Is all hay made equal?

Mella said:

Now I know theres a difference between types of hay- legume, grass and cereal- but was more curious if there are any brands that in particular stand out in terms of quality, composition and general yumminess? Also is there a great deal of difference in hay that has been cut last year and being sold still and hay that has been cut this year and how much difference would that make for a rabbit?

I know from my equestrian background that it can vary somewhat wildly between supplier and was wondering how different it is in the rabbit world and how much that difference might make to the rabbit itself?

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Mella said:

Now I know theres a difference between types of hay- legume, grass and cereal- but was more curious if there are any brands that in particular stand out in terms of quality, composition and general yumminess? Also is there a great deal of difference in hay that has been cut last year and being sold still and hay that has been cut this year and how much difference would that make for a rabbit?

I know from my equestrian background that it can vary somewhat wildly between supplier and was wondering how different it is in the rabbit world and how much that difference might make to the rabbit itself?

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jewaller said:

dear mella,-quick answer is[no]-rabbits are strictly herbivores,[grass eaters]-and the reason timothy grass is predominant is because of its highest in non digestible fiber,--different grasses have different levels of non-digestible fiber,and in times of need it is all we can get..-as an equestrian you already know a horses [needs]-gi tract is most similar to the rabbit.-and dietary needs [rabbit],-70% grasses,-nondigestible fiber,-quality pellets,some safe treats,chewing woods,-and lots oof water to wash it all down=a happy bun-sincerely james waller from the other kent-usa

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Graciee said:

There's some members on here that'll hopefully be able to answer your questions properly.. I've no idea tbh.. It's all just what I've observed with mine.

My 4 are great hay eaters, never had any issues really, however since only buying from timothyhay.co.uk they've eaten even more and their output is basically always golden.. They seem to really enjoy the hay from there the most, it's now all we buy. If we run out we buy alfalfa king from pets at home (it's timothy hay) and the excel long stem stuff in the resealable baggie.. They like that too, but it costs so much to give them the same amount as usual.

I don't think there's much nutritional value to hay? Other than the fibre content? So I assume as long as they eat enough, any is fine? We buy the timothyhay.co.uk hay because price, we think it's great quality, it's not dusty, and they shovel it in [emoji38]

I've read that Timothy hay is the best for main diet, we fed oat and orchard hays too.

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Mella said:

I saw the Timothy co thread which is what got me thinking! I think they've got my custom from now on anyway. Surely the alfalfa king is mislabled? That seems like an odd choice of name for a product especially given the difference between alfalfa and Timothy hay?

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Graciee said:

Yea I've tried the dust free hay too and the ings from hay and straw, and the boxed hay but the timothyhay.co.uk stuff is the best imo.

It's the brand name - Alfalfa King I think, they sell different types of hay

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joey&boo said:

If you have been on the timothy hay thread you will have seen Joey & bo's poo - that is enough testament to how good it is[emoji38] Mine prefer the main cut rather than oaty, first crop & orchard from there. Their poo is only massive & golden on the main cut but the others are enjoyed too

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keletkezes said:

Mine get whatever the equestrian supplies store has in bales! The last few times it's been the stalky stuff they love, once it was some soft stuff they sort of went off after half a bale but mine will, honestly, eat anything! Their emergency hay is P@H large bags and it's usually pretty soft and they're really not keen after the first time [emoji38] They were also all for the prize hay I got from RAW for about a week and then that was 'too soft' until I gave them the loose ends this week in their litter tray and they totally went for it.

I tend to not see many differences as I'm only buying hay every 8m or so! XD

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Rhianna said:

I feel a really bad bunny Mummy as my buns only ever get baled hay. It's in their litter trays and bed. They are really good hay eaters but they only get a few Science Selective pellets and fresh veg or herbs (whatever is on offer in whatever supermarket I go to) so hay is the largest part of their diet. Their weight is OK - Zippy is marginally overweight but the vet said just to keep an eye on it -no need for a diet yet.

I'm worried that if I buy another hay for them to eat as a treat, they will then stop eating the baled hay. With five buns and three piggies, I get through a lot of hay and couldn't afford to just buy the 'nicer' hays.

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Rhianna said:

I feel a really bad bunny Mummy as my buns only ever get baled hay. It's in their litter trays and bed. They are really good hay eaters but they only get a few Science Selective pellets and fresh veg or herbs (whatever is on offer in whatever supermarket I go to) so hay is the largest part of their diet. Their weight is OK - Zippy is marginally overweight but the vet said just to keep an eye on it -no need for a diet yet.

I'm worried that if I buy another hay for them to eat as a treat, they will then stop eating the baled hay. With five buns and three piggies, I get through a lot of hay and couldn't afford to just buy the 'nicer' hays.

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Omi said:

Another fan of timothyhay.co.uk here. My rabbits prefer the stalky timothy.

It is really difficult to find out accurate information about hay types. The information sometimes given on bags/websites in respect of qualities/nutritional information for the different types in my view has to be looked at sceptically. Most of the descriptions are quite general and sometimes you can't read too much into them e.g. 'contains lots of protein' - compared to what? The same type of hay will certainly vary in it's nutrional qualities depending on time of year it is cut compared to the amount of ripeness in the hay.

In my view it's best to go by what your rabbits prefer, your assessment of the quality of the hay and availability.

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Rhianna said:

I feel a really bad bunny Mummy as my buns only ever get baled hay. It's in their litter trays and bed. They are really good hay eaters but they only get a few Science Selective pellets and fresh veg or herbs (whatever is on offer in whatever supermarket I go to) so hay is the largest part of their diet. Their weight is OK - Zippy is marginally overweight but the vet said just to keep an eye on it -no need for a diet yet.

I'm worried that if I buy another hay for them to eat as a treat, they will then stop eating the baled hay. With five buns and three piggies, I get through a lot of hay and couldn't afford to just buy the 'nicer' hays.

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Mella said:

Definitely feeling like Timothy hay is the way to go in terms of suppliers. I didnt have to worry so much about the types of hay as my horse would eat ANYTHING. This included a pair of earphones.

Would I be right in thinking a good quality pellet would make up for any nutritional shortfall?

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Omi said:

In my view the main reasons why it's recommended that hay forms the majority of a rabbit's diet are not for its high value nutritional qualities, but the fact that eating hay wears down the teeth, keeps a rabbit's digestive system in good working order and alleviates boredom. The diet should be supplemented with a variety of vegetables/herbs/forage/tree leaves, plus sticks for stripping bark. Yes, it's best to get a good quality pellet containing a lot of fibre, but pellets should comprise a very small part of the diet. Some rabbits, and of course all wildies, are perfectly healthy without any pellets.

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Omi said:

In my view the main reasons why it's recommended that hay forms the majority of a rabbit's diet are not for its high value nutritional qualities, but the fact that eating hay wears down the teeth, keeps a rabbit's digestive system in good working order and alleviates boredom. The diet should be supplemented with a variety of vegetables/herbs/forage/tree leaves, plus sticks for stripping bark. Yes, it's best to get a good quality pellet containing a lot of fibre, but pellets should comprise a very small part of the diet. Some rabbits, and of course all wildies, are perfectly healthy without any pellets.

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