Unlike pellets or vegetables, a rabbit's hay isn't measured out in spoonfuls or given at set times: it's offered freely, all day long. And that's not a matter of convenience — it's the basis of how its body works.
How much a rabbit eats
As a reference, a healthy adult rabbit eats a volume of hay each day roughly the size of its own body. There's no need to weigh it: what matters is that it never runs out, so it always has something to chew on. A good sign is that there's still some hay left in the feeder when you top it up; if it runs out and stays empty for hours, you're giving too little.
Why unlimited and not rationed
A rabbit's digestive system is built to receive fiber continuously, not in separate meals. When hay is always available, gut transit doesn't stop, which is exactly what it needs to keep working. Rationing hay, by contrast, leaves gaps with no fiber that its digestion doesn't handle well.
Teeth that never stop growing
A rabbit's teeth grow throughout its life, and the only way to wear them down is by chewing fibrous material for many hours a day. Hay does this job better than any other food: it forces a long, side-to-side chewing motion that keeps the teeth in check. Without enough hay, dental problems appear that are later hard to fix.
How to tell if it's eating enough
A rabbit that's eating well produces plenty of droppings, round and uniform in size, and keeps a stable weight. If you notice the droppings getting smaller or scarcer, or the animal losing interest in hay, it's worth reviewing the diet and, if it continues, seeing the vet.
Hay, yes — and what about the rest?
Hay should make up most of the diet, around four-fifths of what it eats. The rest is rounded out by a ration of suitable leafy greens and a small amount of quality pellets. Greens and pellets are the sidekicks; hay is the base.
