How do you tell how much to feed a rabbit?

[CrazyChickenGirl]

As the title says how do you tell how much to feed a rabbit? I just want to make sure I’m feeding my bun the right amount so any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Preitler]

That's easy. If there isn't anything left, apart from the stuff that got soiled and wasted, it wasn't enough. That's for feeding a diet of forage and hay, pellets and other stuff like fruits just as treats in limited amounts.

 

[SirLawrence]

Agreed. There's lots of opinions out there, but what they actually need is hay. Pellets help provide additional supplements, but should not really be considered the staple of your rabbit's diet.

This may be handy, too.

https://bunnylady.com/rabbit-diet/

 

[CrazyChickenGirl]

Thank you both for your responses!! Currently I have been giving him 1/4 a cup in the morning and at night. He doesn’t act starving when I feed him and will often stop for pets, but his bowl is always empty when I feed him again. Of course this is all along with unlimited hay and about two cups of fresh greens.

Edit: also he is a 8 month old Holland so he isn’t really big.

 

[SirLawrence]

Thank you both for your responses!! Currently I have been giving him 1/4 a cup in the morning and at night. He doesn’t act starving when I feed him and will often stop for pets, but his bowl is always empty when I feed him again. Of course this is all along with unlimited hay and about two cups of fresh greens.

Edit: also he is a 8 month old Holland so he isn’t really big.

Personally, I'd cut about half of the pellets you're feeding him. Rabbits are like the rest of us, and will eat the better tasting food before the healthy stuff! And while pellets are hay-based, they really need to be eating mainly hay to keep their guts moving, and their teeth worn down.

I used to feed my Lawrence a poor-quality food waaay too much. It broke my heart to be "mean" and switch him to much less of a healthier pellet (a little under a 1/4 cup Oxbow Garden Select), but he seems to have more energy since I've switched.

He was only mad at me for a month or so!

 

[odyssey~]

Thank you both for your responses!! Currently I have been giving him 1/4 a cup in the morning and at night. He doesn’t act starving when I feed him and will often stop for pets, but his bowl is always empty when I feed him again. Of course this is all along with unlimited hay and about two cups of fresh greens.

Edit: also he is a 8 month old Holland so he isn’t really big.

I agree with SirLawrence. Generally I'd say 1/8 cup per 4lb of bunny weight.
Pellets aren't really neccesary in a rabbits' diet and they're more like a supplement, or treat. I like using the ones Odyssey gets for teaching her tricks since she really loves them!
Oxbow Garden Select, Sherwood Adult Rabbit pellets, etc are all good examples of decent pellets.

For veggies you're spot on! More wouldn't hurt though if you choose to feed extra.

 

[Dandy&Tuli4693]

Thank you both for your responses!! Currently I have been giving him 1/4 a cup in the morning and at night. He doesn’t act starving when I feed him and will often stop for pets, but his bowl is always empty when I feed him again. Of course this is all along with unlimited hay and about two cups of fresh greens.

Edit: also he is a 8 month old Holland so he isn’t really big.

What you are doing is perfect you dont want to give more than 1/4 cup of pellets a day otherwise they can get fat really quickly if he's hungry he can eat hay


Just make sure he has unlimited hay at all times!

 

[FuzzyBunny ph]

For us, its just 1tbps of pellets but I hide this in their toys or foraging mats to encourage enrichment activities. Then some veggies and herbs. And of course, unlimited amounts of hay through out the day =)

 

[Dandy&Tuli4693]

Also he sh po told act starving when you get pellets out
Cause it's kinda like a special treat because he doesn't get very much

Which is good!

You have to make sure pellets aren't a main food source

 

[CrazyChickenGirl]

Thank you all for your responses!! I’ll do my best to follow all of your guys advice.

 

[JBun]

What kind of hay are you feeding and is it good green hay or is it sun bleached? What cut of hay is it(early soft leafy cut, medium cut mix of leaf and crunchy stems, or fully mature mostly hard stems)? Do you know for sure that your rabbit eats the hay without any problems?

 

[CrazyChickenGirl]

What kind of hay are you feeding and is it good green hay or is it sun bleached? What cut of hay is it(early soft leafy cut, medium cut mix of leaf and crunchy stems, or fully mature mostly hard stems)? Do you know for sure that your rabbit eats the hay without any problems?

We often hay our own field. So it is usually the medium cut. I’m sure he eats it without any problems and will usually eat about his body size in it every day.

 

[JBun]

If he's not overweight, doesn't experience reoccurring digestive issues or small poop, and is eating a pile of hay at least the size of his body per day, pellets can be decreased or left the same, it's really your choice. Eating more hay is always good, so decreasing pellets is fine, but only if he can maintain a good body condition and weight on decreased pellets and free fed hay.

 

[CrazyChickenGirl]

If he's not overweight, doesn't experience reoccurring digestive issues or small poop, and is eating a pile of hay at least the size of his body per day, pellets can be decreased or left the same, it's really your choice. Eating more hay is always good, so decreasing pellets is fine, but only if he can maintain a good body condition and weight on decreased pellets and free fed hay.

Then I might keep them the same and check his weight often