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What is the best food for rabbits?
Hay, then greens, then a little pellet food. The RSPCA puts the split at about 85% hay and grass, 10% leafy greens and 5% pellets or nuggets. So the "best rabbit food" is mostly about choosing good hay and fresh greens, and the bag of pellets is the smallest part. Our rabbit diet guide sets out the whole day, and our guide to the best hay for rabbits covers the biggest part.
Pellets still matter, because they fill the small gaps in vitamins and minerals that hay and greens can leave. The trick is to pick a plain one and keep the portion small.
Rabbit food pellets and nuggets: what to look for
The RSPCA explains that pellets are compressed from grains, hay, minerals and vitamins, while nuggets are made from the same kinds of ingredients but shaped with heat and moisture. Either is fine. Look for:
- Every piece the same, so a rabbit can't pick out favourites (the Rabbit Welfare Association's main point).
- High fibre: House Rabbit Society asks for at least 18%, and the adult foods below list 21 to 29%.
- Timothy or grass hay as the first ingredient for adults.
- No seeds, nuts, dried fruit, corn or yoghurt drops mixed in (House Rabbit Society).
- No added sugar, and a food made for rabbits, not "small animals" in general.
- A junior version for rabbits under about 7 months, and a light or senior one if your vet suggests it.
Why muesli mixes are a bad idea
Muesli-style mixes look appealing, with flakes, peas, seeds and coloured pieces. The problem is that rabbits eat the tasty, starchy bits and leave the rest. The Rabbit Welfare Association calls this selective feeding and says it is the main reason it does not recommend them. PDSA's vets link muesli diets to obesity, overgrown teeth and gut problems, and Woodgreen describes muesli feeds as one of the most common causes of fatal dental and digestive disease in rabbits.
How much rabbit food a day?
Much less than the bag usually suggests. Here is where the welfare groups disagree, and what we would do.
| Source | Daily pellets for an adult | For a 2 kg (4.4 lb) rabbit |
|---|---|---|
| PDSA | One tablespoon, twice a day if over 3.5 kg (7.7 lb) | One tablespoon |
| Rabbit Welfare Association | No more than 15 g per kg of body weight | Up to 30 g (about 1 oz) |
| RSPCA | 25 g (about an egg cup) per kg, adjusted for the rabbit | About 50 g (1.8 oz) |
| House Rabbit Society (US) | 1/4 cup per 6 lb (2.7 kg) of body weight | A little under 1/4 cup |
Our pick for a healthy adult at a good weight: start at PDSA's tablespoon, and stay under the Rabbit Welfare Association's 15 g per kg. That is the more careful end of the advice, and it leaves more room for hay. Rabbits that are young, old, thin, pregnant or nursing need different amounts, so follow your vet for those. PDSA suggests scattering the pellets around the enclosure so your rabbit forages for them.
The best food for baby rabbits and older rabbits
Growing rabbits need more protein and calcium. House Rabbit Society gives babies and young rabbits alfalfa-based pellets and alfalfa hay until about 7 months, then moves them to timothy-based pellets with grass hay, and starts fresh greens slowly from about 12 weeks. UK foods label this stage "junior", often with "dwarf" because small breeds have a faster metabolism.
Older rabbits usually stay on the adult food. House Rabbit Society's senior plan keeps timothy pellets for a rabbit at a healthy weight and only goes back to alfalfa pellets for one that is underweight. That is a change to make with your vet.
Best food for rabbits in summer and winter
The diet stays the same all year: hay, greens and a small portion of pellets. In summer, wash and serve greens fresh rather than leaving them to wilt, and check water more often. In winter, outdoor rabbits often eat more hay to keep warm, so give extra and check it twice a day. If a rabbit is losing weight, talk to your vet rather than simply adding more pellets.
Rabbit litter pellets are not food
Paper or wood litter pellets for the litter tray look a lot like food pellets. They are bedding, not food. Keep the two in different containers and put good feeding hay on top of the tray, since rabbits like to graze while they sit there. Our rabbit bedding guide covers which litters are safe.
