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Rabbit Nutrition: Diet Requirements and Feeding Rabbits at Different Life Stages

Rabbit Nutrition: Diet Requirements and Feeding Rabbits at Different Life Stages

Updated On December 31st, 2024

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Reviewed By Petco's Animal Care, Education and Compliance (ACE) Team

The cornerstone of any good adult rabbit diet consists of quality pellets, fresh hay, water, and fresh vegetables. Anything other than these basics should be considered a "treat" and be given in limited quantities. The amounts of these diet essentials vary with the age of the rabbit.

Rabbit Diet Essentials

Pellets: Pellets are most important in the younger stages of rabbit development because they are highly concentrated in nutrients, helping to ensure proper weight gain. A quality pelleted food should be high in fiber (18% minimum) and nutritionally balanced. As a rabbit reaches maturity, however, pellets should make up less of the diet and be replaced with larger quantities of hay and vegetables. Overfeeding pellets in mature rabbits can lead to obesity and other medical conditions.

Hay: Rabbits should have fresh hay available 24 hours a day as hay should make up at least 80% of a rabbit’s diet. Rabbits less than 7 months old may have alfalfa hay, but older rabbits should have grass hays, such as timothy or oat hay. Feeding alfalfa hay, which is high in calcium, to rabbits over 7 months of age can lead to urinary stones.  Hay is essential to a rabbit's good health, providing the roughage that helps to reduce the danger of GI stasis, hairballs and other blockages. As your rabbit moves into its senior years, partner with your veterinarian to determine the best type of hay for your furry friend.

Water: Fresh water should be available to your pet around the clock, as well. Each day, change the water in the dish or water bottle with fresh water. On a weekly basis, disinfect the water dish/bottle with a small animal habitat cleaner or mild dish detergent and rinse thoroughly before adding drinking water.

Vegetables: Vegetables provide valuable roughage, as well as essential vitamins. As early as 3 months of age, you can begin to offer vegetables in moderation as they should not exceed 10% of your rabbit’s diet. Introduce new vegetables one at a time. This way, if a digestive upset occurs, you will know which food may be the culprit. Eliminate those that cause soft stools or diarrhea. Continue to add new varieties, including both dark leafy vegetables and root vegetables, and serve vegetables of different colors. Once your rabbit is used to several different vegetables, feed them at least three different types daily for a variety of nutrients.

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A Good Rabbit Diet Should Include Daily Fresh Vegetables

Include a variety of vegetables from the list below. (Those containing a high level of Vitamin A are indicated by an asterisk*. Feed at least one of these each day.)

·       Alfalfa, radish, and clover sprouts

·       Basil

·       Beet greens (tops)

·       Bok choy

·       Broccoli (mostly leaves/stems)*

·       Brussels sprouts

·       Carrots and carrot tops*

·       Celery

·       Cilantro

·       Clover

·       Collard greens*

·       Dandelion greens (NO pesticides)*

·       Endive*

·       Escarole

·       Green peppers

·       Kale*

·       Mint

·       Mustard greens*

·       Parsley*

·       Pea pods (the flat edible kind)*

·       Peppermint leaves

·       Radicchio

·       Radish tops

·       Raspberry leaves

·       Romaine lettuce (NO iceberg or light colored leaf lettuce)*

·       Spinach*

·       Watercress*

Wheat grass

Kale, mustard greens, and spinach contain high levels of oxalates (the salts of oxalic acid), which can accumulate in the system and cause toxicity over time. Rather than eliminating these veggies from your list (because they are highly nutritious and loved by most rabbits), limit your use of them to 1 or 2 meals per week.

Fruits

Small amounts of high-fiber fruits may be given as an occasional treat, however too many carbohydrates and can upset the normal balance of bacteria in rabbits’ intestinal tracts, as well as lead to diarrhea, bloating and decreased appetite. Never allow rabbits to eat fruit seeds, pits or rhubarb.

Rabbit chewing items: In addition to nutrition, hay and vegetables are also important to your rabbit's dental health. A diet that requires little chewing produces uneven tooth wear, causing enamel to grow on the sides of the teeth. These spikes can cause severe oral pain and excessive salivation (often called "slobbers"). They also cause a reluctance to chew, inability to close the mouth, and reduced food intake. The situation deteriorates as the teeth continue to grow and if it is not treated, results in severe malnutrition. In addition to hay and vegetables, you will want to provide your rabbit with chew sticks or other chew toys made for small animals of various sizes and shapes. Cardboard tubes and untreated wicker can also be used.

Rabbit treats: Treats, including fresh fruits, should be given sparingly because of their calorie content. Rabbits can digest small quantities of oats and barley, but again, they generally provide more calories than necessary. Additionally, too much carbohydrate has been associated with enteritis in rabbits.

Feeding Rabbits During Different Life Stages

Like human beings, rabbits need to be fed differently at different stages of their growth in order to ensure healthy development, digestion, and weight. Throughout a rabbit's life, avoid any sudden changes in diet; new foods should always be introduced gradually. Remember to keep fresh clean water available at all times, too. Water bottles are recommended over dishes.

Baby rabbits : A baby rabbit, or kit, feeds solely on its mother's milk for about the first three weeks. During the first few days, the milk contains high levels of antibodies that help to protect the kit from disease. After three weeks, the kit will begin nibbling on alfalfa hay and pellets. By 7 weeks of age, baby rabbits can handle unlimited access to pellets and alfalfa hay in addition to mother's milk. Kits are usually weaned from their mother's milk by 8 weeks of age, depending on the breed.

Juveniles: Between weaning and 7 months of age, the young rabbit can have an unlimited number of pellets and alfalfa hay. At 3 months of age, start introducing small amounts of vegetables into your rabbit's diet. Introduce one vegetable at a time. If any vegetable seems to cause digestive problems, avoid feeding it in the future.

Young adults: young adult rabbits from age 7 months to 1 year should be introduced to timothy hay, grass hays, and/or oat hay, which should be available all day long. The fiber in the hay is essential for their digestive systems to work properly. At this point, they will require little alfalfa hay, as well as fewer pellets. Alfalfa hay has more calories and calcium than rabbits need at this stage of development, and the high calorie content of pellets can also begin to cause weight problems. Instead of offering unlimited pellets, a good rule of thumb is to offer 1/2 cup of pellets per 6 pounds of body weight daily. To make up for the nutritional loss, you must increase your rabbit's intake of vegetables and hay. You can feed your rabbit some fruits during this stage, but because of calories, limit them to no more than 1 to 2 ounces per 6 pounds of body weight occasionally.

Mature adults: Mature adult rabbits should be fed unlimited timothy hay, grass hay, and oat hay. Once again, you should reduce the pellet portion of the diet. A standard guideline is 1/4 cup of pellets per 6 pounds of body weight per day. Several servings of vegetables are required (2 cups per 6 pounds of body weight daily). Make sure to choose dark, leafy greens, and feed at least three different kinds daily. Iceberg or other light-colored varieties are NOT nutritious. Also, make sure you are offering dark yellow and orange vegetables. Treats, including fruits, must be fed sparingly.

Senior rabbits: Senior rabbits over 6 years of age can be fed the same diet as mature adults if they do not have weight loss problems. You may need to increase their pellet intake if your pet is not able to maintain their weight. Alfalfa can also be given to underweight rabbits, but only if calcium levels are normal and monitored. Annual blood workups are highly recommended for senior rabbits to determine the level of calcium and other components of the blood.

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