Rabbit Diet

A rabbit’s diet should include hay, fresh vegetables, good quality pellets, and perhaps an occasional treat. A healthy diet is important for general health, dental health, and many happy years together.

Hay

brown rabbit and white rabbit eating hay from a box

Hay should make up about 80% of a rabbit's diet. It keeps their digestive system healthy and prevents GI stasis by providing essential fiber. It also wears down molars, which can’t be maintained by chew toys alone.

Hay supports natural foraging behavior, providing mental enrichment and satisfying the urge to chew, helping protect your furniture! Rabbits won’t eat every piece, so refresh it often.

Types of hay

  • Timothy hay is the most common hay fed to rabbits. It is high in fiber and low in protein and calcium.

    • 1st cut – high in fiber, lower in nutrients

    • 2nd cut – balanced fiber and nutrition

    • 3rd cut – softer, greener, more protein, less fiber

  • Alfalfa is a legume, not a grass hay—it's too high in protein for adult rabbits but can be used for young or underweight seniors.

  • Oat - high in fiber and lower in protein and fat, has a coarse texture and often includes seed head

  • Orchard grass - similar nutritional value as Timothy with a softer texture and sweeter taste preferred by some rabbits

  • Meadow hay - a mix of grasses, herbs, and plants typically harvested from natural meadows. It’s high in fiber and varies in texture, color, and plant variety depending on where and how it’s harvested.

Tips to encourage hay eating

Some rabbits avoid hay due to past habits or preference for tastier foods, but hay is essential for dental and digestive health.

Try these ideas:

  1. Gradually reduce pellets.

  2. Offer different types of hay and look for green, fresh smelling options.

  3. Place hay in multiple spots like the litter box, near pellets, or in baskets.

  4. Make it fun! Stuff hay in toys, tunnels, or boxes with hidden treats.

  5. Mix in small bits of pellets or herbal forages.

  6. Try timothy cubes or Oxbow’s hay stacks to help get your rabit interested in hay.

Pellets and dry food

Modern hay pellets are specifically formulated to meet the nutritional needs of companion rabbits. These pellets provide a balanced source of essential vitamins and minerals that may be difficult to replicate with fresh foods alone. While hay and leafy greens should make up the bulk of a rabbit's diet, a small daily portion of high-quality pellets helps ensure that rabbits receive adequate levels of nutrients like Vitamin A, D, and E, as well as important trace minerals.

Choose pellets with hay or grass as the first ingredient, not cereals like wheat or corn. Avoid those with seeds or added treats, and follow feeding guidelines to avoid overfeeding.

two shelves with bags of rabbit food

Vegetables

Feed 1-2 cups of leafy greens per 5 pounds of body weight. Rotate greens to ensure a variety of nutrients. Be mindful of calcium and oxalate levels, as they affect calcium metabolism. Introduce new greens slowly and watch for signs of digestive upset like wet stool or diarrhea. Some veggies can also cause excess gas in rabbits.

You can also grow a rabbit safe garden at home in the ground, in containers, or using an indoor growing kit.

image of nutrition handout
image of gardening handout
lettuce and herbs growing indoors with grow lights
lettuce and herbs growing indoors with grow light

Treats

When purchasing store bought treats read labels and avoid sugar, yogurt, seeds, and nuts. Choose trusted brands like Oxbow, Small Pet Select, Well Kept Rabbit, and Supreme Science. Look for hay as the first or second ingredient whenever possible. Treats should be limited based on your rabbits age and weight.

Fruit as a treat

Fruits like bananas, berries and apples can make a great fresh treat for your rabbits. Fruits (and carrots) are high in sugar and should be given in limited quantities.

Some of our favorite fruits to give as treats:

  • Apple (no seeds)

  • Banana

  • Blue berries

  • Carrot (we know, it isn’t a fruit)

  • Peach (no pit)

  • Pineapple

  • Strawberries

Other treat ideas

Did you know you can make your own treats? Be sure to find safe recipes and store them properly, homemade treats can mold quickly. Other treat ideas include timothy hay cubes, fresh pesticide and herbicide free grass, and rabbits safe flowers. You can also grow wheat grass at home or start your own rabbit garden!

image of baking tips handout
image of rabbit treat recipe cards

Many houseplants and human foods are toxic to rabbits. Since rabbits love to explore and investigate by nibbling, it’s essential to keep all houseplants and unsafe foods out of reach. Even small amounts of certain plants can be harmful.

Classes of Toxic Plants (WHRS)

Supreme Pet Foods Toxic Plant List

Toxic Foods (SDHRS)

National Animal Poison Control Center (ASPCA)

If you think that your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call (888) 426-4435. A $65 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card. This resource is for any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

Toxic Plants

Learn more