Dwarf Rabbit Diet: The Ideal Ration and How Much to Feed Each Day
10 min readFeeding a dwarf rabbit comes down to one simple rule: unlimited hay (80 to 90% of the diet), fresh greens every day, a few weighed pellets and clean water at all times. For a 2 kg adult rabbit, that means 1 to 2 cups of greens and no more than 50 g of pellets a day. Hay, on the other hand, is never measured out.
Dwarf rabbit, lop or Netherland Dwarf: their needs are the same; only the portions change with weight.
Written by: the Haynest team. Based on recommendations from veterinarians and animal welfare organisations.
Adult dwarf rabbit diet: the daily ration at a glance
- Unlimited hay, day and night: 80 to 90% of what your rabbit eats.
- Fresh greens, washed, every day: around 10%.
- Quality pellets, weighed: around 5%.
- Clean water, at all times.
- Treats, rarely and in very small amounts.
The RSPCA, the British animal welfare charity, recommends 85% hay and grass, 10% greens and 5% pellets; the Scottish Government, at least 80% hay or grass.
What about feeding a lop rabbit?
It’s exactly the same: same species, same digestive system. Only the size differs: the RWAF (Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund) classes mini lops as a medium breed and Netherland Dwarfs as a small breed. It’s weight, not breed, that sets the portions: weigh your rabbit on kitchen scales.
How much food per day? The table by weight
Guidelines for a healthy adult rabbit, to be adjusted as its weight changes.
| Rabbit’s weight | Hay | Fresh greens | Pellets (maximum) | Water (guide) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 kg | Unlimited | ½ to 1 cup | 25 g (≈ 1 egg cup) | 50 to 100 ml |
| 1.5 kg | Unlimited | ¾ to 1 ½ cups | 37.5 g (≈ 1 ½ egg cups) | 75 to 150 ml |
| 2 kg | Unlimited | 1 to 2 cups | 50 g (≈ 2 egg cups) | 100 to 200 ml |
| 2.5 kg | Unlimited | 1 ½ to 2 ½ cups | 62.5 g (≈ 2 ½ egg cups) | 125 to 250 ml |
One cup ≈ 250 ml of leaves. Greens: House Rabbit Society (1 to 2 cups per 4 pounds, or about 1.8 kg). Pellets: 25 g per kilo per day at most (RSPCA, Scottish Government). Water: 50 to 100 ml per kilo per day for a rabbit fed mainly on dry food (Scottish Government); greens also provide water.
How much hay does a rabbit eat per day?
Hay is never measured out: it must be available in unlimited amounts, day and night. The guideline from both the RSPCA and the Scottish Government: every day, a pile of hay at least as big as your rabbit. Its digestive system works non-stop, and chewing long fibres wears down its teeth, which keep growing throughout its life. Replace the hay every day.
To choose the right forage, follow our guide Which hay is best for your rabbit?
A natural blend of grasses and meadow plants to keep in the hay rack in unlimited amounts, day after day.
Greens and vegetables: how much should you give?
The House Rabbit Society recommends 1 to 2 cups of vegetables per 4 pounds of body weight, or about half a cup to one cup per kilo per day. The RSPCA puts it more simply: a big handful a day.
Everyday greens
Offer at least three different greens a day (House Rabbit Society) and rotate them. Among the options recommended by the RWAF and the RSPCA:
- Leaves: romaine lettuce, rocket (arugula), lamb’s lettuce, watercress, dandelion leaves, carrot or radish tops, beetroot leaves.
- Herbs: basil, coriander, dill, mint, thyme, parsley (higher in calcium, so alternate it).
- In moderation: broccoli, cabbage and kale, which can give some rabbits gas.
Carrots are high in sugar, so they count as a treat: offer the tops instead. Avoid iceberg lettuce, which the RWAF, the RSPCA and the NC State Veterinary Hospital all advise against.
