[ad_1]
With cute button noses, fluffy tails and characteristic long ears, rabbits are universally recognized and much loved around the world. They are also extremely popular pets, with many people choosing rabbits as pets rather than a dog or cat. If you are one of the many people considering buying or adopting a rabbit for your home, then you need to make sure you get the right equipment and food to keep them healthy and happy.
Hay is an essential part of any rabbit’s diet and the wrong hay can cause gastrointestinal distress as well as unnecessary weight gain – so as you can no doubt see it’s important to get it right. We’ve got a quick list of the best hay for rabbits here, including a handy guide to what to look for when buying hay for your rabbit, so you can make an informed decision.
The 9 best rated hay for rabbits
Best Hay for Rabbits Buying Guide
Things to consider when buying hay for rabbits
- The type of grass used: Rabbits are each unique, each individual rabbit has its own preferences. There is a wide variety of grasses that can be used as food for rabbits, and you need to figure out what the rabbit prefers to do so you can be sure they enjoy their meal.
- Cutting Hay: There are mainly three cuts of hay, and this determines the nutritional value, texture and fiber content of the grass. The first cut is made before the hay blooms and the stem is still flexible and thin. This type of cut is high in fiber and low in protein and fat and is therefore recommended for rabbits. The second cut also has thinner stems, but there are more leaves and the protein and fat content is higher, with a pleasant fragrance. The third cut of hay has the least fiber of the three with an extremely high protein and fat content and a lack of fiber. This type is usually recommended as a treat to feed in minimal amounts as the low fiber content can cause problems.
- Safe: When it comes to grass, things like pesticides and other chemicals should be avoided as much as possible. These substances may contain specific components that are not good for the health of rabbits and can cause serious problems. Organic or natural hay is best because it is less likely to harm the rabbit.
Different types of rabbit hay
There are 7 main types of hay at the hay market, each with its own pros and cons that you should consider before feeding your rabbit:
- Timothy there
- Orchard Grass hay
- Meadow grass hay
- oat hay
- Alfalfa there
- Bromegrass Hay
Not all hay is necessarily suitable for use as part of your rabbit’s daily feeding routine. Knowing the differences between each of these types of hay can be the difference between having a healthy or unhealthy rabbit.
Timothy Grass Hay
Best recommended for adults as part of their daily food intake. Timothy hay is the most popular hay for rabbits by country mile. This is because, depending on flowering and when the hay is mowed, Timothy hay is relatively even across the board when it comes to nutrition. Harvested in the cooler seasons, it provides excellent digestion for rabbits with sensitive stomachs due to its high fiber content.
Please note that due to its low calcium content, Timothy hay is better suited for adult rabbits than for young rabbits, who need calcium for healthy bone growth.
Orchard Grass Hay
Like Timothy hay, orchard grass is also grown and harvested in the colder months. A major advantage of orchard grass is that it is more drought tolerant than Timothy grass, meaning crops are less likely to suffer from dry weather. Is it a soft texture that is good for rabbits with dental problems, and can be easily mixed with Timothy hay.
However, this is another hay that is mainly recommended for adults as again it has a low calcium content and a lower protein content which is ideal for a growing rabbit.
Meadow Grass Hay
Pasture grass offers a varied taste because it is a mixture of several naturally occurring grass hays (hence the name). It has turned out to be very tasty and one that many rabbits enjoy, but it also has drawbacks.
Due to the mixed nature of meadow grass, it is not so easy to calculate the protein, calcium and fiber content in it. This is because many farmers generally do not analyze every crop they harvest. So it’s best to stick with a farmer you know and trust, if possible. Also try to monitor your rabbit’s hay intake with this particular hay, as the protein content can be significantly higher than Timothy hay, making it fattier, so an “unlimited” diet of pasture hay is not recommended.
Oat Hay
As you might expect, oat hay is rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, phosphorus, fiber and magnesium, while being relatively low in calcium. This high amount of vitamins makes oat hay a fantastic choice alongside alfalfa hay for young bunnies. The alfalfa provides the right level of calcium to stimulate bone growth, while the magnesium and other vitamins of oat hay support the proper development of the immune system, eyes and brain.
The only downside to oat hay is that it must be mixed with high calcium hay to balance the calcium and protein content for young rabbits. However, adult rabbits will thrive on eating oat hay, including crunchy oat flakes for your rabbit to chew on.
Alfalfa Hay
Alfalfa is a type of hay that can be fed to rabbits in carefully controlled amounts. It is mostly used for horses because it has a high protein and calcium content that promotes strength and muscle rejuvenation. This means that alfalfa can be a fairly good hay choice for young bunnies, in addition to being a less rich option, but it must be carefully monitored to ensure your rabbit is benefiting well from this food choice. This means no unlimited hay feeding.
But the protein and calcium content in this hay can also make it very rich and fattening. So make sure you don’t overfeed your fuzzy buddy or it could end up giving them unnecessary weight that can be difficult to move.
Bromegrass Hay
A soft, sweet tasting perennial forest grass with a high fiber content that aids rabbits with healthy digestion and body function. Bromegrass is less commonly seen in the rabbit hay market, but is still a good diet. This can be used as a constant food source as there is no excessive amount of fat or protein to worry about.
The importance of hay for your rabbits
Hay provides roughage for rabbits, helping the food move smoothly through their digestive tract. It is useful to avoid blockages and to push out any foreign objects in the duct. It should make up between 80-90% of their diet for this reason. Seeing hay, in particular, is the best source of fiber for rabbits, which is key to good digestion in most animals. In addition, constant chewing also helps to keep their teeth healthy, while strengthening their jaws and massaging their gums. Because rabbits have ever-growing teeth, meaning they never stop growing, chewing good textured food continuously will help keep them at an appropriate level.
[ad_2]
Source link