Diet
General Diet Info
Hay intro
Hay types new!
Vegetables
Pellets
Treats

Care
Bunny-Proofing
Housing
Grooming
Long-haired rabbits new!
Unwanted Litters: know the facts
Short distance traveling
Long distance traveling
Losing a loved one new!

Behaviour
Get to Know Your
Rabbit
Bonding
Bonding: Trios new!
Bonding Stories new!
Chewing/Digging
Litter Training
Types of litter
Spaying/Neutering
Toys

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Taken from newsletter of summer 2004

Hay: Understanding the basics and the many types available

The most important part of the house rabbit diet is an unlimited supply of grass hay which provides essential fibre as well as proteins, vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. (Dr Susan Brown, About Nutrition in Small Mammals).

Fibre from hay helps the digestive system maintain proper motility. As well, hay helps to maintain proper tooth alignment, and prevent molar spurs.

There are two general classes of hay: legume or lucern and grass. Legumes have a different root and leaf structure and contain more calcium and protein than grasses. Examples of legume hay are clover and alfalfa. Because of the higher protein content,
which can lead to obesity, legume hay is generally reserved for lactating rabbits or young rabbits, under seven months of age.

When we think of grass hay, we typically think of timothy because it's the most common grass hay sold at local pet supply shops. But grass hay is any one of approximately ten different types of grasses that are dried and used as animal feed. Examples include timothy, brome, orchard and oat.

Legume hay: Noticeably different than grass hay. A stalky plant with brittle, crumbly, flat leaves. Clover or alfalfa flowers may be seen as well. Alfalfa hay smells rich.	Timothy hay: Resembles flat, dried blades of grass. The color ranges from soft green to grey/brown green. Timothy has "solid cattail" tips for easy identification.
Orchard Grass: This hay has a similar appearance to timothy but has broken or open "cattail" tips, rather than solid. The tips tend to be pale brown.	Other types of grass hay: Varieties in our region include ryegrass, kentucky bluegrass (shown above), brome and reed canary grass.

What is first and second cut hay?
The terms first and second cut refer to the number of times that hay is harvested
and the maturity level of each cutting within a growing season. In Ontario, we usually have one or two cuttings per year, depending upon the region, varieties planted and environmental factors such as rain.

Generally, first cuttings are more mature, stalkier with less leaf, resulting in coarser
hay. Subsequent cuttings grow back with fewer stalks and more leaf, resulting in
softer hay. If legume hays are grown in the field with grass hays, subsequent cuttings
will also have more legume hay than the first cutting.

The longer hay is allowed to grow before being harvested, the more fibre and less protein it will have. Some rabbits seem to prefer a courser, stalky hay, while others have a preference for softer hay.

A mix of high fibre stalks and tasty leaves should be offered in unlimited supply to encourage the rabbit to graze continuously and enjoy maximum nutritional benefits. Different grasses have different mineral levels, so feeding a variety of hay helps to reduce the risk of mineral deficiencies, especially in rabbits that are fed a pellet-less diet.

Choosing good hay
Generally, hay that is grown for horses can be fed to your rabbit. Good hay should smell sweet or like fresh grass. It should be low in weeds and, although colour varies with the type of hay, it should be green to greenish-grey in colour.
Excessive dust or hay that does not smell sweet may indicate mould. Do not feed
your rabbit mouldy hay.

Proper storage
When properly cut, dried, and stored, hay can remain in good condition for up to a year. Proper storage involves keeping the hay dry, away from vermin, out of direct
sunlight, and in a container that allows for some airflow. If perfectly dry, small amounts can be stored in air-tight containers. Damp or wet hay that is stored in air-tight containers can ferment and quickly become mouldy. If storing hay indoors, cardboard boxes, paper yard waste bags, or large Rubbermaid-type bins with holes punched in the side work well. If storing hay outdoors, hay should be stored on a wooden pallet or otherwise off of the ground and be loosely covered to protect it from dust and direct sunlight.

Tips for increasing hay consumption
If your rabbit is not enthusiastic about the grass hay you are feeding, and you know teeth problems are not an issue, you may want to introduce a new type or "brand" of
hay. Also, try feeding hay before feeding other food sources, such as vegetables or pellets.

Entice your rabbit by adding dried herbs into a handful of hay, or put hay in baskets, tubes, cardboard boxes, or paper bags to promote foraging behaviour at meal-time.

Rabbits like to eat while they defecate so add hay to one end of the litter box. To
prevent the hay from becoming soiled and wasted, attach a hay bin close to the litter
box area, so the rabbit can sit in the box yet easily reach their hay.

If your rabbit is still not interested in grass hay, you may include a small amount of alfalfa hay, if your rabbit's diet does not include alfalfa-based pellets, and your rabbit is not overweight or suffering from bladder sludge, bladder stones, or soft stool. When given the choice some rabbits find alfalfa more palatable and may leave their grass hay untouched.

Purchasing hay
There are many sources for hay and factors such as availability, affordability and
package sizes, which may determine the hay you buy. Large pet store chains are often
limited to only alfalfa or timothy hay in small bags that are not economical, especially if you are feeding more than one rabbit. Look in your yellow pages for independent
retailers, tack shops, or specialty pet food stores that may carry a larger hay selection.

A farmer in your area that owns horses or supplies hay to riding stables may be willing
to sell a small bale for less than ten dollars. This can be very economical if you have
storage capabilities, or a local shelter or other bunny owners in your area to share
what you cannot readily use. Some farmers can be very accommodating if rabbit
owners work out a reasonable schedule to pick up hay; otherwise it can be an
inconvenience to sell such a small quantity on a regular basis. You may find a farmer in your area advertising small bales for sale in the classifieds or on www.hayexchange.com. But remember, not all hay is good quality and it may be difficult to determine the condition in the centre of an unopened bale.

If you have limited storage space available and prefer the convenience of online shopping, there are hay companies that advertise good quality hay grown specifically for small animals. The hay is available in a variety of sizes and shipped right to your door. Examples include U.S.-based Oxbow Hay Company (www.oxbowhay.com), Oxford Meadows Hay Company (http://www.oxfordmeadowshay.com/) and American Pet Diner (www.americanpetdiner.com).

Oxford Meadows Hay Company is offering a 10% discount on orders received rom February 1 to February 15, 2006.

Always remember that hay is a natural product. This means that depending upon the weather during the growing season and harvest practices, the same type of hay may look different from year to year, and may even vary from different sections of the same field. This means that your rabbit may suddenly like - or even dislike - a source of hay. With this in mind, the ideal kind of hay for your rabbit is the kind of grass hay that he or she will readily eat in significant amounts.

Sources and suggested reading:

1. Dr Susan Brown, About Nutrition in Small Mammals,
   
2. Laura Atkins, The Carrot Café: Hay.
   
3. Don McKeil DMV, Rabbit Diet: Not what you might have thought!,
   
4. Types of Hays and Grasses, San Diego HRS