Do rabbits need alfalfa or timothy hay?

How Much Hay Do I Give My Rabbit? You can give rabbits an unlimited supply of hay. Timothy Hay or Oat Hay are good sources of fibre. The only hay that should be limited or even completely eliminated from the diet of an adult rabbit is alfalfa hay.

What is better for rabbits alfalfa or timothy hay?

When looking at which type of hay to feed a rabbit or guinea pig, Timothy hay and Meadow hay are often considered the better and healthier options. Alfalfa is known as a great hay for baby rabbits, as it contains higher calcium and protein levels to help support healthy growth and development.

Which type of hay is best for rabbits?

The main diet for a rabbit is either fresh grass or hay. Some people may not be able to provide a fresh forage diet for their rabbits, so the next best option is hay. 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.

Is alfalfa OK for rabbits?

We prefer the long, loose strands of hay as opposed to the pressed cubes or chopped hay. Alfalfa hay is fine for young bunnies but is not the correct choice for adult rabbits, especially if it is being used along with pellets (which are already high in alfalfa hay).

What is the difference between alfalfa and timothy hay?

Alfalfa hay is higher in protein and calories, but timothy hay has more fiber and better calcium to phosphorus ratio. If you feed your horse a mixture of these two types of hay, it will get the best combinations possible for optimum nutrition.

ALL ABOUT HAY FOR RABBITS ?

When should I stop feeding my rabbit alfalfa hay?

If you are feeding alfalfa it's a good idea to feed it mixed with grass hay. This stops your rabbits getting so hooked on alfalfa that it's difficult to make the transition to grass hay when they reach adulthood. You should phase out alfalfa at around four to five months old.

Can you plant timothy and alfalfa together?

Timothy has been used for many decades in combination with alfalfa for hay production.

Can rabbits survive on alfalfa hay?

There's no denying that hay is a super important part of any rabbit's diet. High-quality hay has lots of fiber to keep your bun's digestive system going and is fantastically yummy (to say the least). While Timothy hay is the classic choice, but alfalfa hay for rabbits is also a healthy choice.

Does alfalfa make rabbits fat?

If adult rabbits are given large amounts of Alfalfa Hay the excess protein will cause them to gain an abundance of weight and introduce other health issues.

How long can rabbits eat alfalfa?

A baby rabbit from birth to about seven weeks should be nursing from its mother. While still nursing, Alfalfa Hay should be introduced starting at about three weeks and should continue until about six months of age. Alfalfa Hay contains high protein, fiber and calcium.

What kind of hay should you avoid with your rabbit?

Grass hay is high in fiber, which is critical to maintaining a rabbit's healthy digestive tract. While young, growing rabbits can eat any type of grass hay, alfalfa hay is not recommended for adult rabbits, as it is too rich in protein and too high in calcium.

Do rabbits have to have Timothy hay?

Orchard grass, or other grass hays can be given for variety, but most rabbits prefer timothy hay over other grass hays. Your rabbit should have unlimited amounts of timothy hay.

What should I feed my rabbit daily?

What should I not feed my rabbit?

Can rabbits eat grass instead of hay?

Rabbits can eat grass instead of hay, however it's not a change that should be made overnight. This kind of major change in a rabbits diet needs to be made in a slow transition over the course of a few weeks.

Is orchard hay good for rabbits?

The constant foraging and grazing encouraged by hay helps to keep rabbits physically active and mentally stimulated. Orchard Grass is high in fiber and low in both protein and calcium content, which is ideal for keeping the digestive tracts of rabbits and other small animals functioning properly.

What's the difference between alfalfa and hay?

One of the biggest differences between alfalfa hay and grass hay is the protein content. On average, alfalfa hay has much higher levels of protein, ranging from 15% to 21% depending on when the alfalfa was cut. This is much higher than the protein levels of grass hay, which typically contains 10% or less protein.

How much alfalfa hay should I feed my rabbit?

We aren't saying don't feed it, but your rabbits, even youngsters, shouldn't have it as a replacement for grass hay, but rather as a supplement to grass hay (or grass) which should be available at all times. A small handful 3-4 times a week is plenty.

Does timothy grass come back every year?

It is a cool season perennial grass with rapid growth. The plant gets its name from Timothy Hanson, who promoted the grass in the 1700s as a pasture grass. The grass is native to Europe, temperate Asia and North Africa. The plant is adapted to numerous climates and performs well in even cold, northern regions.

Can you mix red clover and alfalfa?

Overall, 50:50 was the optimal mixing ratio of alfalfa with red clover, showing good fermentation quality with lower pH and higher lactic acid concentration, reduced protease activities and proteolysis compared with pure alfalfa silage, and also more total N content than pure red clover silage.

When should you cut timothy hay?

To help establish new stands, Undersander says the grass should be cut at 70 to 80 days after planting with one or two subsequent cuttings during the initial growing season. “Fall-planted timothy will produce seed the following calendar year.”

How often should you change a rabbits hay?

Hay bedding in a rabbit's living space should be changed once a week if the rabbit uses a litter box. If a rabbit doesn't use a little box, this hay will need to be changed once every 2-3 days. Additional hay should be added at least once daily as rabbits will likely consume this hay for food.

Can hay cubes replace hay?

Forage cubes can be fed just like hay, at a 1:1 ratio of the like hay type the horse currently consumes. For example, you would replace five pounds of alfalfa hay with five pounds of alfalfa cubes and adjust the amount if needed to maintain the animal's proper weight.

When should I stop feeding my bunny pellets?

Many people will recommend giving young rabbits unlimited pellets, but it's best to be cautious with this approach. You want to make sure your young rabbit is eating hay in addition to their pellets. So if your rabbit is completely ignoring their hay, then you'll want to reduce their pellets a little bit.

How many times a day should I feed my rabbit pellets?

Don't overfeed pellets – one eighth of a cup for a small rabbit per day is more than adequate OR you could choose to not feed pellets at all! There are no pellets out there in the wild and rabbits do very well without them! Don't skimp on the hay – a ball about the same size as your bunny per day is a great guide.