What kind of hay should you avoid with your rabbit?

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.

Is all hay OK for rabbits?

Conclusion. 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 hay poisonous to rabbits?

Hay is a great choice for rabbits because the act of chewing shortens their teeth. It may also help to prevent Enterotoxemia by cleaning the GI tract. In addition to hay, rabbits should be given moderate amounts of leafy green vegetables and small portions of other vegetables.

How do you know if hay is good for rabbits?

What brand of hay is best for rabbits?

What Kind Of Hay Should You Feed Your Rabbits

What's the difference between meadow hay and timothy hay?

Meadow Hay is mainly made up of native soft stemmed pasture grasses. These contain more leaves than Timothy Hay, making it have an overall softer texture. In addition to this, Meadow Hay will also contain plants other than grass – such as dandelions, daises, and thistles.

Can rabbits eat only oat hay?

Oat hay is full of fiber and protein, but is also higher in fat. Fed exclusively, it can lead to one chubby bunny. So, can your rabbit eat oat hay instead of Timothy? Yes, technically, although it won't be the best main course for every rabbit.

Is orchard grass vs timothy hay better for rabbits?

Orchard grass is more heat and drought tolerant than timothy grass. Orchard grass grows rapidly at cool temperatures, is very productive in early spring and recovers quickly af ter cutting. Orchard grass, in our experience, usually runs a bit higher on the protein scale than timothy.

Can a rabbit have alfalfa hay?

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 kind of hay do you feed rabbits?

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.

What is the most common cause of death in rabbits?

The researchers found that the most common causes of death recorded by veterinary surgeons were flystrike (10.9% of pet rabbits), anorexia (4.9%), collapse (4.9%) and gut stasis (4.3%). The average lifespan of pet rabbits was 4.3 years, although survival up to 14.4 years had been recorded.

What should you never feed a rabbit?

Is alfalfa or timothy hay better for rabbits?

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.

Is yellow hay good for rabbits?

Oat Blend Hay (pictured - oat, wheat and barley). Color can vary from mostly green to mostly yellow. It's usually the preferred hay for most rabbits.

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.

What is the difference between timothy and orchard hay?

Orchard Grass is higher in protein (10-12%), higher in calorie content and contains the same balanced levels of calcium and phosphorus as Timothy grass. The higher calorie content of Orchard Grass is a result of higher fiber digestibility compared to Timothy Grass.

Is timothy hay just grass?

Timothy hay is a grass hay. Another type of grass hay is meadow hay. This is softer than Timothy hay, and may include some edible plants such as dandelions. Because it contains a variety of plants, it can also be a bit more variable in contents than Timothy.

How often should I change my 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.

Is orchard hay bad for rabbits?

Hay fiber is the best defense against intestinal blockages and teeth issues. SDHRS offers freshly packed boxes of hay at reasonable prices. For just $15 a box, you get about 7-8 lbs. of nicely mixed hays (timothy, orchard, oat or three-way (grain) and sometimes a bit of alfalfa).

What cutting of hay is best for bunnies?

Second cut hay is a good hay for healthy adult rabbits. It usually has more leaves on the stems which is more attractive to your rabbit. This hay is greener than 1st cut and not as stemy. The protein and fat content is a little higher than 1st cut and the fiber level is a bit lower.

Is lucerne hay good for rabbits?

Rabbits should not be fed Lucerne (alfalfa) or Clover hays as they are too high in protein and calcium, which could lead to the formation of urinary stones [2].

Is timothy hay better than oaten hay for rabbits?

If your bunny is normal weight, has good teeth, and is otherwise healthy, then timothy, oaten, or orchard/grass hays are an obvious choice. 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.

Is orchard grass hay good for bunnies?

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.

Do rabbits need fresh hay everyday?

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.