A Guide to Rabbit Hay

One of the primary benefits of hay is its high fibre content, which is essential for maintaining a rabbit's digestive health. A diet rich in fibre promotes regular bowel movements, prevents gastrointestinal stasis, and reduces the risk of digestive issues such as hairballs and obesity. It’s a calorie efficient food that takes a lot of work to chew so rather than overloading them with treats, providing fresh hay is a tasty option that won’t cause them to gain too much weight.

Chewing on hay helps wear down a rabbit's continuously growing teeth, preventing dental problems such as overgrowth, malocclusion, and painful dental spurs. The abrasive texture of hay provides natural dental care, ensuring that your rabbit's teeth remain healthy and properly aligned.

Hay serves as more than just a source of nutrition, it also provides mental stimulation for rabbits. Mimicking their natural foraging instincts, rabbits enjoy digging and burrowing through hay, which offers enrichment and prevents boredom in captivity. In addition to fibre, hay contains essential nutrients such as calcium and protein, contributing to overall health and vitality in your furry friend. Different types of hay, such as timothy, alfalfa, and orchard grass, offer varying nutritional profiles, allowing you to tailor your rabbit's diet to their specific needs and find the perfect product for them.

Hay plays a critical role in a rabbit's diet, constituting the majority of their nutritional intake. Hay should form the foundation of your rabbit's diet. It provides essential fibre for digestive health and helps maintain optimal dental health. Aim to make hay the primary component of your rabbit's daily meals.

Timothy hay or good quality grass hay varieties should be offered to your rabbit without restriction. These types of hay are ideal for adult rabbits and provide the necessary fibre to support healthy digestion and dental wear. A good timothy hay like Science Selective Timothy Hay Rabbit Feed is perfect for creating a diet with a strong foundation to help promote health and well-being. While alfalfa hay is higher in protein and calcium, it should be introduced sparingly as a treat and primarily reserved for specific life stages or health requirements. Young rabbits, pregnant and nursing mothers, or rabbits in need of extra calories may benefit from limited quantities of alfalfa hay. Instead of offering an endless supply of this rich hay, many nugget foods like Tiny Friends Farm Russel Rabbit Food incorporate it into their ingredients so you can give your bunny buddy the perfect portion.

To encourage natural foraging behaviours, consider offering chopped hay or hay cubes in addition to standard hay. Chopped hay can be scattered throughout your rabbit's habitat, providing opportunities for mental stimulation and physical activity as they search for and nibble on the pieces. It's crucial to ensure that your rabbit always has access to fresh, clean hay. Replace any stale or soiled hay in your rabbit's enclosure daily to maintain freshness and prevent contamination. Fresh hay not only ensures your rabbit receives optimal nutrition but also helps keep their living environment clean and hygienic.

Remember to monitor your rabbit's hay intake and adjust accordingly based on their individual needs and preferences.

A finely chopped meadow hay like Tiny Friends Farm Russel Rabbit Tasty Hay Small Pet Food is great to provide as enrichment throughout your bunny’s bedding to give them something to snuffle through and find extra treats. You can sprinkle in your own treats or opt for a treat hay that comes with your bunny’s favourite treats already added. Hay mixtures with other goodies included are usually more pricey but if used as treats to provide enrichment alongside an unlimited supply of timothy hay, they can have lots of variety.

The Vitakraft Verde Hay and Dandelion Treats is a great choice of treat hay. Mixed with dandelions, your bunny can sift through to find delicious treats. Dandelions should be provided sparingly but do wonders for kidney function and help to keep your bunny healthy from the inside out.

If you don’t want to waste any hay but still provide the best diet you possibly can, hay treats like Selective Natural Rabbit Hay Meadow Loops mean you can still clear out their house without throwing a lot of nutritional goodness that might still be in there. They’re a combination of various hays with added peas and linseed that your rabbit will love.

Hay serves as an excellent bedding material for rabbits, offering absorbency, odour control, and comfort. Spread a generous layer of hay in your rabbit's litter box to absorb waste and odours effectively. This not only keeps your rabbit's living area clean and hygienic but also encourages natural burrowing and nesting behaviours. Spot clean soiled hay daily to maintain a fresh and sanitary environment for your rabbit.

It’s often a little more pricey than other bedding materials but if you want to spoil your bunny, using it as bedding is a great idea. They should still have fresh hay available in a rabbit hay rack to keep it nice and clean and if you want to cut costs, consider layering their hutch in a paper bedding like Kaytee White Clean and Cosy Small Pet Bedding which is cheaper. You can sprinkle a layer of hay right over the top. It’s good to offer hay in their litter box as well to give them something to eat while they go to the toilet. Regularly replenish the hay in their box to ensure continued absorbency and comfort.

Proper storage is essential to maintain the freshness and nutritional quality of hay. Store hay in a cool, dry area away from direct sunlight, preferably in a breathable container or hay rack. Avoid storing hay in plastic bags, as they can trap moisture and allow for mould growth. When serving hay to your rabbit, scatter it around their enclosure or hide it inside toys and tunnels to encourage exploration and activity. Consider using hay mats or a rabbit hay feeder to minimise waste and mess, ensuring that your rabbit has access to clean and fresh hay throughout the day.

Ready to stock up on hay for your bunny? Visit us online or in store to browse our selection of timothy, alfalfa, and meadow hays, and provide your rabbit with the essential nutrition and comfort they need to thrive.