The best rabbit food to look at
We don't make pieces for rabbits yet, so these are from other shops we'd look at.
Science Selective Adult Rabbit Food
A single nugget for adult rabbits from 20 weeks, listed at 25% fibre and 14% protein with no added sugars. Every nugget is the same, so there is no picking out. Check: the maker's feeding guide may suggest more than you need; weigh it against the table above.
Burgess Excel Adult Rabbit Nuggets with Mint
A high-fibre nugget for adult rabbits from 6 months to 5 years, listed at 21% fibre and 12% protein, and the food Woodgreen names as an example. Easy to buy in UK shops. Check: there is a separate Mature version for older rabbits.
Burgess Excel Junior and Dwarf Rabbit Nuggets
A nugget with extra protein for growing rabbits and the faster metabolism of dwarf breeds. A sensible choice under about 7 months. Check: move to an adult food slowly as your rabbit grows up.
Oxbow Essentials Adult Rabbit Food
A timothy-based pellet with timothy hay as the first ingredient, listed at 25 to 29% fibre and at least 14% protein, with no artificial colours or flavours. A widely sold US choice. Check: give the small amount in the table, not a bowlful.
Oxbow Garden Select Adult Rabbit Food
Made with timothy, oat and orchard hay as its first three ingredients, listed at 22 to 26% fibre and at least 12% protein. A good option if your rabbit is bored of plain timothy pellets. Check: change foods slowly.
Small Pet Select Rabbit Food Pellets
Timothy hay-based pellets for rabbits from 7 months, listed at 25 to 29% fibre and at least 14% protein. The maker gives about 1/4 cup per 6 lb (2.7 kg) of body weight, matching House Rabbit Society. Check: store in a cool, dry place.
For the rest of the daily menu, see what rabbits can eat and our page on whether rabbits can eat pellets, and for everything else start at our rabbit care guide.
Rabbit food questions
What is the healthiest food for rabbits?
Grass hay. It should be about 85% of what a rabbit eats, with leafy greens about 10% and pellets only about 5%. The best bag of rabbit food is a plain, high-fibre pellet or nugget, but it is a small daily extra, not the main meal.
Are rabbit pellets or nuggets better?
Both are fine. The RSPCA explains that pellets are compressed and nuggets are shaped with heat and moisture, but they are made from the same kinds of ingredients. What matters is that every piece is the same, so the rabbit can't pick out the bits it likes, and that the fibre is high.
Why is muesli bad for rabbits?
Rabbits pick out the tasty, starchy bits and leave the rest, so they miss nutrients. The Rabbit Welfare Association calls this selective feeding, and PDSA's vets link muesli diets to obesity, overgrown teeth and gut problems. Switch to plain nuggets slowly, over 2 to 4 weeks.
How many pellets should a rabbit eat a day?
Not many. PDSA says one tablespoon a day, or twice a day for rabbits over 3.5 kg (7.7 lb). The Rabbit Welfare Association sets a limit of 15 g per kg of body weight. Weigh your rabbit, start small and adjust with your vet if it gains or loses weight.
What fibre content should rabbit food have?
High. House Rabbit Society asks for at least 18% fibre in a pellet, and the better adult foods list well above that, often 20 to 29% crude fibre. A timothy or grass base is better for adults than an alfalfa base.
What is the best food for baby rabbits?
Unlimited hay, plus a junior or alfalfa-based pellet with more protein while they grow. House Rabbit Society keeps young rabbits on alfalfa-based pellets until about 7 months, then moves them to timothy-based pellets and a smaller portion. Add fresh greens slowly from about 12 weeks.
Should I feed my rabbit differently in winter?
Mostly no: the same hay, greens and pellets all year. An outdoor rabbit may eat more hay in cold weather, so give extra and check it every day. If your rabbit loses weight in winter, ask your vet before adding more pellets.
