Rabbit pellets are a key component of a rabbit’s diet, made of ingredients like wheat and alfalfa meal.
They’re easy to store and feed to your animals, but it is important to know how much pellets to feed a baby rabbit because they are growing and need the nutrients to help them grow healthy and strong.
Baby rabbits should have a diet that consists mostly of a small amount of pellets.
Aim to feed your baby rabbit ¼ cup of pellets for every three pounds that they weigh, or ½ cup of pellets for every 6 lbs of body weight. Use timothy pellets instead of alfalfa hay, which can be too high in protein and calcium for baby rabbits’ sensitive stomachs.
Here is a guide on how much pellets to feed a baby rabbit based on their age, weight, and other factors.
How Much to Feed a Baby Rabbit
Baby rabbits are born blind and deaf, and they are completely dependent on their mother for food. Their mother’s milk is very high in fat and protein, which helps the babies grow quickly.
A baby rabbit should consume about 10% of its body weight in milk every day. If a baby rabbit is not getting enough milk, it may need to be fed supplemental formula.
There are many commercial rabbit formulas available, or you can make your own by mixing evaporated goat’s milk, infant human formula, and Lactol powder in the proportions recommended by your veterinarian.
As your rabbit gets older, it should be fed several times a day. Again, the best way to determine how much to feed a baby rabbit is by body weight. A good rule of thumb is to give them two to four tablespoons of food per day.
As your rabbit gets older, you can reduce the number of feedings from three or four to just one or two, depending on your rabbit’s health, behavior, and breed.
Regardless, the type of food you give them is also important. They need a diet that is high in fiber and low in sugar.
A good diet for a baby rabbit includes hay, fresh vegetables, and a small amount of pellets. You should also make sure that they have access to fresh water at all times.
When feeding a baby rabbit, it is important to remember that they are growing quickly and their stomachs are delicate.
As a result, you should start with small amounts of food and increase gradually as they grow.
Talk to your veterinarian if you have any questions about how often or how much to feed your baby rabbits.
Do Baby Rabbits Need Pellets?
Baby rabbits do not need pellets, especially early in life.
In fact, baby rabbits are born without any fur and their eyes are closed. They are born helpless and need their mother’s milk for nutrition and warmth.
After about two weeks, they will start to grow fur and their eyes will open. At this point, they can start to eat solid food. Baby rabbits should not be given pellets until they are at least three or four weeks old.
At this point, any pellets you do give your rabbits should be merely supplements to acquaint them with the idea of eating solid food.
Nutritional Benefits of Pellets to Baby Rabbits
Just like humans, young rabbits need a nutrient-rich diet to support their rapid growth. One of the best ways to ensure that they are getting all the nutrients they need is to feed them pellets.
Again, you need to wait until they are old enough (eight weeks) but then, young rabbits can be fed pellets.
Pellets are specially formulated to provide baby rabbits with a balance of proteins, fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
They also contain less sugar than many other types of rabbit food, which helps to prevent dental problems.
In addition, pellets are easy to digest, which is important for young rabbits whose digestive systems are still developing.
Pellets can help your baby rabbits get used to the idea of eating solid food. They can also help boost immunity and confer a variety of other health benefits as well.
How Often to Feed a Baby Rabbit
Baby rabbits should be fed 2-4 times a day until they are around 6 weeks old. At that point, you can start to transition them to eating hay and pellets just twice a day.
By eight weeks old, most baby rabbits will only need to be fed once a day.
How Often to Feed Baby Rabbits Pellets
At birth, baby rabbits typically weigh only 3 ounces. For the first few weeks of their lives, baby rabbits rely on their mother’s milk for sustenance.
Around three or four weeks old, baby rabbits can start to eat hay and pellets. These should be fed in small doses and shouldn’t be a major part of their diet – just a little bit here and there to acquaint them with the idea of what pellets and solid foods are like.
At 6 weeks old, baby rabbits can be weaned off their mother’s milk entirely and should be eating hay, pellets, vegetables, and water on their own.
While there is no set amount of food that a baby rabbit needs to eat per day, a general rule of thumb is to offer them 1/2 cup of pellets per 6 pounds of body weight.
For example, a 3-pound rabbit would need 1/4 cup of pellets per day. It’s important to monitor your rabbit’s intake and transition to solid foods slowly to avoid gut problems.
Pellet Feeding Charts for Baby Rabbits
Are you still confused about how much to feed your baby rabbit? Here’s a chart to help you figure things out!
| Age | Amount of Pellets |
| 3 weeks old | Mother’s milk with a few nibbles of pellets |
| 4 weeks old | Mother’s milk with a few nibbles of pellets |
| 5 weeks old | Mother’s milk with a few nibbles of pellets |
| 6 weeks old | Mother’s milk with a few nibbles of pellets |
| 7 weeks old | Unlimited access to Timothy hay and pellets |
| 8 weeks old | Unlimited access to Timothy hay and pellets |
Pellets are an important part of a baby rabbit’s diet because they provide the nutrients necessary for growth.
The amount of pellets you feed your baby rabbit should increase as they age so that they are getting the right amount of nutrients. If you have any questions about your bunny’s diet, please consult with a vet.
Rebekah is a full-time homesteader. On her 22 acres, she raises chickens, sheep, and bees, not to mention she grows a wide variety of veggies. She has a huge greenhouse and does lots of DIY projects with her husband in her ever-growing homesteading endeavor. Learn more about Rebekah here.