Example: a week of greens
To keep things varied without getting it wrong, here is one possible seven-day rotation with three greens a day, built solely from the RWAF and House Rabbit Society lists. Amounts follow the table by weight.
| Day | The day’s three greens |
|---|---|
| Monday | Romaine lettuce, carrot tops, basil |
| Tuesday | Rocket, lamb’s lettuce, coriander |
| Wednesday | Watercress, dandelion leaves, radish tops |
| Thursday | Romaine lettuce, beetroot leaves, mint |
| Friday | Lamb’s lettuce, carrot tops, dill |
| Saturday | Rocket, dandelion leaves, parsley |
| Sunday | Watercress, romaine lettuce, a small kale leaf |
Parsley, radish tops and beetroot leaves, which are higher in calcium or oxalates, appear only once a week: the House Rabbit Society advises rotating them, and the RWAF recommends alternating parsley. Cabbage and kale are only given in small amounts. If any of these greens is new to your rabbit, introduce it on its own, as explained below.
Introducing greens gradually
Introduce only one new green at a time, in a small amount, and keep an eye on your rabbit’s appetite and droppings for one to two days. If the droppings become soft, remove that food (House Rabbit Society, RWAF). For a rabbit that has never eaten greens, increase the amounts very gradually.
A small pinch hidden in the hay adds new scents and textures. They complement fresh greens but don’t replace them.
Pellets, water and treats: the right amounts
Pellets: about 25 g per kilo, at most
The RSPCA guideline: 25 g per kilo of body weight per day, roughly one egg cup. The Scottish Government treats this as a maximum, and the RWAF even advises 15 g per kilo. Weigh the ration and don’t refill the bowl as soon as it’s empty: a rabbit that fills up on pellets neglects its hay.
Choose extruded pellets that are all identical and high in fibre (at least 18% according to the House Rabbit Society), with no seeds or grains. Steer clear of colourful “muesli-style” mixes: rabbits pick out their favourite bits, which increases the risk of dental problems, digestive problems and weight gain (RSPCA).
Water: always available
Most rabbits prefer a bowl to a bottle and drink more from it (Scottish Government): choose a heavy ceramic one. Check it morning and evening and clean it every day. A rabbit that suddenly drinks much more than usual needs to see a vet.
Treats: rare and tiny
Fruit and carrots are high in sugar: the RSPCA, the RWAF and the House Rabbit Society class them as occasional treats. Our guidelines, detailed in our natural rabbit treats guide: 1 to 2 apple or carrot chips, broken into small pieces, a few times a week; a small pinch of Floral Mix.
A typical day, morning and evening
In the wild, rabbits graze mainly at dawn and dusk (RSPCA). Plan mealtimes around this rhythm:
- Morning: hay — remove any soiled hay, fill the hay rack generously and change the water.
- Morning: greens — half of the day’s ration, washed and drained, in two or three varieties.
- Once a day: pellets — the weighed ration, perhaps hidden in the hay so your rabbit has to forage for it.
- Evening: the rest of the greens — plus a fresh armful of hay for the night. Change the water again.
- Every day: a quick check — has your rabbit eaten? Are its droppings plentiful, round and well formed?
Emergency: a rabbit that has stopped eating or passing droppings for a few hours must be seen quickly by a vet, ideally a rabbit-savvy (exotic-pet) vet. Don’t wait until the next day: it may be gut stasis. The warning signs are detailed in our article My rabbit has stopped eating its hay.
Young and senior rabbits: what changes
Young rabbits (under 6 months)
Still growing, a young rabbit needs more protein and calcium: the NC State Veterinary Hospital recommends unlimited pellets and alfalfa (lucerne) hay. Two things to watch:
- No fruit or vegetables between 7 and 12 weeks: they can cause serious digestive problems (NC State). After that, introduce greens one variety at a time.
- Between 4 months and 1 year, switch gently to the adult ration: grass hay gradually replaces alfalfa, pellets decrease and greens increase.
Ask your vet to check your young rabbit’s diet at the very first visit.
