The right Holland Lop rabbit food is unlimited grass hay, a measured portion of plain pellets and a cup or so of leafy greens a day. For an adult that means about 2 to 4 tablespoons of pellets, with hay making up roughly 80 percent of everything the rabbit eats.
A Holland Lop's diet is built from the bottom up: hay, then greens, then pellets, then a tiny amount of treats. In weight, hay should be about 80 percent of what your rabbit eats. Pellets fill in vitamins and minerals, greens add moisture and variety, and treats are for training and bonding only.
This order matters more for rabbits than for most pets. A rabbit's digestive system runs on long fiber, and its teeth grow all its life. Chewing hay for hours a day keeps the gut moving and grinds the teeth down. Holland Lops have short faces, which makes them a bit more prone to dental problems than long faced breeds, so a hay heavy diet is not optional for them.
These are the daily amounts we recommend for a typical Holland Lop. Split pellets into a morning and evening meal. One quarter cup equals 4 tablespoons.
| Age | Hay | Pellets per day | Leafy greens per day | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 to 12 weeks | Unlimited grass hay, some alfalfa is fine | Same amount as at the breeder, usually 3 to 4 tbsp | None yet | None |
| 3 to 6 months | Unlimited grass hay plus some alfalfa | 4 tbsp (1/4 cup), up to 5 tbsp for a lean, fast growing kit | Start with 1 leaf, build to 1/2 cup | None |
| 6 to 12 months | Unlimited grass hay, phase out alfalfa | Taper from 4 tbsp to 3 tbsp | 1/2 to 1 packed cup | Up to 1 tsp |
| Adult, 1 to 6 years | Unlimited grass hay | 2 to 4 tbsp, based on weight | 1 to 1.5 packed cups | Up to 1 tbsp |
| Senior, 6 years and up | Unlimited grass hay, softer second cut if teeth are worn | 2 to 4 tbsp, adjusted with your vet | 1 to 1.5 packed cups | Up to 1 tbsp |
If your adult is lean and active at 3 lbs 8 oz, it may need the full 4 tablespoons. If it is a sofa bunny drifting toward 4 lbs, drop to 2. Weigh monthly and adjust one tablespoon at a time.
Grass hays suited to adult rabbits include timothy, orchard grass, meadow hay, brome and oat hay. Mixing two kinds keeps picky rabbits interested. Alfalfa is a legume, not a grass. It is richer in protein and calcium, which helps growing kits, but too much calcium in adults is linked with bladder sludge, so we phase it out between 6 and 12 months.
Good hay is green to pale green, smells sweet and has long strands. Brown, dusty or musty hay goes in the trash. Store it in a cardboard box or cloth bag with airflow, never sealed in plastic where it can mold. We put fresh hay out in our barn every day, and we tell buyers to give a pile about the size of the rabbit morning and evening rather than letting the rack run empty.
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We do not recommend specific brands here, but we do recommend reading the label. For adults, look for plain, uniform pellets with roughly 14 to 16 percent protein, at least 18 percent fiber and low fat, made from timothy or alfalfa. Skip any mix with seeds, dried fruit, corn, nuts or colored bits. Rabbits pick out the sugary pieces and leave the rest.
Every bunny that leaves us goes home with transition feed, the food it was raised on. Use it. If you want to switch, do it over 7 to 10 days: one quarter new food for a few days, then half, then three quarters, then all new. A sudden switch is one of the most common reasons we get worried calls in the first week.
Introduce greens after about 12 weeks, one new type at a time, a leaf or two at first. Wait 24 hours and check the droppings. If they stay round and firm, keep that green on the list.
Spinach, kale, collards and mustard greens are fine a couple of times a week. Spinach and parsley are higher in oxalates, and kale and collards are higher in calcium, so rotate them rather than feeding the same one daily.
Fruit treats for an adult top out at about 1 tablespoon a day: a slice of apple without seeds, a blueberry or two, a thin coin of banana or a strawberry top. That small amount is enough for training. Store bought yogurt drops, crackers and seed sticks marketed for rabbits are not good for them.
Never feed iceberg lettuce, onion, garlic, chives, leeks, avocado, rhubarb, potato, chocolate, bread or dairy. Also keep houseplants out of reach, since many are toxic and Holland Lops will taste anything at floor level.
The biggest is free feeding pellets to an adult. Pellets are dense and tasty, so a rabbit with an unlimited bowl fills up on them and eats less hay. The result is a heavier rabbit with softer droppings and more dental wear problems. The second is giving greens to an 8 week old kit on day one. A new home is already stressful for a baby gut. Keep a new kit on exactly what it ate here for the first two weeks, then start greens slowly after 12 weeks. If you are bringing home a young bunny, our baby Holland Lop guide covers the first weeks in more detail.
Diet is only half of daily care. Housing, exercise and grooming are covered in our Holland Lop care guide.
Holland Lop bunnies eat grass hay all day, a measured amount of plain rabbit pellets and, once they are past about 12 weeks, small portions of leafy greens. Young bunnies under 6 months can also have some alfalfa hay for extra protein and calcium. Fresh water should always be available in a heavy bowl.
Holland Lops should not eat iceberg lettuce, onions, garlic, chives, leeks, avocado, rhubarb, potatoes, chocolate, bread, crackers, cereal, nuts, seeds or dairy. Also avoid colorful pellet mixes with seeds and dried corn. They encourage selective eating and can upset the gut, so stick to plain, uniform pellets.
An adult Holland Lop weighing about 3 lbs needs unlimited grass hay, 2 to 4 tablespoons of plain pellets, about 1 to 1.5 packed cups of leafy greens and no more than 1 tablespoon of fruit a day. Adjust pellets by a tablespoon if your rabbit gains or loses weight over a month.
The best food for a Holland Lop bunny is fresh grass hay, such as timothy, orchard grass or oat hay. Look for green, sweet smelling hay with long strands and little dust. Pellets should be plain and uniform, roughly 14 to 16 percent protein and at least 18 percent fiber for adults, without added seeds or colored pieces.
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