Which hay should I buy for my rabbit or guinea pig?

What should rabbits and guinea pigs eat?

Mostly hay. The RSPCA’s guide for rabbits is about 80% hay, 15% leafy greens and vegetables, and 5% pellets.

Guinea pigs are much the same: the RSPCA says grass hay should be most of what they eat. The big difference is vitamin C. Guinea pigs can’t make their own, so they need it from fresh greens and vegetables every day.

Figures from the RSPCA Knowledgebase pages on feeding rabbits and feeding guinea pigs, which also list safe greens.

Timothy hay: the everyday standard

Timothy is the hay most rabbit and guinea pig owners ask for by name. It has long strands and firm stems, so there’s plenty to chew, and it’s a plain hay made for eating every day.

It’s high in fibre and naturally low in calcium, which is why it’s the hay to keep topped up all day. Ours comes as long, whole strands. We don’t chop it or chaff it, so your pet gets proper stems to work through.

We grow it under irrigation on our farm near Geelong and pack it in small batches, so it isn’t sitting in a warehouse for months. Customers tell us it smells fresh and grassy and isn’t dusty.

First cut vs second cut Timothy

Our standard Timothy Hay is first cut. It’s the stalkier of the two, with firmer stems and longer strands. Second Cut is a softer, leafier cut with no seed heads and a finer texture. It’s close to what’s sold as third-cut Timothy in the USA.

It’s still 100% Timothy, so it’s high in fibre and low in calcium like the standard cut. The difference is in the eating: pets that pick around coarse stalks, and older pets that find them hard going, tend to do better on Second Cut.

Because it’s a seasonal cut, it varies a little from year to year. Some natural brown leaf through it is normal.

Timothy Blend: a natural paddock mix

Our Blend comes from the part of the paddock where other grasses grow in among the Timothy. We cut and bale it just as it grows, so nothing is mixed in afterwards. It’s more than 80% Timothy, with barley grass, oats, ryegrass and clover through it. Because nothing is blended to a recipe, every box is a little different.

Think of it as a Timothy-rich meadow hay. Your pet gets a few different tastes and textures to forage through in every handful, with Timothy still doing most of the work. Customers describe it as soft, with a fresh, slightly sweet smell.

Like our straight Timothy it’s high in fibre and low in calcium, and it costs less.

Oaten hay: sweet and crunchy

Oaten hay is the oat plant cut for hay. The stems are thicker and crunchier than Timothy, and it’s the sweeter of the two, which is why fussy eaters often go for it.

Nutritionally it sits close to Timothy and ryegrass: high in fibre, low to medium in protein and low in calcium. That makes it an everyday hay, not a treat.

We grow it as the cost-effective alternative to Timothy. It’s cut in November or December, and we try to grow it on rainfall alone. Every bale is checked before packing and only goes in a box if it’s fresh and smells sweet.

Grass hay: an everyday Timothy alternative

Our Grass Hay is ryegrass, with a little clover through it. It has long, green strands and a sweet, earthy smell, and it feels much like our Timothy in the hand. It isn’t as soft as Second Cut.

Its nutritional profile is similar to Timothy: high in fibre, low to medium in protein and low in calcium. So it works as an everyday hay, and as a lower-priced alternative to Timothy.

Along with oaten, it’s our lowest-priced everyday hay, which makes it a good fit for big eaters and homes with a few pets.

Alfalfa hay (lucerne): for babies and nursing mums

Alfalfa, also called lucerne, is a legume, not a grass. It has soft, clover-like leaves on crunchy stems and a sweet, distinct smell that most pets go straight for.

It’s higher in protein and calcium than grass hay. That extra is what growing, pregnant and nursing animals need, so it’s the one for pets under 6 months and nursing mums.

For adults it’s a treat. The RSPCA suggests lucerne in small amounts only, so keep one of our grass hays available as the everyday hay and add a handful of alfalfa now and then.

Timothy vs oaten hay: what’s the difference?

They’re different plants. Timothy is a grass with long strands and firm stems, and it tastes plain. Oaten hay is the oat plant cut for hay, with thicker, crunchier stems and a sweeter taste.

We grow them differently too. Timothy is irrigated right through the season. Oaten is cut in November or December, and we try to grow it on rainfall alone, which is a big part of why it costs less.

Most owners settle on Timothy as the everyday hay. If your pet prefers something sweeter, or the price of Timothy doesn’t suit, oaten is a good hay too.

Common questions

Can I mix Timothy and oaten hay?

Yes. There’s no rule against mixing hays. Some owners mix a handful of oaten through Timothy to tempt a fussy eater.

Can I try Timothy before buying a full box?

Yes. The Timothy Hay Sample Box is a 350g trial size.

How should I store hay?

Somewhere dry. In humid areas that can mean an air-conditioned room inside the house.

Is it normal to find short bits and loose leaf in the box?

Yes. We don’t chaff our hay, but some short bits and loose leaf are normal in every box.

Got another question? Have a look at our FAQ page, or get in touch.