Feeding Your Rabbit: A Complete Guide to Pellets, Hay, Treats & Supplements

A well-fed rabbit is a healthy, happy rabbit. But rabbit nutrition is more nuanced than most new owners expect — and getting the balance right between pellets, hay, fresh foods, and supplements makes a real difference in your rabbit's long-term health. Here's everything you need to know.

The Foundation: Hay, Hay, and More Hay

If there's one thing to take away from this post, it's this: hay should make up 80–90% of your rabbit's diet. Not pellets. Not treats. Hay.

Hay provides the long-strand fiber that keeps a rabbit's digestive system moving — and rabbit digestion is uniquely sensitive. Without adequate fiber, rabbits are prone to GI stasis, a potentially life-threatening condition where the gut slows or stops. Hay also wears down continuously growing teeth, preventing the dental problems that plague rabbits fed primarily on pellets and soft foods.

Timothy hay is the gold standard for adult rabbits — it's lower in calcium and protein than legume hays like alfalfa, making it appropriate for daily unlimited feeding without the risk of urinary issues or weight gain.

🛒 Shop it: Natural Sunsations – Timothy Hay (available in two sizes)

Hay should be available at all times — never ration it. A rabbit that runs out of hay is a rabbit at risk.

Pellets: Quality Over Quantity

Pellets are a concentrated source of nutrition that complement hay — they're not a replacement for it. The key is feeding the right amount: enough to provide essential vitamins and minerals, not so much that your rabbit fills up on pellets and ignores hay.

Heim Milling – 18% Rabbit Pellets Family Formula

Our locally milled rabbit pellet from Heim Milling in St. Cloud, Minnesota. At 18% protein, the Family Formula is formulated to support rabbits across all life stages — from growing kits to adult maintenance — making it a practical, consistent choice for households with rabbits of different ages.

Fresh-milled locally means better palatability and nutrient retention compared to pellets that have been sitting in a distribution chain for months. Your rabbit will notice the difference.

🛒 Shop it: Heim Milling – 18% Rabbit Pellets Family Formula

How Much to Feed

• Baby rabbits (under 7 months): Unlimited pellets alongside unlimited timothy or grass hay — growing kits need the extra nutrition
• Adult rabbits (7 months+): Approximately ¼ cup per 5 lbs of body weight per day — reduce if your rabbit is gaining weight or leaving hay uneaten
• Senior rabbits (5+ years): May need slightly more pellets if they're losing weight, or less if they're sedentary — adjust based on body condition

Always transition to a new pellet gradually over 1–2 weeks to avoid digestive upset.

Minerals & Supplements

Pet Lodge – Mineral & Salt Spool

Rabbits benefit from access to a mineral and salt supplement, especially those fed primarily on hay and pellets without a wide variety of fresh vegetables. The Pet Lodge Mineral & Salt Spool provides essential trace minerals and encourages natural licking behavior — rabbits self-regulate their intake, so it's safe to leave available at all times.

Hang it in the enclosure or attach to the cage bars — most rabbits take to it quickly.

🛒 Shop it: Pet Lodge – Mineral & Salt Spool

Fresh Sprouts: A Live Food Boost

Fresh sprouts are one of the most nutritious and enriching treats you can offer a rabbit. Sprouted grains and seeds are packed with live enzymes, vitamins, and moisture that dry feed can't provide — and rabbits go absolutely wild for them. They're also a great way to add variety and mental stimulation to your rabbit's diet.

Grow them right in your kitchen and offer a small handful a few times a week as a supplement to hay and pellets.

🛒 Shop it:

• FarmerYou Micro-Green Kitchen Grow Kit — a reusable, easy setup for growing fresh greens year-round
• Urban Meadows Non-GMO Sprouting Seed Mix – Chicory, Wheat & Barley

Safe Treats & Fresh Foods

Treats should make up no more than 5% of your rabbit's daily diet — a small amount goes a long way. Here's what's safe and what to avoid:

✅ Safe Treats & Fresh Foods

• Leafy greens: Romaine lettuce, green leaf lettuce, arugula, cilantro, parsley, basil, dill — offer a variety and rotate regularly
• Herbs: Mint, oregano, thyme, rosemary — in small amounts
• Vegetables: Bell pepper, zucchini, cucumber, broccoli (small amounts), bok choy
• Fruit: Strawberries, blueberries, apple (no seeds), banana, melon — high in sugar, so limit to a small piece a few times a week
• Sprouts: Wheat, barley, chicory, sunflower sprouts — excellent fresh food addition

❌ What to Avoid

• Iceberg lettuce — high water content, low nutrition, can cause loose stools
• Cabbage, kale, and spinach in large amounts — high in oxalates and calcium; fine occasionally but not as a staple
• Corn, peas, and beans — high starch content disrupts gut flora
• Nuts and seeds — too high in fat for rabbits
• Bread, crackers, and processed foods — no nutritional value and harmful to digestion
• Chocolate, caffeine, and onions — toxic to rabbits
• Avocado — toxic
• Rhubarb — toxic
• Commercial “rabbit treats” with added sugar — most are more candy than nutrition; read labels carefully

Water: Non-Negotiable

Fresh, clean water must be available at all times. Rabbits that don't drink enough are at serious risk of GI stasis and urinary problems. Both water bottles and heavy ceramic bowls work — many rabbits prefer bowls as they allow a more natural drinking posture. Check and refresh daily.

A Simple Daily Feeding Routine

• Always available: Unlimited timothy hay, fresh water, mineral spool
• Once or twice daily: Measured pellet portion (¼ cup per 5 lbs body weight)
• A few times a week: A small handful of fresh leafy greens or sprouts
• Occasional treat: A small piece of fruit or vegetable as a reward or enrichment

Questions about feeding your rabbit? Visit BloomingtonFarmAndFeed.com — we're happy to help you find the right setup for your bunny.