This is a specific conversation about Rabbit food and hay — getting the diet right — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
Hay isn't a side dish for rabbits — it's the foundation of everything. It should make up around 80% of their diet at every life stage, because it's what keeps the gut moving and wears down those continuously growing teeth. Pellets are a small supplement, not the main event. Now, you've got a young kit, which actually changes the picture slightly — age matters here. How old exactly is your New Zealand White, are they in good health, and what are they currently eating day to day?
She's 4 months old, seems healthy and active. Right now I'm giving her a mix of pellets and some hay but honestly more pellets than hay. I wasn't sure if young rabbits needed more pellets for growth.
inparticular.ai
That's a really common assumption, and I understand where it comes from — but it's worth flipping your thinking. Young kits do need slightly more protein than adults, which is why alfalfa-based products are often recommended up to around 6 months. But the hay volume should still dominate. The mistake people make is loading up on pellets thinking they're fuelling growth, when actually restricting hay can cause gut slowdowns and dental problems that show up later. She should have unlimited hay available at all times — more than you think she could possibly eat. What hay are you currently offering her?
It's just a basic Timothy hay from the pet shop. Is that the right type for her age or should I be using something different?
inparticular.ai
Good question, and the honest answer is: Timothy is excellent hay and will be her staple for life, but for a rabbit under 6 months, alfalfa hay is actually the better primary hay. Alfalfa is higher in calcium and protein, which supports the rapid bone and muscle development happening right now in a kit. After 6 months, you switch her permanently to Timothy as the main hay — alfalfa becomes too calcium-rich for adults and can cause urinary issues long-term. So you're at a perfect moment to use the right hay for the right stage. I'd recommend Burgess Excel Feeding Hay with Alfalfa — it's a well-regarded, dust-extracted product that British rabbit owners use regularly, and it bridges exactly this young-rabbit need.
That makes sense. And how much should I be giving her compared to what I'm doing now?
inparticular.ai
The honest benchmark is simple: her daily hay portion should be roughly the same size as her body. Not a small handful — a proper pile she can burrow into, sleep in, and snack from continuously. If you fill a hay rack and it's gone in a couple of hours, that's the right direction. She should never be without it. The pellets for a 4-month-old kit her size should be around a tablespoon per kilogram of body weight — not a bowlful. Once you shift the ratio so hay is clearly dominant, you'll likely notice her gut sounds healthier and her droppings more consistent. New Zealand Whites grow quickly, so getting this right now sets her up well.
Really helpful, thank you. I'll get the alfalfa hay and cut back on the pellets.
inparticular.ai
That's exactly the right call. Burgess Excel Feeding Hay with Alfalfa is easy to find on Amazon UK and comes in generous bags — worth buying in bulk because you'll go through it quickly once she's eating it properly. Remember to switch to Timothy as her primary hay around 6 months, and keep the pellets as a small daily supplement from then on. She sounds like she's in good hands.
