Lucerne hay can be used for lactating does, or rabbits needing extra calcium or to put on some weight – if this is the case, contact your vet for more specific advice. Hay is the most important part of a rabbit's daily intake. and they look gorg when they eat it . Timothy hay is the most-recommended hay for rabbits. Timothy hay is the best choice for an adult rabbit, while alfalfa hay is ideal for bunnies once they are weaned and up to six months old. 00 (£14.00/kg) Alfalfa (Lucerne), a legume not grass, is also grown as animal feed. high amounts of calcium and protein that is essential for growth, 9 DIY Hedgehog Cage Plans You Can Build Today (With Pictures), 7 DIY Guinea Pig Beds You Can Build Today (With Pictures), 9 DIY Hamster Toys You Can Make Today (With Pictures). All Oxbow hays are hand-selected and hand-sorted, ensuring that your pet receives the very best that Mother Nature has to offer. It’s a fast process – rabbit teeth grow about 12cm a year. We will highlight meadow, alfalfa and timothy to help you choose the best hay for your rabbit. Meadow hay usually has the advantages of being cheaper and more widely available than Timothy hay. The following information aims to explain hay, what is best for your bunny and why. Im considering meadow or timmothy hay from hay … If you intend to use hay as the main bedding and have space to store it, it will be a lot cheaper to buy by the bale from a local farmer or riding stables. On the contrary, Meadow hay is composed of different natural grasses. Our Premium Quality, Sweet Smelling, Timothy & Meadow Hay 50/50 box for rabbits is harvested at the optimum time ensuring the maximum amount of nutrients. Jared Edinburgh 447 views. This hay is great for adult rabbits. You get. Feel Free Outdoor Adventures Recommended for you hay suitable for rabbits, and as described on the rabbit diet page, hay is a vital ingredient for keeping healthy, happy rabbits. Herbs provide essential vitamins and nutrients, as well as remedies to common ailments. Chewing on hay grinds your rabbit's ever-growing teeth down to a safe level, preventing ulcers, abscesses and eye problems. In addition to good nutrition, this hay has a nice sweet smell and taste that most rabbits absolutely love. Some people may not be able to provide a fresh forage diet for their rabbits, so the next best option is hay. Don't worry. Plus, if he eats different kinds of hay, he will eat more of the mixture. This will make the eventual transition to meadow hay only less jarring. Thirdly: rabbits who are deprived of appropriate hay are more likely to chew on their own fur and thus predispose themselves to intestinal obstruction from hairballs. Always offer a large quality of fresh grass or grass hay from this list: Timothy, Oaten, Wheaten, Pasture, Paddock, Meadow or Ryegrass hays. High-fibre hay is also critical for a healthy and functional digestive system. Blended hays replicate a rabbits natural diet whilst providing a wider range of vitamins and minerals when comapared to feeding one hay type and provides variety for ‘fussy bunnies’. Fiber is perhaps the most … Price – $13.97. There are a few extra considerations for young rabbits though. Best overall: Small Pet Select 2nd Cutting “Perfect Blend” Timothy Hay Pet Food. Many rabbits prefer a mixture of these hays, if you can provide it, however the most simple option is for a diet of mainly oaten hay. A hay combinations also gives your rabbit the best nutritional benefits. Three reasons why Timothy hay is so good for your rabbit. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A good meadow grass hay can provide variety for your rabbits and can be used alongside Timothy hay or you may want to alternate between them. Meadow Hay is also imported and can be found in Burgess Excel Fresh Forage Feeding Hay and has a softer texture than Timothy Hay. They providing adequate amounts of fibers for gastrointestinal and dental health. Report. The thing with alfalfa hay is that it is high in calcium and protein which rabbits can eat but not in large … If your bunny is normal weight, has good teeth and is otherwise healthy, then timothy, oaten or orchard / grass hays are an obvious choice. Knowing which hay is the best can be confusing, and you want to make sure the hay you purchase is high-quality and free from mold, dust, and chemicals. Straw is also commonly found though not strictly a hay. This is because they contain more fiber and less calcium than legume hay. Loading... Unsubscribe from Jared Edinburgh? There can be other plants included in the mixture, as well as debris and stone. Rabbits love to forage, so if you can’t provide forage opportunities, then herbal hay is a good choice. Chaff is also an option for rabbits which is cut up hay and this can be added into a bowl of 'pellets or mixes' to encourage hay intake and be a good transitional option! Key Benefits. Why Alfafa hay isn’t good for adult rabbits. Rabbits need to eat their body-size in fresh hay each day. So it’s not “bad” for rabbits, but it isn't not ideal for everyone. It is recommended for adult rabbits. Aim for a ratio of around 60:40, mixing alfalfa … Grass hay (e.g. Rabbits love hay when it is first placed in their cage. After a few hours or so, they may find it less appealing. Alfalfa is a legume from the pea family that is high in minerals and provides plenty of energy. Hay eating rabbits are more likely to drink water and therefore will urinate more, which helps to protect them against the formation of bladder stones. 