Rabbits are incredibly popular pets and it’s no wonder when you think about what intelligent creatures they are; not to mention that they’re super cute! But being a good rabbit owner means knowing as much about your pet as possible. This ensures you are able to provide the best level of care.
One of the things that a lot of rabbit owners want to know is what exactly is the weight of a bunny, or at least, what the average rabbit weight is. Truth be told, different rabbits will be different weights and this largely comes down to breed. There are several factors that influence the weight of a bunny, and we will review them below.
Before you start looking into how much do rabbits weigh, you will need to know what breed you’re dealing with. If you’re struggling to determine this, there are some handy tools online that can help you figure out what type of rabbit you have. This one asks several questions and narrows it down and is quite accurate.
Once you know the type of rabbit you have, this guide will help you determine the right weight for your bun and how to ensure it stays healthy.
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What Can Affect The Weight Of A Rabbit
Just like humans, there are a lot of things that can affect the average weight of a rabbit. There are several categories of rabbit ranging from dwarf to giant so it goes without saying that what is normal for one bunny is not so normal for the next. So, when you think about the question how much does a rabbit weigh, you have to take all of the following into consideration.
Breed
One of the first things to think about is the breed of the rabbit. The smallest breeds, such as the Netherland Dwarf can weigh as little as one kilo but if you’re the proud owner of an Angora the rabbit weight (kg) could be up to 5 kg.
As we mentioned earlier, if you are unsure about the breed of your rabbit, and that’s not uncommon, especially where cross breeds are concerned, there are tools you can use to narrow things down a bit.
Age
Age plays a role in many things and your rabbit’s weight is certainly one of them. As your bunny grows, it will naturally start to weigh more. Of course, there is a limit as to what you would want your bun to weigh so it’s important to make sure it doesn’t become overweight or even worse, obese.
In addition to this, you have to consider that your rabbit’s food preferences and eating habits will change over the course of its life. This can contribute to weight loss or gain. Health conditions, growth spurts and many other things will affect how much or how little your rabbit is eating.
Size
As we have already discussed, different breeds come in different sizes so your rabbit may be taller or longer than another animal. Always use this as a starting point to figure out what your rabbit should weigh.
Health
Rabbits are prey animals in the wild so they have developed a very useful trait: hiding that they are sick to make themselves appear less vulnerable. This is an excellent survival tactic when it comes to predators; but as a pet, this behavior can make life challenging for the pet’s caregiver.
Some rabbits can develop an illness, and owners may not know until it is too late. However, if you monitor your rabbit’s weight, this could give you a clue that something is up.
How much do rabbits’ weight reflect the health of a bunny?
A lot of rabbits tend to stop eating when they are unwell, and this naturally results in weight loss. So keep an eye on changes in your rabbits weight over time.
What Weight Should Your Rabbit Be According To Breed?
According to Wikipedia, there are more than 300 breeds of domestic rabbit as of 2017. That’s a lot of bunnies and we just don’t have the capacity to include all of them in this guide. However, we have put together this handy table that answers the question how much do rabbits weigh? so take a look to find the breed of your pet and its ideal weight.
