Rabbits just can’t have enough hay and, for these discerning dry grass nibblers, it has to be hay that’s grown and harvested especially for eating. Burgess in-house vet Dr Suzanne Moyes says: “Our research has shown that many rabbits are not fed the correct hay and are instead chewing on bedding hay, which may have poor nutritional value. For bunnies
12th June 2017
Rabbits just can’t have enough hay and, for these discerning dry grass nibblers, it has to be hay that’s grown and harvested especially for eating.
Burgess in-house vet Dr Suzanne Moyes says: “Our research has shown that many rabbits are not fed the correct hay and are instead chewing on bedding hay, which may have poor nutritional value. For bunnies to be healthy, it’s vital that you choose hay that’s specially grown for rabbits to feed on, cut at the right time to capture all the natural goodness, so your rabbits enjoy eating it.”
Having fresh, irresistibly tasty feeding hay every day is an absolute essential for fibrevores like bunnies. Suzanne adds: “Around 85-90% of a rabbit’s diet should be high quality feeding hay and grass. Astonishingly, that’s equal to their own body size in hay every day! Feeding hay is an excellent source of fibre, helps to maintain a healthy gut, reduces the risk of your rabbits getting tubby and serves to grind down their continuously growing teeth, helping prevent dental disease.”
So, what’s the difference between bedding hay and feeding hay?
Bedding hay is only suitable for rabbits to sleep on and can be:
- Cheaply manufactured
- Of unknown nutritional value
- Less tasty
- Yellow or brown in colour and dusty
Feeding hay is grown specially for eating and is:
- Fresh and fragrant, barn dried and dust extracted
- Much more tasty
- Nutritionally rich and laboratory tested
- High in fibre for gut health
Recommended by 92% of vets, you can find out more about Yorkshire farm grown Excel Long Stem Feeding Hay here
Find more expert advice on feeding your rabbits here
Would you like to help us to help more rabbits have a better diet?
If so, why not spread the word! Share this information with your rabbit-loving friends so that their pets also get the nutrition they need to be healthy, happy bunnies. You can also find lots more tips and advice on caring for your rabbits on social media.
Facebook.com/rabbitawarenessweek
Twitter: @rabbitawareness
Website: rabbitawarenessweek
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