Mixing this in with Timothy hay is another way to tempt the fussy eater and keep non-fussy eaters from becoming 'set in their ways'. The rating for this item is 4.7 stars(449 customer ratings). This is one of the many reasons that you should never feed an adult rabbit alfalfa hay. If you notice softer poos, besides their cecotropes, than cut back … Hay is any grass that has grown up, been cut and the dried. We’d prefer they not cut the stems too small to begin with, since it leads them to disintegrate under pressure in the bag. Nothing more to it than that. As your rabbit diet requires a lot of fresh grass daily, it may seem unpractical for rabbit owners trying to give them fresh grass. This timothy hay from Higgins is sold in an unusual form: wrapped up in small individual bales. The rating for this item is 4.7 stars(449 customer ratings). Orchard cut late can be tough. Rabbits and guinea pigs love Timothy, oat grass and orchard grass hay. Timothy and Orchard grass are both excellent hay choices but there are other options also. But there’s a lot of hay on the market, and not all of it is good. Alfalfa hay and timothy hay are both forage sources commonly used in rabbit and guinea pig diets. However, as great as grass is, it can’t be the only thing your rabbit eats. Other types of grass hays include Oat hay, Bermuda grass, Meadow hay, and Orchard grass. Orchard hay is another common type of grass hay – it usually has a thicker blade than timothy hay but can be softer in texture. The reason it’s marked so low is that, while this hay was definitely tasty when packaged, it has a nasty habit of coming out dry and dusty. Timothy grass, a perennial bunchgrass, is a cool-season forage grass. Oh, and I also feed my bunny commercial rabbit pellets (that's the only kind of pellets available that I can get), so … If you’re despairing about getting your rabbit onto a higher-fiber diet or getting their weight under control, this is the solution. Like any other grass or hay, you can give them as more than enough; this would allow them the chance to eat it throughout the day just like you would spot a wild bunny foraging. As your rabbit diet requires a lot of fresh grass daily, it may seem unpractical for rabbit owners trying to give them fresh grass. Any of these hays will provide a suitable basis for your rabbit's diet, but you don't need to pick just one type. PetKeen.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. 1-16 of 121 results for "timothy hay for rabbits" Skip to main search results Amazon Prime. So, what’s the difference between hay cuts? Timothy hay is the most recommended and common rabbit hay out there. Free UK Delivery by Amazon . Orchard Grass Best Hay for Rabbits. Just be sure they hay is fresh and contains no additives. With its sweet scent, long strands, and high fiber content, it makes an ideal mixture with other types of hay. Some people are allergic to Timothy hay specifically. If your rabbit enjoys playing with them and eating them that is fine but do not substitute these for “real” hay. Like all the best rabbit hay, Kaytee’s timothy hay has no other ingredients, and has an excellent leaf-to-stem ratio. FREE Delivery on orders over £10 for books or over £20 for other categories shipped by Amazon. Types that most rabbits like are Timothy, Oaten, Wheaten, Pasture, Paddock, Meadow or Ryegrass hays. Kaytee Natural Timothy Rabbit Hay – Best Value, 6. The higher calories are from its highly digestible fiber. Warning: Rabbits love orchard grass and it's good for them. Western Timothy is the #1 vet-recommended hay for small herbivores. Save more with Subscribe & Save . Scamp stuck his head in the Western Timothy bag first, but I think that may have just been a case of stick head in closest bag and investigate. The difference with Oxbow Western timothy hay is the attention they clearly paid to what the bunnies want, not just what they need. My bun was never a fan of softer hays but luckily the Coarse Orchard Grass crunches like Timothy! Sometimes I even try to mix them together and feed it, but still the timothy hay is always leftover. With longer strands, it also helps your bunny practice chewing correctly. Timothy — Orchard Grass — Alfalfa — Hay — It’s Good. Timothy hay typically has long green grass stems with tail-like flowers. Whether it’s the smell or the texture, we’ve seen a lot of rabbits go out of their way to avoid this, even when it’s mixed with other types of hay. Click on the link to order 2nd cut timothy hay->> 2nd cut hay They’re infamous for invading vegetable gardens to chow down on leafy greens. Warning: Rabbits love orchard grass and it's good for them. It is only a recommendation to feed alfalfa hay to young rabbits and then timothy hay. 