Average Rabbit Weight by Breed
| Rabbit Breed | Rabbit weight lbs. | Rabbit weight kg |
|---|---|---|
| American | 9.0 – 12.0 | 4.1– 5.4 |
| English Angora | 5.0 – 8.0 | 2.3 – 3.6 |
| French Angora | 7.5 – 10.5 | 3.4 – 4.8 |
| Giant Angora | 8.5 + | 4.5 |
| Satin Angora | 6.0 – 9.5 | 2.9 – 4.3 |
| BelgianHare | 6.0 – 9.5 | 2.9 – 4.3 |
| Beveren | 8.0 – 11.0 | 3.6 – 5.4 |
| Brittania Petite | 1.5 – 2.5 | 0.7 – 1.2 |
| Californian | 8.0 – 10.5 | 4.1 – 4.8 |
| Champagne d’Argent | 9.0 – 12.0 | 4.1 – 5.4 |
| Checkered Giant | 11.0+ | 5.0 – 11.3 |
| Cinnamon | 8.5 – 11.0 | 4.5 – 5.0 |
| Creme d’Argent | 8.5 – 11.0 | 3.6 – 5.0 |
| Dutch | 3.5 – 5.5 | 2.0 – 2.3 |
| Dwarf Hotot | 2.0 – 3.0 | 1.0 – 1.5 |
| English Spot | 5.0 – 8.0 | 2.3 – 3.6 |
| Flemish Giant | 13.0+ | 6.4 – 11.3 |
| Florida White | 4.0 – 6.0 | 1.8 – 2.7 |
| Harlequin | 6.5 – 9.5 | 2.7 – 4.1 |
| Havana | 4.5 – 6.5 | 2.0 – 2.9 |
| Himalayan | 6.0 – 8.0 | 2.7 – 3.6 |
| Blanc de Hotot | 8.0 – 12.0 | 3.6 – 5.0 |
| Jersey Woolly | 3.0 – 3.5 | 1.1 – 1.6 |
| Lilac | 6.0 – 8.0 | 2.3 – 3.6 |
| English Lop | 9.0+ | 4.5 – 5.0 |
| French Lop | 10.0+ | 4.5+ |
| American Fuzzy Lop | 3.0 – 4.0 | 1.6 – 1.8 |
| Holland Lop | 3.0 – 4.0 | 1.8 – 2.9 |
| Mini Lop | 4.5 – 6.0 | 2.3 – 2.7 |
| Lionhead | 3.0 – 3.7 | 1.4 – 2.0 |
| New Zealand | 9.0 – 12.0 | 4.1 – 5.4 |
| Netherland Dwarf | 1.1 – 2.5 | 0.5 – 1.2 |
| Palomino | 8.0 – 12.0 | 4.5 – 5.0 |
| Polish | 2.5 – 3.5 | 1.1 – 1.6 |
| Standard Rex | 6.0 – 10.5 | 2.7 – 4.8 |
| Mini Rex | 3.0 – 4.5 | 1.4 – 2.0 |
| Rhinelander | 9.0 – 10.0 | 4.1 – 4.5 |
| Sable | 7.0 – 10.0 | 3.2 – 4.5 |
| Satin | 8.5 – 12.0 | 4.3 – 4.5 |
| Silver | 4.0 – 7.0 | 1.8 – 3.2 |
| Silver Fox | 9.0 – 12.0 | 4.5 – 5.4 |
| Silver Marten | 6.0 – 9.5 | 2.7 – 4.3 |
| Tan | 4.0 – 6.0 | 1.8 – 2.7 |
How To Weigh Your Rabbit
Keeping on top of your rabbit’s weight is so important. If you can check how much your rabbit weighs every day then that’s great. But if not, then you can do it once a week, which will be more than enough to notice any possible changes. When weighing your rabbit, you should take notes not only of their weight but also of any physical changes you may have noticed. Later in this guide, we will show you what to look for if you don’t have scales.
Where possible, using a scale is the most accurate way to discover your bunny’s weight. You can use any type of scale including your kitchen scale although those with a digital reading are the easiest to use. The main thing to keep in mind is that your rabbit will comfortably fit on the scale. If you’re asking how much does a large rabbit weigh then you’re probably going to need a bigger scale!
Also remember that rabbits are timid animals as you will have learned when bonding with your bunny. It’s super important not to do anything that could cause your rabbit stress so if they don’t appear as though they want to get onto the scale, don’t ever force them. You can always try again later on.
You can also weigh yourself, and then weigh yourself holding your pet bun, and subtract the two numbers. However, this method will be less accurate the less your bunny weighs.
If you are having serious problems getting your bun on the scale then you could always enlist the help of your vet.
