Hay is the most important part of a rabbit’s diet, and all rabbits should be given an unlimited amount of it. It is high in fiber, which keeps the digestive tract moving, helping to prevent blockages and stasis. In addition, it helps to sustain healthy teeth by helping to reduce the risk of molar spurs.
Hay Types
| Hay Type | Rabbit Age | Additional Notes |
| Alfalfa | Young (< 7 months) | Also used for nursing mothers and rabbits with health conditions. Has too much protein for adult rabbits. |
| Timothy | Adult | The common staple. This is what we give all of our rabbits. |
| Orchard | Adult | Less dusty. Tends to be better for those with grass allergies. |
| Meadow | Adult | |
| Brome | Adult | |
| Oat | Adult |
Good hay should always smell like grass. Never feed your rabbit moldy hay because it can make a rabbit seriously ill. Also, if it does not have a fresh smell, your rabbit may not eat it, which can thereby compromise his or her gut motility (passage of food through the system).
Rabbits will go through a surprising amount (roughly a bunch the same size as the rabbit, daily). Because of this, we recommend purchasing hay in larger quantities because it’s generally much cheaper that way.
We use Oxbow hay products with our rescues, and carry both small and large quantities that are available for purchase.