The Basics
For adult guinea pigs and rabbits, the best everyday hay is a grass hay such as timothy, given without limit, all day. Alfalfa is a different kind of hay, richer in protein and calcium. Veterinary advice is to feed it to growing animals under about six months and to pregnant or nursing mothers, and to give adults grass hay. Whatever you buy, fresh hay is green to greenish-gold, smells sweet like a field, and has very little dust.
The Main Hays Compared
| Hay | Type | Texture | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timothy, first cut | Grass | Coarse, stalky, highest fibre | Adults that need more chewing for their teeth |
| Timothy, second cut | Grass | Leafy, softer, green | Everyday hay for most adult guinea pigs and rabbits |
| Meadow or mixed grass hay | Grass | Soft, varied | Everyday hay; good for fussy eaters |
| Oat hay | Grass (cereal) | Crunchy stalks, sometimes with husks | Variety, mixed with timothy |
| Alfalfa | Legume | Soft, leafy, rich | Babies under 6 months, pregnant or nursing mothers, recovering pets on a vet’s advice |
| Bedding hay | Grass | Soft, low dust | Cage floor and nests; feed a feeding hay as well |
The Hay Pantry sells Organic Timothy Hay and Fresh Grass Hay for everyday feeding, and Timothy Hay Pellets to go next to loose hay. For the cage floor there are Organic Bedding Hay and Mixed Bedding Hay. See them all in hay and food and bedding.
Alfalfa: Only for Some Pets
Young animals need the extra protein and calcium in alfalfa to grow. Once a guinea pig or rabbit is about six months old, move it slowly to grass hay over two to three weeks by mixing more grass hay into the alfalfa each day. After that, keep alfalfa to a small handful as an occasional treat. If an adult has thick, chalky or bloody urine, see a vet. Our guinea pig care and rabbit care guides cover the rest of the diet, and the food lists are in what can guinea pigs eat and what do rabbits eat.
How to Tell Fresh Hay From Old
- Colour: green to greenish-gold. Very brown or grey hay is old or was rained on.
- Smell: sweet and grassy. A musty, damp or sour smell means mould; throw it away.
- Dust: shake a handful. A little dust is normal; a cloud is not, and it irritates small lungs.
- Strands: long strands are better for teeth than short, chopped bits.
- Spots: any white, grey or black fuzzy patches are mould. Do not feed it.
How Long Hay Lasts
A good rule: every day, a guinea pig or rabbit should have a pile of hay about as big as its own body, and some left over the next morning. These times are about, for guinea pigs, from our own farm. Rabbits eat more.
| Guinea pigs | 400 g | 1 kg | 1.5 kg | 2 kg | 5 kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 days | 5 days | 7 days | 8 to 9 days | 3 weeks |
| 2 | 1 to 2 days | 3 to 4 days | 5 days | 6 days | 13 days |
| 3 | 1 day | 3 days | 4 days | 5 days | 11 days |
| 4 | 1 day | 2 to 3 days | 3 to 4 days | 4 days | 9 to 10 days |
| 6 | 1 day | 2 days | 3 days | 3 to 4 days | 8 days |
Fresh hay every day makes them eat more, and some is pulled out, slept on and wasted. That is normal. For a pair, 1 kg every 3 to 4 days is about 8 to 9 kg a month: see what that costs in the guinea pig price guide. The Hay Pantry pages work out the pack that suits the number of pets you have. Running a shop, a rescue or a breeding setup? Ask about hay by the sack on our wholesale page.
Storing Hay in Monsoon
Hay needs air. Delhi NCR’s monsoon, from July to September, is when most hay goes mouldy at home.
- Keep it in the bag it came in, or a cardboard box or cotton bag, never sealed airtight in plastic.
- Store it off the floor, away from bathrooms, the kitchen and AC drip, and out of direct sun.
- In humid weeks, buy smaller packs more often and finish an open pack within about a month.
- Check it each time you feed. If it smells musty or shows fuzzy spots, throw it away.
Hay Questions
Is timothy hay grown in India?
Timothy is a cool-climate grass, so where a pack was grown varies. What matters more is that the hay is fresh, green and low in dust: check the colour and smell when it arrives, and do not buy hay that smells musty.
Can adult guinea pigs eat alfalfa?
Only as a small occasional treat. Adults should eat grass hay such as timothy. Alfalfa is the hay for growing animals under about six months and for pregnant or nursing mothers.
How long does hay last for a guinea pig?
About 5 days for 1 kg and 8 to 9 days for 2 kg, for one guinea pig, on our farm. With six guinea pigs, 1 kg lasts about 2 days.
Is bedding hay the same as feeding hay?
No. Bedding hay is soft and low in dust for the cage floor. Pets nibble it, but always give a separate feeding hay such as timothy as their main food.
Why is my hay dusty?
Some dust is normal, especially at the bottom of the bag. Lots of dust usually means old or poorly stored hay. Shake it out before feeding, and if it makes your pets sneeze, change it.
Can I mix two kinds of hay?
Yes. Mixing timothy with meadow or oat hay adds variety and helps fussy eaters. Keep grass hay as the main part.
Sources
- MSD Veterinary Manual, guinea pigs: a body-sized pile of hay a day, grass hay for adults, alfalfa for growing, pregnant and nursing animals.
- RSPCA, rabbit diet: hay is about 85 percent of a rabbit’s food, and a bundle about the size of the rabbit each day.
- Hay quantities and pack timings are from our own farm.
In the shop Hay & Food