How To Check Rabbits’ Weight Without Scales
If you can’t find your scale, it’s not working, your bunny isn’t amenable to being weighed, or you simply don’t have a scale, there’s no need to worry because you can still check the weight of your rabbit without them. This can be done by visually checking your rabbit and feeling certain parts of its body to determine whether its weight has changed.
Remember to be gentle with your rabbit and again, if they seem in any way distressed or unhappy with what you are doing, save it for another time.
You’ll need to start by checking around the ribs which you can do by using your hands to put gentle pressure on the rib cage. This is a great place to feel if your rabbit has lost any weight or indeed, put some on. If you’re having to use more pressure to get a feel of the ribs, this shows that the rabbit may be carrying a little too much weight. Conversely, if the ribs are very prominent, this shows that the rabbit may be underweight.
The next thing you can check are the hips and pelvis which can be done in the same way as checking the ribs. These bones will be more obvious in rabbits that are underweight but you’ll need to try harder to feel them when the bunny is packing a few too many pounds.
Finally, feel over your rabbit’s spine. If you can feel large amounts of fat covering it then this tells you that the rabbit has put on weight. Conversely, if the spine is very easy to feel then this may signify some weight loss.
Help! My Rabbit Gained Weight
Sometimes it is normal for rabbits to gain weight. Perhaps because of growing due to age, pregnancy and other normal causes. However, for the most part, rabbits will put on weight because they are eating too much and not getting enough exercise. It’s important for rabbits to have at least four hours of free running time every day and a healthy balanced diet.
There are some medical problems that could cause a rabbit to gain weight such as liver disease, arthritis, heart disease and fly strike, so it is important to have your pet checked by a vet to rule these out. Sometimes, even skin conditions can cause weight gain in rabbits.
If you find that the cause is lack of exercise, it is worth building your rabbit a larger enclosure, especially if you don’t have the time to supervise them while they run freely around the home and garden. A rabbit hutch inside a large enclosure will give them the space they need to maintain a healthy weight.
You will also need to make sure that you give your rabbit the best diet which should be made up from their own body size in hay every day as well as leafy greens and a small amount of rabbit pellets. Zucchini is also excellent to help a rabbit maintain a healthy weight.
Help! My Rabbit Is Losing Weight
Similarly to rabbits that lose weight, there are a number of medical conditions that could cause a bunny to lose weight. These might include, but are not limited to
- Neoplasia
- Chronic respiratory infractions
- Dental disease
- Kidney failure
- Arthritis
- Parasites
- Heart failure
- Urolithiasis
- Skin infections
- Poisoning
Your rabbit may also lose weight owing to environmental factors and it isn’t uncommon for bunnies that are grieving the loss of a companion to drop a few pounds. However, how you treat the weight loss problem is largely down to what caused it in the first place.
- For rabbits with dental disease, corrective surgery may be needed.
- Some rabbits may become dehydrated, in which case, they will require fluid treatment either orally or through an intravenous drip.
- If the rabbit is suffering from any pain then your vet may prescribe analgesics to relieve this.
- Changes to the diet will almost certainly be advised by your vet in order to help your rabbit regain any weight it has lost as well as improving its digestive health.
- For rabbits that have medical conditions like kidney disease or heart failure, medications can be prescribed to treat the condition and lessen its effects. Not only might this help to improve problems with weight loss but it will also improve the rabbit’s quality of life.
Conclusion
Rabbits come in all shapes and sizes so there is no simple answer to the question how much does a rabbit weigh? Instead, you have to think about a variety of things such as the breed, health and size of the rabbit.
One of the most important things as a rabbit owner is to make sure that your pet has a healthy diet and plenty of exercise in order to maintain a healthy weight. On top of this, it’s a good idea to regularly weigh your rabbit and check it to notice any changes. If you are concerned, speak to your vet who will be able to diagnose any potential problems and offer treatment.
Further Reading: Regardless of shape, size, and weight, rabbits certainly like to jump!