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,363. Does orchard grass have the same nutritional value as timothy hay? Hello Select your address All Hello, Sign in. We do feed most of them alfalfa pellets and beet pulp to supplement the hay, but have one that cannot have alfalfa at all - nor any feed containing alfalfa. Like our #1 pick, Kaytee has some issues with dust. Orchard Hay: Extra Variety, Allergies : Average: Average: Average: Alfalfa Hay: Young, Old, Underweight Rabbits : High: High : High: Timothy is perhaps the most well known, most recommended and most beneficial of the grass hays. A wide range of bag sizes means you can choose a hay that suits your needs. Orchard grass has a soft texture and is high in fibre and low in protein. As the right choice for your rabbit, it comes with 2ND cutting timothy hay with the perfect blend. Hay eating rabbits are more likely to drink water and therefore will urinate more, which helps to protect them against the formation of bladder stones. Sometimes I even try to mix them together and feed it, but still the timothy hay is always leftover. High-fiber, low-protein timothy hay can be expensive, but not from Kaytee – it’s easily the best value hay for rabbits for the money, and it’s suitable for hamsters and guinea pigs too. Does orchard grass have the same nutritional value as timothy hay? Orchard Grass Best Hay for Rabbits. At least one chapter of the House Rabbit Society (the San Diego chapter, on its website) recommends, in addition to timothy hay and orchard grass, oat hay, which is apparently particularly rich in fiber. Let’s look at the nutritional difference between Orchard hay and Timothy hay. Rating 4.7 out of 5 800 customer ratings Benifits: Maximum Freshness Excellent source of fiber Highest quality orchard hay: Check Price. rabbit struggles to eat the proper amount of hay. I was struggling to find a hay that was just as crunchy as Timothy Hay. Don’t worry, though: if you’ve been neglecting to feed your fuzzball enough hay, it’s not too late to introduce this critical staple into their diet. In addition to its nutritional value, this hay rarely comes out dusty, but we’ve still marked it down because Oxbow occasionally mixes in stems that are too firm for smaller animals to chew. Orchard Hay vs Timothy Hay for Rabbits rabbit 2020-09-09T16:15:05+00:00 Orchard hay and Timothy hay are both acceptable for rabbits to eat and have a similar nutritional profile. Orchard Grass – “A sweet and very soft long stranded grass hay which is green in colour.” Stop with the photos and start with the taste testing please! It is the softest type of hay we carry and makes a great alternative if you or your rabbit, guinea pig, or chinchilla are allergic to Timothy Hay. My bun was never a fan of softer hays but luckily the Coarse Orchard Grass crunches like Timothy! Thanks for any advice! Orchard Hay/Grass Orchard grass. Whether your furry friend needs an oat hay, a legume hay (like alfalfa) or a grass hay (like Timothy or orchard), you’re guaranteed to receive a product that’s the freshest you can find anywhere. There are many different hays available; popular types include meadow, timothy, and orchard grass. Mimi LOVES the soft pieces, & recently the lady @ the store recommended Orchard Grass - genius! Copyright 2017-2020 Rabbit Rules All rights reserved. Choose soft-cut hay to avoid sharp ends that could poke your pet, especially if they end up using it to build a nest in their enclosure. Known for its large seed heads, fibrous leaves and stems, Coarse Orchard Grass provides long strands that promote natural chewing behavior and dental health. Nutritionally speaking, however, they are very different. It looks like a dried fairly wide blade of grass, and its color is a soft green to grey or brown-green. It is a grass hay that is a good main diet for any rabbit of any age. Alfalfa contains higher concentrations of protein and calcium compared to timothy hay (Table 1). This hay should be given as a treat or you can mix it sparingly with 1st or 2nd cut hay if your rabbit is a picky hay eater. I like to feed my bunnies a constant supply, not just a handful every other day (which I believe to be the absolute minimum). Remove all weeds from the planting site with a hoe. Rabbit Hay, Orchard Grass and more For many small pets, soft grass hay is not only a delicious treat, but it's vital to helping keep their digestive systems functioning properly. They are very hard which helps with dental health. Most hay here is a timothy/orchard mix. Timothy hay and Orchard grass are both excellent choices for your rabbit. It's been years since I've purchased Timothy hay, and both of my rabbits are very healthy. Its fiber keeps their gastrointestinal systems in working order. Grass AND Hay. You may know that a rabbit’s teeth never stop growing but that is only part of the story. Orchard hay and Timothy hay are both acceptable for rabbits to eat and have a similar nutritional profile. This dries it out, turns