Royal Aspen Rabbitry

12/11/2025

🐇💡 Rabbits, Fiber, and the Myth of 80% "hay".

(A farm-side deep dive into what fiber actually does — and why most advice gets it wrong.)

If you’ve kept rabbits for more than five minutes, you’ve probably heard some version of the slogan:
“Rabbits need 80% hay in their diet!”

It spreads like a chain email from 2004 — catchy, simple, and completely detached from actual nutritional science.

Here’s the truth:
Rabbits don’t need more hay. Rabbits need the right kinds of fiber.
And that difference is everything.

Fiber isn’t one ingredient — it’s a whole ecosystem of structural plant components that do different jobs inside the gut. Think of it the way tech folks think about hardware: you can’t lump GPUs, RAM, and SSDs together and call it “computer stuff.” Fiber isn’t “fiber stuff.”
It’s a system.

Let’s break down the three big players.

⭐ 1. NDF – The Framework

Neutral Detergent Fiber is the “architecture” of the plant cell walls — hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin.
In the rabbit gut, NDF controls fill rate and motility. Too low and the gut slows. Too high and they can’t physically eat enough to meet energy needs.

Rabbits thrive in a balanced NDF zone — not the “drown them in hay” end of the spectrum.

⭐ 2. ADF – The Speed Governor

Acid Detergent Fiber (cellulose + lignin) is the part the rabbit digests more slowly.
Think of it as the “processing time” in the digestive pipeline.

Higher ADF = slower throughput.
Slower throughput = altered cecal fermentation.
Which means ADF directly affects microbial balance, not just stool texture.

Too high ADF is why feeding straight timothy hay — especially mature cuts — tanks muscle gains and forces rabbits to burn energy trying to digest what is effectively cardboard.

⭐ 3. Lignin – The Hidden Boss Level

Lignin is basically nature’s rebar — the indigestible part that sets the pace for the entire gut.

Rabbits can’t break it down at all.
But they need some to keep the cecum functioning properly.

Get lignin wrong and you get:
• soft cecotropes
• gut slowdown
• pH crashes
• microbial chaos
• the kind of vet bills that make you reevaluate your life choices

This is why alfalfa, with its moderate lignin and predictable structure, performs so well in pellet form — even though the internet insists it’s “too rich.” The research disagrees.

🧠 So… what does the rabbit actually need?

Not piles of hay.
Not a forage buffet.
Not random grass mixes.

They need a balanced, formulated fiber profile — one that controls gut speed, supports stable fermentation, and delivers predictable nutrients.

And guess what provides that?
Pellets.
Specifically: alfalfa-based, properly formulated commercial pellets backed by decades of feeding trials.

Hay can be enrichment.
Hay can be a snack.
Hay can be something to chew while contemplating the futility of life.
But hay alone or in 80% excess?
It’s not a diet.

🧪 Want More Deep Dives?

This post is a little taste of the Fiber Module from my ongoing rabbit nutrition course — where we break down myths, analyze actual research, and explain how rabbit digestion works without oversimplified slogans.

If you want to see more science, more breakdowns, or have nutrition questions of your own, drop them in the comments — or hop into our Skool community where we go even deeper.

Your rabbits will thank you.
Your feed bill will thank you.
Your sanity will absolutely thank you.

https://www.skool.com/mmcbunclub-6215

09/06/2025

09/05/2025

I have two junior English Spot does available.

Royal Aspen’s Alexandrite *
Black (aaB_CCDDE_)
Pedigreed
Brood Quality
DOB 26/06/25

Royal Aspen’s Sardonyx
Black (aaB_CCDDE_)
Pedigreed
Brood Quality
DOB 26/06/25

Available transport from Bonnyville thru Edmonton to Red Deer tomorrow (06/09) if meeting en route. Otherwise Pick up in La Corey AB

Should have complimentary bucks available in two weeks. Pedigrees and additional pictures and videos available upon request.

*Video will be posted in comments

07/20/2025

Royal Aspen’s Apple Crisp
Sam’s Spotted Cory x Sam’s Spotted Dalis
Gold ES Buck, 8 weeks old

Overall I’m not very impressed by this Buck. He has the same issues as his father, weak ankles and lack of markings, so he’s lacking any wow factor in my eyes, especially compared to his sister. Though I will admit that like his father he has nice deep colouration

I’m not going to keep him but I’ll be growing him out for a bit longer to see if he makes the cut to sell in a pair or trio with a better doe.

07/20/2025

Meet Royal Moon’s Icarus

Lilac Buck, 9 weeks

This boy is an absolute sweetheart, he reminds me a lot of Loki despite being in no way related.

He is a keeper for now.

I’m a big fan of his ankles, though I don’t like his shoulder. Markings wise he has nice face markings, could have a cleaner ear base and herringbone though. His spots are decently even, though I’m hoping they sharpen as he gets older.

07/13/2025

I’ll most likely have some Rex available soon, and some English spots available in the next couple of weeks, if you’re looking for something particular let me know.

07/12/2025

Usually I’m not one to advocate for Oxbow when it comes to rabbits. They are one of the largest contributors to improper diets in pet rabbits. But their critical care saved Nixie’s life.

Three days ago I found this Doe unable to move in the grow out pen due to what I believe is heatstroke. She couldn’t move anything but her head. So I brought her inside and give her a frozen water bottle to cool off. Luckily I was given a bag of said Critical Care by my boyfriend. For two days I hand fed her every couple of hours, having her sleep wrapped in beside me in bed so I could keep an eye on her.

As off yesterday morning she is completely back to normal, when I woke up to her walking for the first time in days. She was able to eat and drink on her own. And as of today she is in the barn with her sister. I don’t believe she would have made it without the critical care.

This also brings me to the importance of breeding for heat tolerance. I’ve only had one other rabbit struggle due to the heat, Hunter who I lost last year. This is something you can improve in your lines, I prioritize keeping rabbits who are unaffected by the heat and cold. And I only accommodate the majority of my rabbits with frozen water bottles during the first heat waves of the year as they adjust. Unless they’re in a crowded cage as moms with babies and growouts because they love to pile on top of eachother in the heat. Because this is not something that should be a concern within my barn.

That being said Nixie will be staying until she produces her replacement, and will be accommodated with the heat. But have I had another option for my program she would’ve been retired.