Understanding rabbit feeding habits is key to raising happy and healthy rabbits as homestead animals or indoor pets, but can seem a bit tricky to any new rabbit owners.
This is exactly why we put together this post on just how much a rabbit eats, as well as other key pointers when it comes to tending to your bunnies’ dietary and food needs, so read on!
How Often Does A Rabbit Eat?
First things first: how often does a rabbit eat anyway?
This is a great question, as rabbits are pretty different from other common livestock and pets when it comes to food: Rabbits are natural grazers, preferring to consume small amounts of food throughout the day rather than large meals.
On average, we have witnessed our rabbits eating at least four to six times a day.
Do Rabbits Eat A Lot Of Food?
In terms of portion sizes, we’ve found that all our rabbits are moderate eaters.
However, rabbits are small mammals and are natural prey animals, two characteristics that require high energy intake alongside a high energy output. Veterinary Clinics state the three strengths of a rabbit’s digestive system well:
- It allows for a high food (and therefore high energy and protein) intake.
- It separates the digestible and easily fermentable components of their diet quickly.
- It can rapidly eliminate the slowly fermentable fibrous waste that would otherwise have to be carried around.
All of this does require an almost constant intake of foodstuff, and on a daily basis, rabbits typically consume 2-4% of their body weight.
How Much Food Do Rabbits Eat Per Day
There is no straight answer for this question, because the amount of food a rabbit consumes each day varies based on factors such as age, size, breed, and activity level.
But on average, a five-pound adult rabbit will eat approximately 0.1 to 0.2 pounds of food per day.
Are Rabbits Supposed To Eat All Day Freely
The only foodstuff we recommend allowing your rabbits full-day access to is high quality hay.
Hay is an essential and beneficial part of your rabbit’s diet, as it provides the fibrous plant material their digestive system requires!
That said, we do not recommend allowing your rabbits to eat other foods, such as rabbit pellets, veggies, or fruits, freely. It is important to portion these foods to ensure a balanced diet!
Feeding Schedule: How Often Do Rabbits Eat
Establishing a feeding schedule is vital to providing a healthy diet for your rabbit.
Although rabbits graze on hay throughout the day, we have found that dividing their other food into two main meals helps monitor their intake and prevent overeating!
Learning a feeding schedule can also help your rabbits feel safe and secure, and can be a bonding opportunity between you both.
Our Suggested Rabbit Feeding Schedule
- Morning Time: We always switch out our rabbits water first thing in the morning. This is also when we supply them with a few good handfuls of hay and a small portion of high-quality pellets (the general guideline is about 1/4th cup of pellets per six pounds of rabbit body weight per day).
- Mid-day: This is when we replenish their hay and offer our bunnies a variety of fresh vegetables and greens for lunch.
- End Of Day: We make sure our rabbits have water, fill up their hay once more, and provide another small portion of pellets and, sometimes, a little handful of parsley, mint, or cilantro!
So, What Can Rabbits Eat Daily?
As mentioned, the primary component of your rabbits’ diet should consist of fresh hay, which aids digestion, dental health, and prevents hairballs.
Alongside hay, feel free to mix in any number of rabbit-safe veggies, fruits, and leafy greens as daily supplements and treats, as well as rabbit-specific pellets, which help cover all their nutritional needs.
For help on what veggies and fruits are safe for rabbits to consume, check out the linked articles down in the FAQ section!
What Is The Best Food For Rabbits
Hands down, the best food for rabbits is high-quality hay.
Your bunny will not be healthy, nor very happy, without unlimited amounts of hay to nibble on.
For more on hay for rabbits, read our post on How Much Hay Do Rabbits Need?
With everything else: focus on quality! Look for pellets that are high in fiber and low in additives or fillers, chat with your local vet for their best suggestions, and always introduce new foods gradually to prevent digestive upset.
Frequently Asked Questions Related To How Often Do Rabbits Eat
What Fruits and Veggies Can Rabbits Eat?
There is an almost endless, yummy list of fruits and veggies that are safe for your bunny to consume.
We touch on many of them, as well as highlighting which fruits and veggies rabbits CANNOT eat, in our posts on Fruits for Rabbits And Vegetables Rabbits Can Eat.
How Many Times A Day Should I Feed My Rabbit Pellets?
We offer our adult rabbits pellets twice a day and our immature, fast growing rabbits pellets three times a day (with slightly larger portions).
The quantity of pellets your rabbit requires is variable based on age, size, and growth stage. We recommend chatting with your local vet to nail down an ideal quantity specific to your bunny!
Learn more about the best pellets for immature rabbits here.
Learn more about the importance of hay for rabbits in this great video!
Final Thoughts on How Much Does A Rabbit Eat
Understanding a rabbit’s eating habits is essential for their overall health and well-being, and it is an important first thing to consider when thinking about raising a rabbit.
We hope this post has provided you with sufficient experience-based information and guidelines regarding the many questions surrounding just how much a rabbit eats and how often rabbits need to eat.
Feel free to browse our post archive to learn even more about raising rabbits and, as always, consult with your local veterinarian for personalized dietary recommendations based on your rabbit’s individual needs!