Oat/wheat/barley hay: similar to grass hay, but your rabbit might like it if they’re picky about meadow grass. So yes rabbits can eat alfalfa hay, however they can’t have much of it compared to other types of hay such as meadow hay and Timothy hay. Orchard hay is another cool-season grass that is more tolerant of drought than Timothy hay. It provides high amounts of calcium and protein that is essential for growth, but if fed exclusively to an adult rabbit, it can cause urinary stones due to the high calcium content. Timothy hay also has "solid cattails" which distinguishes it from Orchard grass which has … Some rabbits stop or reduce the amount of hay they eat as an early sign of dental disease – if your bunny used to love hay but now doesn’t – get your vet to check them over. Aim for a ratio of around 60:40, mixing alfalfa … It looks like a dried blades of grass, fairly wide and its color is a soft green to grey/brown green. 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! Rabbits should not be fed Lucerne (alfalfa) or Clover hays as they are too high in protein and calcium, which could lead to the … It isn’t as affordable as other hays unless you purchase it in a blend. On the upside, meadow hay is usually more affordable. TYPES OF HAY In Australia, the most common types of hay available are Oaten, Timothy, Grass/Meadow and Lucerne. However, they will often eat the hay directly out of the cage, which is ideal for those with a smaller area to work with. A good quality meadow hay or lucerne hay can be used, that is not dusty or mouldy as this can lead to respiratory illness. Sizes: 35 oz, 84 oz Product Highlights Hay. There are several different types of grass hay present in the market, and a few of them are as follows: Timothy hay for rabbits. You get. Many rabbits use this type of hay in their cage to help them maintain good health. Source Anderson Hay. Clover, hibiscus, lavender, rose, and elderflower are also great additions to this hay. Timothy and meadow hay are easy to find and are often affordable. We mix Western Timothy with chamomile, lavender, lemon balm and clover to create a one-of-a-kind taste experience pets love. You’ll want to give your rabbit an unlimited amount of hay everyday. Timothy hay is the most-recommended hay for rabbits. Your pet should have unlimited grass hay … The main diet for a rabbit is either fresh grass or hay. What do rabbits should eat in greater quantities? Scamp usually has meadow hay and is quite happy to eat it so either he was keen on this particular variety or there was just too many other tasty foods to bother with it. Putting hay directly on top of the litter in the litter box is one way to offer hay. On the contrary, Meadow hay is composed of different natural grasses. The following information aims to explain hay, what is best for your bunny and why. They are superior to clover or clover hay. Always offer a large quality of fresh grass or grass hay from this list: Timothy, Oaten, Wheaten, Pasture, Paddock, Meadow or Ryegrass hays. Rabbits over 7 months old do not require too much protein in their diet. Timothy Hay Photo: Timothy Hay/Kaytee, Amazon. From what I read, oat hay can cause digestive problems with its riped seeds. They each have their own specificities and recommendations. This hay is soft-textured and is very high in fiber and low in protein, making it nice and nutritious for adult rabbits. Straw is not a food and has very little nutritional value for our rabbits. The price will vary with different companies and can range from affordable to expensive. After a few hours or so, they may find it less appealing. Essential for your pet's digestive, dental and overall health and wellbeing. We will highlight meadow, alfalfa and timothy to help you choose the best hay for your rabbit. If they prefer the meadow hay, then it's probably better for them to have that as they are eating more of it than … 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. The folks at Friends of Rabbits… Like adults, hay should play an important role in young rabbit's diet. Meadow grass hay is a great alternative to timothy hay. Meadow hay is often priced cheaper than timothy hay, however, rabbits may pick through the mixture, eating only the plants they prefer and wasting the rest. Rabbits should have a daily diet of mostly hay, a smaller amount of fresh vegetables, and a limited number of pellets. Timothy, Oaten, Wheaten, Pasture, Paddock, Meadow or Ryegrass hays. There are a few extra considerations for young rabbits though. Kind of Hay: Meadow