00 (£14.00/kg) Cutting – Unknown. Timothy hay is grass hay that is a cool-season crop and can withstand harsh winters. Hay is the most important part of a rabbit's daily intake. Hay should always be freely available for your rabbit to eat but it also makes a good bedding and helps to keep hutch rabbits warm and cosy. If your bunny does not like the timothy or orchard hay, you try this Meadow hay for the rabbit. Putting hay directly on top of the litter in the litter box is one way to offer hay. Small Pet Select 2nd Cutting Timothy Hay Small Pet Select Meadow Hay (Very soft hay. I normally gave my rabbit timothy hay, but he doesn't seem to eat it much. This meadow hay bag comes with 15 Oz plastic bags only. There are many other hays available that provide the necessary fiber, minerals, and vitamins, with the main difference being in texture and flavor. timothy hay is the most common rabbit hay and you will find it at most pet stores. Some mixtures of meadow hay contain only grass hay; some contain varying amounts of clover, vetch, trefoil and other legumes. Suitable for rabbits Complementary food to accompany our hays High in fibre Supports a healthy digestive system Supports a healthy respiratory system Promotes good dental health Our natural Coltsfoot should be fed alongside hay and fresh greens (wild … Calcium is used to make their teeth which grow constantly and to keep their bones strong. Common types of grass hay for rabbits and guinea pigs include timothy hay, oaten hay, meadow hay and paddock hay. Hay eating rabbits are more likely to drink water and therefore will urinate more, which helps to protect them against the formation of bladder stones. An avid animal lover, Roland started this blog to help all varieties of pets and their owners on their journey to living their best lives. The ideal rabbit diet should be made up of 80% hay and 20% greens. If you need the best rabbit hay, buy any good timothy hay brand. There is a lot of discussion about hay; what types of hay, and how much to feed. As such, the protein and calcium content can vary depending upon what type of grasses are grown. Contains 100% oat grass hay. People are often scared of feeding too much or feeding the wrong thing and there is a lot of misinformation and food myths out there. This means they can get too many calories and not enough fiber. Timothy hay is grass hay that is a cool … Timothy hay is one of the best rabbit hay for adult rabbits. This hay is soft-textured and is very high in fiber and low in protein, making it nice and nutritious for adult rabbits. If I had multiple bunnies I would get bags/bales of several varieties and mix it together, but I don’t want to buy too much hay as it loses its vitamin content if stored too long. It is chopped into very short strands about 3-4 inches long which is no good for feeding to rabbits & guinea pigs as they need long strand fibre. The risk, however is that it also is high in calories, which can cause excessive weight gain and may also result in Bladder-Sludge. Timothy and meadow hay are easy to find and are often affordable. Lily and Billy are fans of Green Oat Hay, Meadow hay, and a large bale of hay from the local farm (sometimes we mix the hay, sometimes we … Farm-fresh and full of goodness. The best hay for your adult rabbit would be timothy or meadow. Oxbow Botanical Hay is a fragrant, enticing hay that pets can’t resist. meadow or timothy) is the one food you should introduce from the start, even if your rabbit isn't already eating it. Many rabbits use this type of hay in their cage to help them maintain good health. Meadow Hay. Meadow Hay: has been grown in a meadow and contains a mixture of different grasses. Hay. Kind of Hay: Meadow Grass/Hay. They each have their own specificities and recommendations. Even though alfalfa hay is good for baby rabbits, it shouldn’t be all they have. Hay (and grass) keep your rabbit healthy by keeping the gut moving and preventing blockages and GI Stasis. However this hay has a much lower calcium content, making it a healthy choice for your loved furry friend. It’s excellent for their dental health too – chewing on this fibrous hay is a great way to keep teeth ground down. Firstly: the indigestible part of the fibre helps to keep the  complex digestive system of the rabbit in proper working order, Secondly: the action of chewing on high fibre hay assists in grinding down the teeth or your rabbit, which grow continuously throughout their life. Rabbits LOVE vegetables. Alfafa hay contains a lot of calcium and protein (which adult bunnies don't need a lot of) so feed sparingly. I refresh the hay for my rabbits 2 to 3 times per day. Keep in mind that some rabbits may be fussier than others, so it is a good idea to be open to other types of hay. Sizes: 35 oz, 84 oz Product Highlights Timothy hay is the most popular, but you can also find others such as oat hay. Alfalfa Hay: is mostly consumed by underweight, young rabbits under 8 months and old/weak rabbits. At least one chapter of the House Rabbit Society (the San Diego chapter, on its website) recommends, in addition to timothy hay and orchard grass, oat hay, which is apparently particularly rich in fiber. Meadow Grass Hay. Hay is the most important part of a rabbit’s diet, and the fibre part is essential. The ideal diet for a heathy happy rabbit should contain approximately 0.4% calcium. Hay that is damp, dusty or moldy should be avoided, as is hay with any obvious mites or insects present (there is a slight risk of myxomatosis transmission through insect contaminated hay). Another thing to remember is