When we started to think about raising rabbits on our hobby farm, we needed to know some basic facts about rabbits such as how much does a rabbit weigh and how big does a rabbit get.
What we found is that the weight and overall size of a rabbit greatly depends on the breed of the rabbit. In other words, both the min and max heaviness and size of your rabbit is largely dependent on what type of rabbit you decide to raise.
In order to share the best information about this topic, we will address the weight and sizes of a number of different rabbit breeds in this post. And following that will be some of our best suggestions from our own experience raising healthy bunnies!
How Much Do Rabbits Weigh
Rabbits are naturally small mammals that are well known for sneaking their small bodies through holes in garden gates to nibble at precious vegetables.
In fact, while rabbits have incredibly delicate bones, they sport surprisingly strong muscles (especially in their legs). Other than this, the internal organs of rabbits are quite small.
As such, a typical wild rabbit of medium size may weigh around 3 or 4 lbs; a tasty and easy meal for countless rabbit predators.
Rabbit Weight and Rabbit Health
The weight of your rabbit is actually a topic of extreme importance when it comes to raising happy and healthy bunnies.
An overweight rabbit is quick to develop other health issues and diseases and can quickly lose quality of life due to inactivity and bad eating habits.
This is why we highly recommend keeping your rabbits around the suggested healthy weight according to their breed! Remember, a good weight for a rabbit depends on the kind of breed, or type, of domestic rabbit.
Now domesticated rabbits can live up to 13 years (big contrast to the 3 year max for wild rabbits), which means raising rabbits on a homestead or as a pet is a real commitment and owners must be well informed on how big their rabbits can and usually do grow to.
Knowing this will help you with early diagnosis of various health issues related to abnormal weight and size.
Later on in this post we will offer some resources for ways to assist your rabbit in gaining or losing weight in a healthy way.
Rabbit Weight According to Rabbit Breed
There are about 50 different recognized breeds of domesticated rabbits. The general classification based on size (the other option is to classify domesticated rabbits by type of fur) includes small or dwarf breeds, medium breeds, and large or giant breeds.
The breeds that we raise here at Hobby Farm Heaven are rabbits of medium size as these rabbits are great for meat production!
However, there are many ideal small, medium, and large breeds for general homesteading and pet keeping alike.
Rabbit Weight: Small Breeds
Small rabbit breeds are characterized by an average adult weight that is less than 4.4 lbs.
These small bunnies are most often kept as indoor or outdoor pets, with the Netherland Dwarf breed being the smallest. These dwarf bunnies can be as light as 2 lbs at maturity!
Examples of small rabbit breeds include mini-rabbit breeds and some Dutch rabbits.
Actually, many small rabbit breeds are more prone to health issues due to the selective breeding process.
Rabbit Weight: Medium Breeds
Rabbit breeds of medium weight include all rabbits that mature to a size that is between 4.4 lbs to 11 lbs.
There are many medium sized breeds that are ideal for keeping as pets and homestead animals.
We suggest the Californian rabbit breed for those wanting to raise meat rabbits and the Rex breed for a cuddly and soft furry friend.
Rabbit Weight: Large and Giant Breeds
Large and giant rabbit breeds are truly incredible. These huge domesticated friends are 11 lbs.+, and some of them do not even have a maximum weight!
These large rabbits can be raised indoors or outdoors, but owners must give them sufficient space and room as these bunnies can grow to a hefty size.
Some great examples of these big bunnies are the classic English Lop and the Flemish Giant, which can weigh up to 20 lbs!
In fact, the max that a rabbit has ever weighed is just shy of 55 lbs.
This record is held by Ralph, a Continental Giant who was named the heaviest rabbit on record.
Just behind Ralph is Darius, another Continental Giant who is over 4ft long and weighs 49 lbs.
Check out this video to see Darius’ impressive size.
How to Feed Your Rabbit According To Weight
Feeding your rabbit based on their weight is a great practice.
This ensures they receive enough nutrients based on their size and allows for proper adjustment as they grow.
Feeding according to rabbit weight can also help you identify when it may be a good idea to cut back on certain food items due to a seasonal or age-related change in exercise or activity patterns.
You can find breed specific weight information for the type of rabbit you have on the American Rabbit Breeders Association website as well as from your local rabbit breeder, vet, and rabbit raising community.
Rabbit Diet – Size Dependant
When we talk about feeding your bunny, we are focused on providing your rabbit with high quality hay.
Hay is a high fiber food that is great for rabbits. It helps keep their delicate digestive systems happy, it keeps their teeth trimmed, and helps them maintain a healthy weight.
Rabbits actually have a very interesting way of digesting food that requires constant input and eating, so do not be surprised if your bunny is always nibbling on hay and grass!
Our suggested best diet for rabbits looks like this:
Hay (75% to 80% hay)
Quality pellets (10% to 15%)
Leafy green vegetables (5% to 10%)
But what does 75-80% of hay look like for a rabbit that is 1lb or a rabbit that is 20lbs?
Get the answer in the extensive rabbit-weight-to-feed guideline tables in our post How Much Hay To Feed A Rabbit.
And finally, how can you help a rabbit that is quite overweight or underweight?
Proper diet regulation is a very effective way to assist your rabbit with general weight issues.
But we never recommend changing or altering your rabbit’s diet suddenly, as this can cause your rabbit serious digestive issues and stress!
Instead, you can simply increase the amount of hay while slowly removing the excess quantity of pellets or snacks and treat foods.
And for rabbits that need to put on weight, opting for naturally fattening foods such as oats can greatly assist your bunny.
Of course it is always a great idea to chat first with your local vet before altering or making a different dietary plan for an under or overweight rabbit.
Frequently Asked Questions Related To How Much Does A Rabbit Weight
How Much Does A Bunny Weigh In kg?
An average adult rabbit from a middle sized breed will weigh about 3-3.5 kg.
What Is A Good Weight For A Rabbit?
A healthy weight for a rabbit greatly depends on what type of rabbit it is and its current life stage.
Immature rabbits will be gaining weight and size continuously until they reach adulthood. At this time, rabbit breeder sources and your local vet can help you determine just what a good weight is for your adult bunny.
Final Thoughts on How Much Does A Rabbit Weigh
The best thing to do to check on the healthy weight of your bunnies is to offer them a healthy diet of hay and supplemental pellets and veggies, chat with your local vet often, and refer to official information regarding the specific breed of your domestic bunny.
If you want to know the best way to weigh your rabbit, watch this video for a great how-to!