Grass/Hay. They providing adequate amounts of fibers for gastrointestinal and dental health. It sometimes has flower heads inside. You will find that the addition of herbs doesn’t make this hay any more expensive compared to others, however. This will make the eventual transition to meadow hay only less jarring. Alfafa hay contains a lot of calcium and protein (which adult bunnies don't need a lot of) so feed sparingly. It’s excellent for their dental health too – chewing on this fibrous hay is a great way to keep teeth ground down. ... Their high sugar and calorie content can lead to an imbalance in the good bacteria in the digestive tract and good fungi found within rabbits’ cecum. As pellets also contain alfalfa, your baby bunny will be in good health. If your bunny is normal weight, has good teeth and is otherwise healthy, then timothy, oaten or orchard / grass hays are an obvious choice. The 6 Types of Hay For Your Rabbit: 1. Rabbits are herbivores and are considered grazers. Meadow Hay: has been grown in a meadow and contains a mixture of different grasses. Feeding hay to your rabbit has many benefits. If you need … There can be other plants included in the mixture, as well as debris and stone. Hay is the MOST important part of your rabbits diet. Report. Many rabbits enjoy the crunchiness of the seed husks, and you will see it blended with other hays. This will make the eventual transition to meadow hay only less jarring. Some mixtures of meadow hay contain only grass hay; some contain varying amounts of clover, vetch, trefoil and other legumes. Herbs provide essential vitamins and nutrients, as well as remedies to common ailments. Rabbits should have a daily diet of mostly hay, a smaller amount of fresh vegetables, and a limited number of pellets. Plus, if he eats different kinds of hay, he will eat more of the mixture. 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). Rabbit hay such as timothy or a mixed meadow hay containing bluegrass, fescue, oat and ryegrass are all good options, and a diverse range of hay will give your rabbits the nutritional value they need. Hay is the most important part of a rabbit’s diet, and the fibre part is essential. meadow or timothy) is the one food you should introduce from the start, even if your rabbit isn't already eating it. Alfalfa (Lucerne), a legume not grass, is also grown as animal feed. Meadow Hay is also imported and can be found in Burgess Excel Fresh Forage Feeding Hay and has a softer texture than Timothy Hay. Contains 100% oat grass hay. Three reasons why Timothy hay is so good for your rabbit. 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. Sonnenberg Hof Hay 1 kg - Fresh Meadow Hay 1st Cut for Rabbits Guinea Pigs Hamsters and Rodents I Mountain Meadow Hay for Small Animals 4.7 out of 5 stars 25 £14.00 £ 14 . It’s a fast process – rabbit teeth grow about 12cm a year. Some rabbits don’t like hay as much as their pellets and veggies and treats, so they will eat everything else before doing so. It will also be high in fiber. We mix Western Timothy with chamomile, lavender, lemon balm and clover to create a one-of-a-kind taste experience pets love. I buy this for my rabbits and guinea pigs. Hay is good for your rabbit because: It has long fibers that help your rabbit’s gut stay healthy and strong It stimulates digestion, absorption and and helps bowel movements It keeps … Feature healthy high-quality hay and more. Rabbits love to forage, so if you can’t provide forage opportunities, then herbal hay is a good choice. Delicious, fresh, and locally sourced. Different rabbits have different requirements for calcium – not all rabbits are the same. Fiber is perhaps the most … hay suitable for rabbits, and as described on the rabbit diet page, hay is a vital ingredient for keeping healthy, happy rabbits. Straw is also commonly found though not strictly a hay. Hay is nearly impossible for rabbits to overeat, so you want to encourage rabbits to eat as much as possible. Sonnenberg Hof Hay 1 kg - Fresh Meadow Hay 1st Cut for Rabbits Guinea Pigs Hamsters and Rodents I Mountain Meadow Hay for Small Animals 4.7 out of 5 stars 25 £14.00 £ 14 . As Wigs said, timothy hay is thicker and so is better for wearing the teeth down, but meadow hay tends to be cheaper. Type – Oat. You should provide fresh new hay every day – even if they haven’t finished all of yesterdays. Rabbits Eating Meadow Hay Jared Edinburgh. Meadow hay usually has the advantages of being cheaper and more widely available than Timothy hay. However this hay has a much lower calcium