Hay For Rabbits To Eat

Table of Contents

Introduction

Hello friend, hope you all are doing great. Today I’ll share my picks for the best hay for rabbits to eat. There is one thing is for certain—hay is an absolute must. It provides rabbits with essential nutrients, helps keep their digestive systems healthy, and also helps them groom their teeth. In fact, about 80 percent of your rabbit’s diet should be hay, so you want to make sure you always have a steady supply on hand. You can also read “what to feed baby rabbit”

Why Hay is Important for Rabbits?

There are a lot of different kinds of hay out there, and for some, you can pretty much give your rabbits an endless supply and let them eat all they want. But for others, you should only give them smaller amounts from time to time—kind of like a supplement to their normal diet or as a treat once in a while.

What to Consider When Shopping for Hay

When you’re shopping for hay, consider the following factors:

Type of Hay: Is it an all-around hay or more of a supplemental hay?
Age of Your Rabbit: Depending on their age, rabbits will require different nutrients by their age.
Natural Ingredients: Make sure the hay is made from all-natural ingredients with no additives or preservatives, and ensure it’s fresh.

Whichever hay you choose, it’s good to switch up your rabbit’s diet every once in a while and give them a little variety—they like that. You can also read “what vegetables can rabbits eat”

My List of the Best Hay for Rabbits

I chose these hays based on their ingredients, customer ratings, and reviews. I paid for them with my own money, had them shipped to our house, and let our rabbits, try them out. And I have divided into the following seven categories which seem the best to me, considering everything.

Here are the categories we reviewed:

Best Timothy Hay
Best Oat Hay
Best Orchard Hay
Best Timothy Grass
Best Meadow Hay
Best Alfalfa Hay
Best Oat, Wheat, and Barley Blend

Best Timothy Hay: Small Pet Select Second Cutting Timothy Hay

My first pick for the best timothy hay is Small Pet Select Second Cutting Timothy Hay, which costs about $35 for a 10-pound box. Timothy hay is considered the best all-around hay for rabbits because it has balanced levels of protein, fat, and fiber, and it’s good for rabbits of all ages.

When you open the box, you can really smell the freshness, and it’s packed super tightly. It’s a second-cutting hay, which means that it’ll be easier for your rabbits to digest and contains a lot of leaves and stems that they enjoy. As for my rabbits, they loved this hay and started eating it right away. Timothy hay has long, thick strands that aren’t too coarse, so they really enjoy munching on this stuff, and we’re very happy to have so much of it around.

The only downside is that it’s a little on the pricey side, and a 10-pound box is a lot of hay, so it might be better suited for multi-rabbit homes because it does lose its freshness after a while. Still, Apollo and Athena absolutely love this stuff, and it’s a really high-quality, all-natural, fresh hay.

Best Oat Hay: Oxbow Oat Hay

Next up is best oat hay, and I went with Oxbow Oat Hay, which costs start $7.42 for a 15-ounce bag. Oat hay has a lot of fiber and protein, and the hollow stalks contain raw oats, which bunnies love.

It’s not a very large bag, but there’s a lot of hay packed in there, and the bag is re-sealable to keep it fresh. Even though oat hay is a good source of fiber and protein, it’s also a little high in fat, so it might be better to give your bunnies only once in a while or as a special treat. Apollo and Athena really enjoyed this hay and ate a lot of it. It’s not a very fragrant hay, but they knew something special was happening and came running as soon as I opened the bag.

The only downside is that it’s a pretty small bag, but again, you probably shouldn’t feed your rabbits too much of this too often. But as an occasional treat or supplement to their normal diet, it’s a great, affordable hay.

Best Orchard Hay: Small Pet Select Orchard Hay

For the best orchard hay, I chose Small Pet Select Orchard Hay, which costs about $35 for a 10-pound box. Orchard hay is higher in fiber but lower in protein, with a soft texture and a sweet smell that’s very attractive to bunnies. It comes in a re-closable box to maintain its freshness, and it’s packed very tightly.

Orchard hay has a lot of fiber and gives your rabbits a little variety in their daily diet if you want to change things up every once in a while. It’s also a great alternative for anyone with an allergy to timothy hay. Apollo and Athena loved this hay and couldn’t wait to dig in. It’s very delicious hay, helps keep their digestive system healthy, and keeps their teeth groomed.

Best Timothy Grass: Standlee Timothy Grass

Next up is best timothy grass, and I chose Standlee Timothy Grass, which costs about $29 for a 9lb box. Timothy grass has a low-to-moderate protein content, moderate sugar content, and high fiber content, making it great for rabbits with a delicate digestive system.

Best Meadow Hay: Oxbow Organic Meadow Hay

For the best meadow hay, I chose Oxbow Organic Meadow Hay, which costs about $6.49 for a 15-ounce bag. Meadow hay is a mixture of grasses that come out long and stringy and is very suitable for adult rabbits because it’s easy to digest. It’s certified organic, hand-sorted, and packed tightly to maintain its freshness.

Best Alfalfa Hay: Viking Farmer Alfalfa Hay

Next is the best alfalfa hay, and I chose Viking Farmer Alfalfa Hay, which costs about $33 for a 10lbs box. Alfalfa hay is packed with fiber, calcium, amino acids, and vitamins. It’s best suited for younger rabbits because it has a high level of calcium and carbs.

Best Oat, Wheat, and Barley Blend: Alfalfa King Oat, Wheat, and Barley Blend

The final category is best oat, wheat, and barley blend, and I chose Alfalfa King Oat, Wheat, and Barley Blend, which costs about $29 for a 456g bag. This blend contains a mixture of nutritious fiber along with a combination of different flavors and textures that rabbits enjoy.

Conclusion

Well, that’s all my review. If you found this article helpful, please share it with your friends. And if I miss anything please let me know in the comment box.