Rabbit Feeding Chart by Age: Baby to Senior

Kits under 3 weeks live on their mother's milk. From about 3 to 7 weeks they nurse while nibbling alfalfa hay and alfalfa-based pellets, and once weaned around 7 to 8 weeks they get unlimited alfalfa hay plus unlimited young-rabbit pellets. Growing rabbits need the extra protein and calcium in alfalfa, which is why they are not rationed the way adults are. Do not feed fresh greens or treats to a very young kit; wait until about 12 weeks to introduce a single green in a tiny amount. Orphaned kits need specialist feeding advice from a rabbit-savvy vet.

Kits typically begin nibbling hay and pellets at around 2 to 3 weeks of age, copying their mother, while still nursing. By 7 to 8 weeks they are usually fully weaned and eating alfalfa hay and young-rabbit pellets on their own. Nibbling starts earlier than many owners expect, so hay and pellets should be available in the nest area from about week 3 onward. The early weeks matter for the gut: sudden changes or early weaning can trigger dangerous digestive upset, so keep the diet steady during weaning.

Start the switch at around 7 months and complete it by about 12 months. Alfalfa hay and alfalfa-based pellets suit growing rabbits because of their higher protein and calcium, but in adults that same calcium can contribute to bladder sludge and stones, and the extra calories cause weight gain. Transition gradually: blend increasing amounts of grass hay such as timothy or orchard into the alfalfa over several weeks, and move from young-rabbit pellets to a measured portion of timothy-based adult pellets at the same time.

Most guidance allows a careful introduction of leafy greens from about 12 weeks of age. Offer one new green at a time in a small amount, then wait two or three days and check the droppings stay firm before adding another. Build slowly toward the adult portion of roughly one packed cup of mixed greens per 2 pounds of body weight per day. Skip fruit and sweet vegetables entirely until the rabbit is well established on greens, and keep them at treat levels for life.

An adult rabbit from about 1 to 5 years eats unlimited grass hay, which should be around 80 percent of the diet, plus roughly one packed cup of leafy greens per 2 pounds of body weight and about one-eighth to one-quarter cup of timothy-based pellets per 5 to 6 pounds of body weight daily. Treats such as fruit stay tiny, at most a tablespoon or two per day for an average rabbit. Fresh water is always available. Portions scale with the individual rabbit, so adjust with your vet.

Seniors, generally 5 to 6 years and older, usually stay on the adult structure of unlimited grass hay, daily greens, and measured pellets. The common change is direction of adjustment: many older rabbits lose weight or muscle, and a vet may recommend increasing pellets or adding some alfalfa to add calories, the opposite of the usual adult advice. Kidney function and calcium handling can also change with age, so senior diet tweaks should be made with a rabbit-savvy vet rather than guessed at home.

Treats are the smallest slice of the diet at every age and should be avoided entirely before about 7 months. For adults, keep fruit and sweet vegetables such as carrot to roughly one to two tablespoons per 2 pounds of body weight per day at most, and many owners feed less. Good options include a thin apple slice without seeds, a couple of berries, or a small piece of banana. Never feed bread, crackers, chocolate, dairy, nuts, seeds, or yogurt drops, which harm the rabbit gut.