that your rabbit’s hutch will be filled with hay. ​From my point … I also looked at hay-and-straw.co.uk which have a good selection of hay. Oat/wheat/barley hay: similar to grass hay, but your rabbit might like it if they’re picky about meadow grass. However, the best hay for a pregnant rabbit is alfalfa. mines been on meadow hay dried grass barley hay and wheat she loves it all . Formulated with 20 nutritious grasses and meadow plants. Meadow Hay This is new season hay. I looked at oat hay from timothyhay.co.uk as they dont have timmothy hay in stock. Rabbits should have a daily diet of mostly hay, a smaller amount of fresh vegetables, and a limited number of pellets. Clover, hibiscus, lavender, rose, and elderflower are also great additions to this hay. This is misleading customers & I certainly won't buy it again. Provide a constant supply of good quality fresh grass and grass hay (this should comprise about 80% of the overall diet) – e.g. 9 DIY Hedgehog Cage Plans You Can Build Today (With Pictures) →, 7 DIY Guinea Pig Beds You Can Build Today (With Pictures) →, 9 DIY Hamster Toys You Can Make Today (With Pictures) →. Feeding hay to your rabbit has many benefits. Meadow Grass Hay Meadow grass (also known as ‘meadow grass hay’ is a mixture naturally occurring grass hays which create a nice combination of textures and flavours for your rabbits. Vegetables are often given a bad reputation as a food for rabbits & guinea-pigs. You will find that the addition of herbs doesn’t make this hay any more expensive compared to others, however. It will also be high in fiber. Rabbits have such a great sense of taste that they can tell the difference between hay from the same field that has been harvested late in the day vs first thing in the morning (the later hay has a higher sugar content, which bunnies prefer!). Hay is good fiber for them, is good for their digestion and is also used as bedding. They’re paw-fect for rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, degus, hamsters, mice, rats and gerbils. Available in a conventional size bale for pick up or easy banana size boxes for the courier. You should provide fresh new hay every day – even if they haven’t finished all of yesterdays. While we provide information resourced and canine education, the content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. Each bun has their own preference of what they will like and dislike. meadow or timothy) is the one food you should introduce from the start, even if your rabbit isn't already eating it. Good alternative if your rabbit won't eat timothy or orchard) Fresh Veggies. If purchasing this hay, it would be wise to know where it came from and what is included; otherwise, you won’t know for sure what you are feeding your rabbit. Timothy hay contains less protein and other minerals compared to alfalfa hay, but it provides the appropriate amount needed for adult bunnies. If they prefer the meadow hay, then it's probably better for them to have that as they are eating more of it than … In this case give them the hay first, and reduce the amounts of other foods (but if your rabbit stops eating contact your vet!). Providing a mix of different hay types, spraying hay with apple juice, or hiding their pellets / treats in the hay often increases a bunnies consumption! Presenting your rabbit's hay in their litter tray is a great way to contain some mess and encourage hay intake. A good quality meadow hay or lucerne hay can be used, that is not dusty or mouldy as this can lead to respiratory illness. Oxbow's all-natural Timothy Meadow Hay is a flavorful, enriching combination of premium grass hays - fresh from our family of farms. The hay itself is grown under Oxbow's strict guidelines, and is hand-picked, hand-sorted, and less … Types of Hay • Timothy Hay • Meadow Hay • Orchard Hay/Grass • Oat Hay • Herbal Hay (Herbage) There are many different hays available and popular varieties include meadow, Timothy, and orchard hay… As you can see from the above table, it has a much higher average calcium content than other hays, and is some rabbits this can lead to increased calcium excretion in urine (also know as sludgy urine). Rabbits should not be fed Lucerne (alfalfa) or Clover hays as they are too high in protein and calcium, which could lead to the … Hopefully, this will help to clear up some of the incorrect information float This type of hay can include oat, wheat, and barley. Type – Oat. Oxbow Botanical Hay is a fragrant, enticing hay that pets can’t resist. Look for nice green hay. Timothy and meadow hay are easy to find and are often affordable. This will make the eventual transition to meadow hay only less jarring. Meadow grass hay is a great alternative to timothy hay. Here are just some of the top benefits of this type of hay. From what I read, oat hay can cause digestive problems with its riped seeds. I’ve heard Lucerne hay is bad for rabbits…? Legume hay: usually means alfalfa. These include preventing dental issues by keeping their teeth from growing too long, maintaining intestinal health, and providing the right amount of fiber, protein, and other vitamins and minerals. The price will vary with different companies and can range from affordable to expensive. Alternatively a 'hay rack' above the litter tray can work well. If purchasing this hay, it would be wise to know where it came from and what is included; otherwise, you won’t know for sure what you are feeding your rabbit. It is high in sugar and fiber and low in protein. 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