Most rabbits will eat any kind of hay but it can be useful to try different kinds to encourage picky eaters or simply to introduce some variety into your rabbit's diet...
There are many different types of hay available in petshops or through online retailers. Most rabbits will happily eat any kind of hay, however, it can be useful to try different kinds to encourage picky eaters to eat more hay or simply to introduce some variety into your rabbit's diet.
The most important thing is always to feed fresh, sweet smelling hay. If the hay is at all mouldy or dusty, discard it.
Grass can be fed ad lib to your rabbit and letting your rabbit graze on your lawn is a natural way for it to receive the high fibre diet it needs. If you have no garden or lawn, you can pick handfuls of grass from parks or roadsides to feed your rabbit but wash it thoroughly first.
Grass hay / "Readigrass"
This looks greener than ordinary hay and smells more like freshly cut grass. Strictly speaking, it is not hay but kiln dried grass. Very good for fussy hay eaters but has a relatively high protein and calcium content so it is best not to feed this ad lib.
Timothy hay
This is a mix of leaf and stem grown from timothy grass, providing very good fibre content. A very thick, coarse hay.
Meadow hay
Softer than timothy hay, often contains seed heads and herbs.
Herbal hay
This can mean any kind of hay to which some herbs such as cammomile or dandelion have been added.
Oat hay
Similar to timothy hay.
Alfalfa hay
This is high in calcium so should be fed only in small quantities. Can be mixed with a different kind of hay to encourage fussy eaters. It is mostly used to help young rabbits (under 1 year old) gain weight and improve bone density.