Senior rabbits
According to the RWAF, a rabbit becomes a senior at around 8 years for small breeds and around 6 years for medium breeds such as mini lops. Hay, water and fresh greens remain unlimited. However:
- Pellets: an older rabbit may need slightly more to maintain its weight, or slightly less if it is less active. Weigh it every week and adjust (RWAF).
- Supplements: generally unnecessary, even risky, particularly because of excess calcium. Nothing without your vet’s advice.
- Teeth: if your rabbit eats less, changes its preferences, loses weight, drools or produces fewer droppings, a dental check-up is a must.
Forbidden foods: what a dwarf rabbit must never eat
According to the RSPCA, the House Rabbit Society and the NC State Veterinary Hospital, never give:
- Bread, pasta, biscuits, breakfast cereals and other processed, sweet or salty foods;
- Seeds, nuts, corn and muesli-style mixes (risk of choking and digestive blockage, according to the Scottish Government);
- Dairy products, yoghurt “drops”, meat and eggs;
- Chocolate, caffeine, products containing xylitol;
- Avocado, onion, garlic and leek, potatoes (raw or cooked), mushrooms;
- Fruit pips and stones (apple, pear, apricot);
- Iceberg lettuce and lawn clippings, which can make a rabbit very ill.
For garden and house plants, remember the RSPCA rule: if in doubt, leave it out, and check our list of plants that are toxic to rabbits. If your rabbit has swallowed something suspicious, call your vet straight away.
Common mistakes
- Keeping the pellet bowl permanently full: your rabbit will eat less hay (RSPCA).
- Making carrots the everyday vegetable: they’re a sugary treat.
- Always serving the same salad: vary it, with at least three greens a day.
- Changing the diet overnight: switching from a seed mix to pellets, for example, takes 14 to 28 days (RSPCA, Scottish Government).
- Measuring “by eye”: weigh the pellets and your rabbit. At its ideal weight, you can easily feel its ribs (Scottish Government). If it gains weight, cut back on pellets and treats, never on hay.
Frequently asked questions
How many times a day should you feed a dwarf rabbit?
Hay stays available at all times, day and night. Greens are served once or twice, ideally morning and evening, and pellets once, weighed.
Can you give a rabbit carrots every day?
No. Carrots are high in sugar: they’re a treat, to be given in small pieces and only occasionally. The carrot tops, however, are part of the daily greens.
My rabbit is eating less than usual. What should I do?
If it has stopped eating altogether or its droppings have clearly decreased, contact a vet quickly, ideally a rabbit-savvy one: don’t wait until the next day. If it’s simply fussier, check that its hay is fresh and remove anything new you’ve recently introduced; if in doubt, call.
In short
Unlimited hay, varied greens every day, weighed pellets, clean water and rare treats: that’s the basis of a balanced diet, for a dwarf rabbit and a lop alike. Amounts depend on weight, not breed.
Also worth reading: how to choose the right hay and which natural treats to give your rabbit.
Provençal meadow hay for every day, Premium Crau Hay for discerning palates: find the one your rabbit likes best.
Sources consulted
- RSPCA — What do rabbits eat? Rabbit diet advice
- Scottish Government — Pet rabbit welfare guidance, section 4: The need for a suitable diet
- House Rabbit Society — Rabbit Diet & Nutrition: Safe Foods and Treats for Bunnies
- RWAF — Recommended Vegetables and Herbs
- RWAF — Caring for Senior Rabbits
- NC State Veterinary Hospital — Rabbit Nutrition
- House Rabbit Society — Natural Nutrition Part II: Pellets and Veggies
Photos: cover, Haynest customer photo; harvest, Haynest; Wikimedia Commons, pellets: Andreas Rühle (CC BY-SA 3.0); muesli-style mix, cropped: Pogrebnoj-Alexandroff (CC BY 3.0).
This article is for information only and does not replace a vet’s advice. If you have any doubts about your rabbit’s health, consult a professional, ideally a rabbit-savvy (exotic-pet) vet.
