The daily plate is unlimited grass hay, a generous handful of mixed leafy greens, and only a small measured amount of pellets. Hay is the bulk of it, not an afterthought.
Why this matters
A rabbit's gut is built to process grass all day, so hay keeps everything moving and wears down teeth that never stop growing. Greens add moisture and variety, but one green in huge amounts can upset the gut, which is why rotating three or more types beats loading up on a single 'superfood'. Pellets are a small top-up of nutrients, not the main meal.
What to watch for
- Hay eaten steadily through the day (the single best sign of a healthy gut)
- Firm, round, plentiful droppings
- Soft stool or diarrhoea after a new green, which means back it off and go slower
- A rabbit filling up on pellets and ignoring hay (cut the pellets back)
When to see a vet
If your rabbit's droppings turn soft or stop, or they go off their hay, that is worth a vet call. Gut trouble in rabbits can move fast.
Sources: Rabbit.org Foundation · Rabbit.org Foundation