds also take longer to reach maturity (12–18 months vs 6 months for dwarfs), extending the period of unlimited pellets.