content, making it a healthy choice for your loved furry friend. Grass hay (e.g. Reduced dust and allergens. Source Anderson Hay. Meadow Hay. A rabbit’s digestion of food relies on a system that moves food through their gut very quickly. Price – $13.97. In addition to good nutrition, this hay has a nice sweet smell and taste that most rabbits absolutely love. Oxbow's all-natural Timothy Meadow Hay is a flavorful, enriching combination of premium grass hays - fresh from our family of farms. Good quality and makes delicious rabbit and guinea pig feed. Rabbits LOVE vegetables. Hopefully, this will help to clear up some of the incorrect information float Meadow hay is often priced cheaper than timothy hay, however, rabbits may pick through the mixture, eating only the plants they prefer and wasting the rest. Cutting – Unknown. A common cause of obesity and soft stool is over-feeding pellets. 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 … 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. 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. One negative effect of this is that the rabbit in cause might develop urinary stones as their system is … Also, provide him with a separate litter box (but don't use cat litter in it!!!) Sun ripened, harvested and barn dried using traditional methods to preserve nutrients and fibre that mechanical drying often removes. It grows in tufts, with long stems and cattails that mature late in the season. Ideally a rabbit should eat a pile of hay a day roughly the size of their own body. Look for nice green hay. This means they can get too many calories and not enough fiber. 1:13. Straw is what is left over after harvesting hay and is often sold as 'bedding' for pets and livestock. timothy hay is the most common rabbit hay and you will find it at most pet stores. 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. Hay (and grass) keep your rabbit healthy by keeping the gut moving and preventing blockages and GI Stasis. Legume hay: usually means alfalfa. 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. 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. Highest quality, long strand hay compressed in to easy to feed portions for rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas and degus less mess, less space and less waste than loose hay contains over 20 different nutritious grasses and meadow plants. 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. If you need the best rabbit hay, buy any good timothy hay brand. That is why it contains more fiber than timothy hay. ... Rabbit Eating Meadow Hay - Duration: 1:13. Farm-fresh and full of goodness. Alfalfa Hay: is mostly consumed by underweight, young rabbits under 8 months and old/weak rabbits. Each bun has their own preference of what they will like and dislike. As such, the protein and calcium content can vary depending upon what type of grasses are grown. This type of hay can include oat, wheat, and barley. Available in a conventional size bale for pick up or easy banana size boxes for the courier. It is harvested starting in the spring or early summer, and you can grow several cuttings each season from one field. If you are not sure discuss this with your vet. The thing with alfalfa hay is that it is high in calcium and protein which rabbits can eat but not in large … So it’s not “bad” for rabbits, but it isn't not ideal for everyone. Presenting your rabbit's hay in their litter tray is a great way to contain some mess and encourage hay intake. They’re paw-fect for rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, degus, hamsters, mice, rats and gerbils. Meadow Hay This is new season hay. At that point, transition your rabbit from the alfalfa because it is too rich at this point. Too much protein or calcium can cause urinary or kidney health problems. Alfalfa is a legume from the pea family that is high in minerals and provides plenty of energy. 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… This is because they contain more fiber and less calcium than legume hay. Meadow hay is a mixture of grass hays that offers a variety of textures and flavor for your rabbit. 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 hay is great for adult rabbits. There can be other plants included in the mixture, as well as debris and stone. Growing Barley Fodder - Cheap and Easy Fodder system - Duration: 8:36. Meadow hay tends to be more variable on textures and nutrient content as it will depend on where the hay initially grew. 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