Rabbits and guinea pigs need to constantly stock-up on raw, fibre-rich food to maintain the health of their digestive system. It is extremely important for them to have hay available in addition to fresh grass and green fodder. But other small animals also need the fragrant dry grass to stay fit and healthy: as food, for lining nests, as a hiding place and for digging. Hay is a staple in small animal care, so treat your furry pets to the best quality dry grass.

Hay for rabbits, guinea pigs & similar small animals is plant material which is dried after a meadow has been cut and can thus be preserved. Straw, on the other hand, consists of straws of threshed grain. Compared with the same amount of fresh grass, hay is richer in energy and is a basic raw food for the healthy nutrition of small animals. Preserving grass in this way makes it possible to provide the nutrients of a natural meadow even in winter. Mountain meadow hay is considered to be of particularly high quality: the higher the biodiversity of a meadow, the richer the nutrient content of the hay. Ideally, good hay for small animals should contain several types of sweet grass, legumes (such as alfalfa and some species of clover) as well as many different herbs and flowers. For the nutritional composition of the hay, this means that crude fibre, crude protein, calcium and phosphorus are contained, with the percentage varying according to the origin of the origin of the plants.

Hay is normally cut twice a year from a meadow area: Hay obtained during the first cut in early summer is more structured with coarser strands, while the second cut is finer and richer in protein, since the ratio of grass to herbs shifts over the course of the year.

Certain organic quality standards need to be met for small animal hay. Particularly if the hay is used as food, organic products guarantee that no pesticides are used in the meadow. However, the presence of certain plants which are less suitable for small animals cannot be ruled out. Autumn crocus and St. James’ wort accumulate in the body and cause liver damage. However, there must not be excessive amounts of this in hay. When buying, pay attention to the texture and fragrance of the hay: Fresh hay has a vibrant colour and it smells pleasant. A musty smell or a “dusty” consistency are signs of a lack of freshness. In hay for rabbits, guinea pigs & similar small animals, residues of panicles, ears and herbs should be visible. Please store small animal hay in a dark, airy, dry place in order to prevent mould. Jute bags or cardboard boxes are suitable containers for storing hay.