Rabbit Diet Calculator
Rabbit pellets and greens from body weight.
What it does
Rabbits run on hay first and everything else second. Grass hay stays unlimited around the clock while pellets measure a quarter cup per 6 lb and greens a packed cup per 2 lb. A 5 lb rabbit eats 0.21 cup of pellets with 2.5 cups of greens over endless hay.
The tool above runs House Rabbit Society rates. Enter weight and it prints pellets, greens, and the standing hay rule. Six pounds gives exactly a quarter cup with 3 cups of greens; ten pounds gives 0.42 cup with 5 cups.
Three welfare sources align. HRS sets unlimited hay with 2 cups of greens per 6 lb minimum and quarter-cup pellets, the Rabbit.org Foundation gives a cup per 2 lb for adults, and RSPCA frames 85/10/5 hay-greens-nuggets with 25 g nuggets per kg. The 2.5-cup default clears every floor.
Greens need rotation, not repetition. Three or more leafy types daily across romaine, herbs, and spring mixes beat single-greens ruts, while fruit stays a rare treat and grains stay out. Kits and seniors follow different charts; adults 1-5 own these numbers.
How to use
- Enter the rabbit weight in pounds.
- Read pellets first (timothy-based).
- Read greens for 3+ leafy types.
- Keep grass hay unlimited always.
- Rotate greens; fruit rarely.
- Confirm with a rabbit vet yearly.
Formula
- weight
- Adult rabbit weight in pounds.
HRS sets pellets and 2-cup-per-6-lb greens floors; rabbit.org gives 1 cup per 2 lb; RSPCA sets 25 g/kg nuggets.
Worked example
Example: 5 lb rabbit
Defaults: 5 lb adult rabbit.
- Input: 5 lb adult rabbit.
- Pellets: 5 / 6 x 0.25 = 0.21 cup.
- Greens: 5 / 2 = 2.5 cups (clears the 1.67 HRS floor).
- Hay: unlimited grass hay always.
- Tool shows 0.21 cup pellets, 2.5 cups greens, unlimited hay.
Reference table
| Rabbit | Pellets | Greens |
|---|---|---|
| 4 lb | 0.17 cup | 2 cups |
| 5 lb | 0.21 cup | 2.5 cups |
| 6 lb | 0.25 cup | 3 cups |
| 8 lb | 0.33 cup | 4 cups |
| 10 lb | 0.42 cup | 5 cups |
Limits
- Adult 1-5 rules only. Kits and seniors differ.
- Planning rates; condition adjusts portions.
- Ignores dental and GI cases.
- Vet guidance rules illness.
Common mistakes
- Free-feeding pellets like hay.
- One green type forever.
- Skipping hay as the base.
- Fruit as daily food.
- Muesli mixes with selective feeding.
Try it yourself
Quick checks. Answers sit tucked under each question.
6 lb rabbit?
Pellets 6/6 x 0.25 = 0.25 cup. Greens 6/2 = 3 cups.
10 lb rabbit?
Pellets 10/6 x 0.25 = 0.42 cup. Greens 10/2 = 5 cups.
Questions
How many pellets?
Weight over 6 times a quarter cup: 5/6 x 0.25 = 0.21 cup daily.
How many greens?
Weight over 2 in packed cups: 5/2 = 2.5 cups with 3+ leafy types.
How much hay?
Always unlimited grass hay (timothy, orchard, oat), at least a rabbit-sized bundle daily.
What does RSPCA say?
25 g per kg (one egg cup per kg) under the 85/10/5 split: 56.7 g here.
Are treats allowed?
Yes. Fruit counts as rare treats only; starchy roots and grains stay out.
Do babies differ?
Yes. Kits need alfalfa-based feeding and seniors need vet-tuned plans; adult 1-5 rules apply here.
Sources
- House Rabbit Society: Diet (pellets, greens, hay)
- RSPCA: Rabbit Diet Advice (85/10/5, 25 g/kg)
- Rabbit.org: Best Vegetables (1 cup per 2 lb)