Rabbit Feed Requirement Calculator
Correct feeding of rabbits is essential for maintaining digestive health, preventing obesity, and meeting the elevated nutritional demands of reproduction and lactation. The NRC Nutrient Requirements of Rabbits specifies daily dry matter (DM) intake as a proportion of body weight that varies with life stage. Adult maintenance rabbits consume approximately 5% of body weight in DM per day (combining hay and pellets). Lactating does at peak milk production may consume up to 20% of body weight. This calculator estimates daily DM requirement for different life stages and converts it to an as-fed weight based on the feed DM content, since hay typically contains 88-90% DM and pellets 88-92% DM.
Rabbit feed requirement formula
DM required (g/day) = Body weight (kg) x Life stage DM% / 100 x 1000
As-fed amount (g/day) = DM required / (Feed DM% / 100)
NRC DM intake percentages by life stage: adult maintenance 5%, growing kits 7%, pregnant doe 6% (higher in last week of gestation), lactating doe up to 20% at peak. These are guidelines; actual intake varies with feed quality and palatability.
Rabbit nutrition guidelines
- Unlimited grass hay should always be available; it should represent the majority of the diet by volume.
- Pellets should be limited for adult maintenance rabbits (1/4 cup per 2 kg body weight per day) to prevent obesity.
- Fresh water must always be available; rabbits are sensitive to dehydration.
- Introduce new foods gradually to avoid digestive upset; changes over 7-10 days reduce GI disturbance.
- Avoid high-sugar treats (fruit, carrots in large amounts) that can cause enteritis or obesity.
Rabbit feed requirement calculator: frequently asked questions
How much should a rabbit eat per day?
Adult maintenance rabbits typically consume approximately 5% of their body weight in dry matter per day, which includes both pellets and hay. For a 2 kg rabbit, this is approximately 100 g of DM per day. Growing kits, lactating does, and pregnant does require more: lactating does may consume up to 20% of body weight due to the high energy demands of milk production.
What should make up a rabbit's diet?
The NRC recommends that rabbits should have access to unlimited grass hay (timothy, orchard grass) at all times, which provides essential fiber for gut motility and prevents GI stasis. Pellets (16-18% protein, 18-22% fiber) supplement the hay. Fresh leafy greens can be added in small amounts. Treats should be minimal.
Why is dietary fiber critical for rabbits?
Rabbits are hindgut fermenters with a sensitive gastrointestinal system. Insufficient dietary fiber (indigestible fiber, NDF) causes gut dysmotility and can lead to GI stasis, a life-threatening condition. Hay should always form the majority of the diet by volume.
How does life stage affect feed requirements?
Maintenance adult rabbits need 5% body weight in DM per day. Growing kits need 6-8% due to high energy requirements for growth. Pregnant does in the last week of gestation begin increasing intake. Lactating does at peak milk production (days 7-21 post-partum) may need 20-30% of body weight in DM to support milk production.
What is cecotrophy in rabbits?
Cecotrophy is the practice of consuming special soft fecal pellets (cecotropes) produced by the hindgut overnight. These cecotropes are rich in B vitamins, protein, and beneficial bacteria and are an essential nutritional source for rabbits. Rabbits that do not practice cecotrophy (due to obesity, dental disease, or pain) may develop nutritional deficiencies.
Official sources
- National Research Council. Nutrient Requirements of Rabbits. National Academies Press: nap.edu.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service: ARS Homepage.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 15 June 2026. See our methodology.