Oxbow hay is the best we have in Australia. It is packaged in bags and quality control checks are in place. If you have more than one or two rabbits and are on a budget you might like to explore buying hay in 'bales'. A bale of hay is around 1 metre long and 40cm across.
Timothy hay is the most common and popular hay for rabbits and is often recommended by veterinarians as an ideal choice for bunnies of all shapes and sizes.
What to feed. Provide a constant supply of good quality fresh grass and grass hay (this should comprise about 80% of the overall diet) – e.g. Timothy, Oaten, Wheaten, Pasture, Paddock, Meadow, or Ryegrass hays.
Many online articles refer to timothy hay as a staple in the diet of rabbits, which is the case in the US. However, as the climate isn't suitable, timothy hay generally isn't grown in Australia so is mainly imported and available for purchase in bags, which can become quite expensive.
What is a suitable hay for rabbits? Grass hays in Australia are pasture hay, paddock hay, meadow hay, oaten hay, cereal hay, ryegrass hay, timothy hay. Straw is not generally considered nutritional but can contribute to the non-digestible fibre component in diet and acts as good bedding.
When looking at which type of hay to feed a rabbit or guinea pig, Timothy hay and Meadow hay are often considered the better and healthier options. Alfalfa is known as a great hay for baby rabbits, as it contains higher calcium and protein levels to help support healthy growth and development.
Oat hay is full of fiber and protein, but is also higher in fat. Fed exclusively, it can lead to one chubby bunny. So, can your rabbit eat oat hay instead of Timothy? Yes, technically, although it won't be the best main course for every rabbit.
Timothy grass (Phleum pratense) is regarded as an environmental weed in Victoria and as a minor environmental weed or "sleeper weed" in other temperate regions of southern Australia.
Alfalfa (known as lucerne in Australia & New Zealand), is a rich source of protein, energy, and many other vitamins and minerals.
While many veterinarians recommend Timothy Hay as the best type of hay, Orchard Grass is a good substitute if you or your rabbit have issues with Timothy Hay.
Besides their lack of natural predators on the continent, their success is aided by quick breeding: They can birth more than four litters a year with as many as five kits (baby rabbits) each. Australia has had a problem with European rabbits since their introduction to the continent in the late 19th century.
Rabbits should NOT eat any kind of processed human foods or dairy products. You should also avoid feeding a rabbit most seeds, nuts, and grains, as well as select vegetables from the onion and nightshade families. Most notably, avoid iceberg lettuce, and sweet fruits and vegetables, including carrots.
With abundant food sources, good ground cover and a lack of predators, the rabbits raced across the landscape. By 1880 rabbits had crossed the Murray River to New South Wales and had reached Queensland by 1886.
As a general rule we recommend grass hay over legume hay (timothy vs. lucerne) for the average adult house rabbit. The primary reasons are that timothy hay is lower in protein and calcium and higher in fibre than most lucerne hay.
For pets and owners who are allergic to Timothy Hay, Orchard Grass can be a great alternative. Orchard Grass can be fed free-choice to your rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas. Coarse Orchard Grass provides long strands that promote natural chewing behavior.
Timothy Hay vs Timothy Grass
Timothy Grass is usually greener than Timothy Hay. Secondly, it is slightly higher in protein. As Timothy Hay is dried, it can lose its colour, but it is still high in fibre and low in protein. Timothy Hay also lasts for years if kept correctly.
Higher Protein Content
One of the biggest differences between alfalfa hay and grass hay is the protein content. On average, alfalfa hay has much higher levels of protein, ranging from 15% to 21% depending on when the alfalfa was cut.
Export fodder production includes hay and silage of all types (pasture, cereal, lucerne, clover and others), chaff (coarsely chopped dried whole plants), vetch and pelletised feed. The dominant hay exported from Australia is oaten hay.
Although oat hay doesn't have high protein like alfalfa (18-22%), oat hay still has higher protein (12-12%) than most grasses (8%). Another benefit is that it's typically cheaper than buying alfalfa so depending on how much you buy, you can save yourself some money in the long run.
How Much Hay Do I Give My Rabbit? You can give rabbits an unlimited supply of hay. Timothy Hay or Oat Hay are good sources of fibre. The only hay that should be limited or even completely eliminated from the diet of an adult rabbit is alfalfa hay.
Alfalfa hay and timothy hay are different nutritionally
Alfalfa hay and timothy hay are both forage sources commonly used in rabbit and guinea pig diets. Nutritionally speaking, however, they are very different. Alfalfa contains higher concentrations of protein and calcium compared to timothy hay (Table 1).
In Australia, the common types of hay produced are: Oaten hay. Wheaten hay. Vetch hay.
Make sure you are using a grass hay such as Timothy Hay, Orchard Grass, or Mountain Grass rather than Alfalfa Hay to ensure that your rabbit doesn't gain weight by eating the hay. Hay also won't be as comfortable as the other options above.
Oxbow's all-natural Western Timothy Hay is a nutritious, sweet-smelling grass that will stimulate the appetite of your rabbit, guinea pig, chinchilla, or other small pet. Western Timothy is the #1 vet-recommended hay for small herbivores.
Oaten hay is a cereal hay, and the same plant that we harvest oat grain from. Oaten hay is generally harvested before the oat grain develops, or before it is fully developed. While oaten hay has a fairly low calcium content, it can have a higher sugar content than other hays.