it yellow, and results in your bunnies tearing it up and spreading it around more than actually eating it. Like any other grass or hay, you can give them as more than enough; this would allow them the chance to eat it throughout the day just like you would spot a wild bunny foraging. Fiber is key to an any rabbits diet and prevents GI Stasis. If you are interested in learning more about “what cut of hay is best for rabbits” check out this article to see the differences. Since it’s made from alfalfa instead of timothy or grass hay, it’s got a higher protein and calcium content, with correspondingly less fiber. Timothy hay is much courser and harder than Orchard hay, therefore better for your rabbit’s dental health. Feeding your rabbit, the best diet is critical for his or her health, behavior and increasing how long your rabbit will live. Chewing on it helps them keep their teeth from growing too fast. Scamp stuck his head in the Western Timothy bag first, but I think that may have just been a case of stick head in closest bag and investigate. This offers rabbits a higher effect of gut mobility and better maintenance of the intestinal tract, therefore reducing the risks of GI Stasis and other such problems. Let your rabbit, guinea pig, or chinchilla eat as much orchard grass as they want! Let us break down what the terminology means. It is slow growing and has a low yield in the field. Prepare a place to sow seeds. Young rabbits can eat alfalfa hay because it is high in protein, but adult rabbits need more fiber with slightly lower levels of protein. It’s a cool season grass. TYPES OF HAY. A quick look at orchard grass vs. timothy hay for rabbits indicates that orchard has the same calcium to phosphorus as well as comparable fiber (34%) and protein (10%). Good luck in your search! These teeth are used to snip, cut and pull food into the mouth. It has been our experience that 1st and 2nd cutting timothy grass hay works well for animals with a delicate digestive system, skin problems, issues with diarrhea and weight problems. Sunburst Break-A-Bale Timothy Rabbit Hay, 9 DIY Hedgehog Cage Plans You Can Build Today (With Pictures), 7 DIY Guinea Pig Beds You Can Build Today (With Pictures), 9 DIY Hamster Toys You Can Make Today (With Pictures), Mother’s milk (aim to wean by 7 weeks, might take longer), Alfalfa and pellets (introduce at 3 weeks), Other types of hay (introduce after weaning), Fresh vegetables (introduce at 12 weeks, half an ounce at time), A mixture of hays, lighter on the alfalfa, 2 cups vegetables per 6 pounds body weight, Same as adult, with unlimited pellets if their weight begins to drop. Most hay here is a timothy/orchard mix. Skip to main content.us. Another product from Oxbow, our #1 winner, this orchard grass hay is a bit different from their timothy hay that’s such a hit with bunnies. It’s a coarse hay that’s low in protein but high in fiber. Timothy is common in northern areas, whereas brome, orchardgrass, and Bermuda grass are more common in … The #1 rule to follow at all times is that once your rabbit is no longer nursing, it should have constant access to as much hay as it wants. They include the following. Among grasses, orchardgrass does particularly well in mixed stands. Notice we say “on average,” because our big concern with Kaytee’s timothy hay is consistency. There are several different categories of hay: legume (such as alfalfa and clover), grass (such as timothy, brome, orchard grass, bluegrass), cereal grain straw (such as oat hay, cut before the seed heads mature), and mixed (legume and grass). ORCHARD GRASS HAY: Orchard grass hay is the king when it comes to higher fiber with less protein. The only real difference is that Timothy is better for your rabbits dental health. Higgins Sunburst isn’t all bad. These include your rabbits plus guinea pigs. Treats, fruit and leafy greens fed in excess can spoil a rabbit’s appetite and cause them not to eat the proper amount of hay. I used timothy for about 6 years and then I started using orchard and I’m just curious how much of a difference they might make. Grass hay is more common to feed bunnies than alfalfa hay for rabbits because it has: Less protein; Fewer calories; More balanced nutrition; Examples of grass hay are: Timothy, orchard and oat. It’s still a great brand for the most part, but there’s more risk here than we like. And whether your pet likes hay in the form of sticks, hay cubes or treats, or prefer it served loose, we make it easy to find the right option for your small pet. Hi there :) Is one superior? The 2019 Ultra Premium Soft Orchard Grass we have in stock is currently a third cut, and we’ve given it a 8/10. Used as hay it also called timothy hay with the perfect blend that people... For some people scent, long strands, it ’ s low in protein than hay! 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