What is better for rabbits timothy or alfalfa?

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.

Should rabbits eat timothy hay or alfalfa?

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.

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.

Can rabbits eat timothy and 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.

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).

Which Hay is Right For Your Rabbit?

What is the healthiest rabbit food?

Hay is the most important part of a rabbit's daily intake. Unlimited, high-quality grass hay, such as Timothy, orchard or brome, should make up the bulk of a rabbit's diet. Grass hay is high in fiber, which is critical to maintaining a rabbit's healthy digestive tract.

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.

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.

What's 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.

Is timothy hay good for rabbit bedding?

Timothy hay is not only great for your rabbit's diet, but it can also make good bedding. Hay is a warm and dry bedding material that rabbits naturally enjoy sleeping in.

What is the best food for rabbits?

Hay: The staple of a rabbit's diet

As grazing animals, rabbits need to have an unlimited supply of fresh hay daily. You'll want to feed your rabbit grass hays. Good types of grass hay for bunnies are timothy, orchard grass, brome and oat hay.

Is timothy meadow hay good for rabbits?

Among those to choose from, timothy and meadow hay are widely available and suitable for most rabbits.

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.

Can you plant timothy and alfalfa together?

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

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.

What can I feed my rabbit instead of hay?

PS: In nature the rabbits would always choose fresh leaves instead of dried ones or hay. The most time of the year fresh leaves are available, so pet owners have no need to force their rabbits to eat hay, when they eat enough fresh leave-like greens instead.

What are the healthiest pellets for rabbits?

Oxbow Garden Select Rabbit Food is the healthiest for rabbits. This blend follows the nutrition recommendations for protein, fat, fiber, calcium, vitamin, and sugar content in rabbit food. In addition, rabbits enjoy eating this brand of food since it contains a variety of natural flavors.

Should bunnies have pellets?

Yes, pellets are part of a rabbit diet too. It's possible to feed a non-pelleted diet, but this requires a careful balance of nutrient sources from many types of veggies and hay. Most rabbit owners prefer to provide a pelleted food in addition to the hay and vegetables their rabbit eats.

How much hay should a rabbit eat?

A healthy rabbit's diet should consist of unlimited amounts timothy and other grass hays, 1-3 cups of fresh leafy greens daily, and only about 1/8-1/4 cup of quality timothy pellets for rabbits up to 5 lbs and up to 3/4 cup for rabbits up to 10 lbs. Fruits and sugary vegetables (i.e. carrots) should only be offered as ...

What's the difference between hay and Timothy hay?

What is Timothy Hay? Timothy Hay is made from Timothy Grass, which is a tall grass that has a 'cat tail' with broad leaves. Due to how stalky the grass is, timothy hay is high in fibre and is great if you're looking for consistent texture and 'stalkiness'.

What is the difference between Timothy hay and timothy meadow hay?

Containing more leaf than Timothy; Meadow hay tends to have a softer overall texture. Some Meadow hay contains edible plants other than grass. This can include plants such as dandelions, thistles, daisies and even cornflowers.

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.

What is toxic to rabbits?

These include rhubarb, avocado, allium-type vegetables, and iceberg lettuce. The leaves of potato plants can be toxic to rabbits. In terms of garden plants, most plants that grow from bulbs are poisonous to rabbits. A rabbit's gastrointestinal tract cannot handle large amounts of carbs or sugar.

Should I put hay in my rabbit's litter box?

Rabbits often pass stool when they are eating and placing some hay in the litter box can help with litter box training. First, place some rabbit safe litter on the bottom of the litter box and pile up the hay. They will not eat soiled hay, so you need not worry about sanitation.

What is better for rabbits hay or straw?

Hay is dried grass and the most vital part of a rabbit's diet. Straw is dried stalks from grain crops and is much more suitable for bedding as it is warmer and less likely to be eaten. It's not a problem if rabbits eat straw but there are few nutrients and they must be given good quality hay to eat.