Feeding five rabbits at different life stages

Five rabbits across eight years of age range — that's a genuinely interesting feeding challenge. Before I get into the specifics: hay should make up around 80% of every rabbit's diet regardless of age. It's not a supplement or a treat — it's what keeps their gut moving and their teeth worn down correctly. Pellets are a small top-up, not the main event. Now, to give you useful advice: what are the ages of each rabbit exactly, are any of them dealing with health issues like dental problems or weight concerns, and what are you currently feeding across the group?

Good news first: the fact that you're prioritising hay is exactly right, and meadow hay from a farm is a perfectly solid base. But you're right to question whether one approach fits all five. Your yearlings are still technically young adults — their digestive systems are robust and they can handle a slightly broader mix. Your two middle-aged adults are in their prime and straightforward to feed. Your 9-year-old is where I'd focus attention. Senior rabbits often develop dental wear and slower gut motility, and they genuinely benefit from softer, finer hay that's easier to chew and process. Timothy hay is ideal here — it's softer than coarse meadow hay, very consistent in quality, and widely recommended for seniors and dental-sensitive rabbits. What's your current setup — do they all share a feeding area or do you have separate spaces where you could offer different hay to different rabbits?

It genuinely is for a senior rabbit, yes. Meadow hay is variable — different grasses, different textures, different coarseness depending on the cut and season. Timothy is a single grass, consistently fine and soft, with a good fibre profile. For a 9-year-old rabbit whose teeth may be starting to wear unevenly, the consistency matters a lot. Chewing difficulties often go unnoticed until they become a real problem, and softer hay reduces that risk significantly. My recommendation would be Burgess Excel Timothy Hay — it's one of the most consistent quality options available, dust-extracted, and specifically suited to rabbits with sensitive digestion or dental concerns. Your other four can carry on with the meadow hay happily. One station with Timothy for your senior is a small change that could make a real difference over the next few years. Would it help to also talk through whether the pellet amounts need adjusting across the different ages?

It's worth adjusting, yes. Your yearlings are at a stage where you can be fairly generous — roughly one tablespoon of pellets per kilogram of body weight per day is the standard guide, and they're active enough to use it. Your middle adults should be at the lower end of that — around one tablespoon per kilo, not more, because excess pellets at that age tend to fill them up and reduce hay intake, which is the opposite of what you want. Your senior is the one to watch most carefully. Older rabbits often need slightly more calories if they're losing condition, but they should still be getting the vast majority of their nutrition from hay. If your 9-year-old looks trim or is losing weight, a small increase in pellets is fine — but if they're a healthy weight, keep pellets minimal and focus on making sure they're actually eating the hay rather than leaving it. Any signs of your senior going off hay or dropping food?

That sounds like exactly the right move. Five healthy rabbits with a hay-first diet is already a great foundation — this is just fine-tuning for the long haul. Keep an eye on your senior's eating habits and weight every few weeks; that's the age where small changes can creep up. If anything shifts — slower eating, food dropping from the mouth, weight loss — get a vet to check the teeth. But with good hay and sensible pellet portions across the group, you're in a really solid position.