Hay rack for rabbits: clean hay, all day long

Hay is the most important food for a rabbit. It should be available without limit and makes up by far the largest part of the menu. Hay keeps the gut moving and makes sure the teeth and molars, which keep growing throughout life, wear down properly. A hay rack helps keep that hay clean, dry and appealing. Loose hay on the floor gets trampled, mixed with droppings and ends up in the wee corner. You end up throwing it away, and a rabbit would rather not eat it either.

In this category you will find hay racks from Trixie: racks to hang up, free-standing racks with and without a lid, and a little house with a built-in rack. Fill them with fresh Zooply hay, our own premium brand, which we feed to our own rabbits every day.

In short

• ✓ A hay rack keeps the hay out of the wee and the poo, so your rabbit eats more hay and you throw less away.
• ✓ Hang or place the rack so that your rabbit can reach it comfortably and cannot get its head or legs trapped anywhere.
• ✓ Top up the rack every day with fresh hay and remove old leftovers and dust.
• ✓ With two or more rabbits: a wide rack or several racks, so that nobody gets pushed out.
• ✓ A rack by the litter tray helps many rabbits become litter trained.

What will you find in the Hay racks category?

Metal hay rack to hang up

You hang the metal hay rack from Trixie (25 × 18 × 12 cm, black) on the inside or outside of the hutch or run. If you hang it on the outside, your rabbit pulls the hay through the bars and space stays free inside. If you hang it inside, your rabbit can reach it from above and from the front. A rack that is hung up never stands in the bedding, so it stays the cleanest.

Free-standing metal hay rack

You place the free-standing metal rack from Trixie (20 × 23 × 20 cm, black) on the floor. That is handy in a run, an indoor enclosure without bars or a free-roaming area in the house, where you cannot hang anything up. Put it on a level spot so it cannot tip over when your rabbit leans on it with its front paws.

Wooden hay racks with lid

In flamed wood there is a rectangular rack with a lid (25 × 22 × 18 cm) and two round models with a lid: ø 15 × 19 cm and ø 20 × 23 cm. The lid stops your rabbit from climbing into the rack or lying in it, and keeps dust and bedding out from above. The small round rack suits a dwarf rabbit or works as an extra hay spot; the larger round model and the rectangular rack are roomier for a pair. The wavy rack in flamed wood (37 × 19 × 13 cm) is long and narrow, so two rabbits can eat side by side.

Free-standing bark wood rack with base

The free-standing hay rack with base and lid in bark wood (40 × 22 × 30 cm) is the largest rack in the category. Thanks to the closed base, less hay falls out and you can easily shake out the leftovers. This model is suitable for a pair or a small group of rabbits.

Hilke house with hay rack

The Hilke house in untreated bark wood (40 × 23 × 32 cm) is a hideout with a built-in hay rack. Your rabbit can shelter inside and eat hay at the same time. According to the product information it is mainly intended for dwarf rabbits and guinea pigs; for a larger rabbit the house is too cramped.

Hay rack with corn and hay

The hay rack with corn and hay from Trixie (17 × 20 × 17 cm, bark wood) is really a chew product. The rack is filled with hay, marigolds and pieces of corn cob. See it as a treat or enrichment, not as your regular hay rack. Corn is rich in starch, so give a filled rack like this only now and then and afterwards simply fill it with hay.

What should you look for in a hay rack?

Safety

Rabbits pull, push and jump. A good rack has no sharp edges and no openings in which a leg or the head can get stuck. Pay particular attention to the space between the bars: big enough to pull out tufts of hay easily, but not so big that your rabbit can crawl through. A lid on a free-standing rack stops a rabbit from climbing into it. Check regularly that the rack is still firmly attached and has not been gnawed.

Height and position

Your rabbit should be able to reach the hay in a relaxed posture, without stretching far upwards. A rack that hangs too high gets used less. If it hangs too low, bedding gets into it. Do not hang the rack in full sun or directly under the water bottle, because wet hay quickly turns musty.

Size

Every day a rabbit eats an amount of hay roughly the size of its own body. A small rack is then quickly empty. Choose a rack that can hold at least one day's worth of hay, or hang two racks. With a pair or a small group, a long rack or several racks in different places works best.

The hay rack and the litter tray

Many rabbits like to eat hay while they are sitting on the toilet. You can make clever use of that. Put a litter tray or corner toilet with litter pellets in a corner and hang the hay rack directly above or next to it. Your rabbit will then naturally go to that spot more often, and the rest of the enclosure stays drier. Do make sure the hay does not fall into the wet litter: a rack with a closed base or a rack that hangs just beside the tray works well for this.

Getting your rabbit to eat more hay

If your rabbit eats little hay, that is often not down to the rack but to the rest of the menu. A rabbit that gets lots of pellets, treats or fruit has less appetite for hay. Keep the pellets to the amount on the label and limit the extras. Also alternate between types of hay: Zooply Dutch meadow hay, German herbal hay and Austrian alpine hay differ in smell, texture and taste. A pinch of dried herbs mixed through the hay makes the rack extra interesting. Use only a little, so that your rabbit does not just pick out the herbs.

If a rabbit that always ate hay well suddenly eats less, produces fewer or smaller droppings or leaves its food, contact a vet with rabbit experience straight away. With rabbits, not eating is always an emergency.

Topping up, cleaning and storing hay

Top up the rack every day with fresh hay. First remove old, flattened leftovers and dust. Your rabbit picks out the tastiest strands; the rest can serve as a floor layer or nesting material. Empty the rack completely on a regular basis, sweep it out and let wooden racks dry thoroughly before filling them again.

Store hay dry and airy, for example in a cardboard box or the original packaging in a cool place. Not in a sealed plastic bag, as it can heat up and go mouldy in there. Good hay is green, fragrant and low in dust. If hay smells musty or you see mould, throw it away.

Useful combinations

A hay rack only really works well with the right hay and a good toilet spot. These categories go with it:

• Hay: Zooply Dutch meadow hay, German herbal hay and Austrian alpine hay to alternate between.
• Litter pellets & Corner toilets: put the litter tray under or next to the rack.
• Dried herbs: a small pinch through the hay makes it extra appealing.
• Rabbit food: Zooply pellets in a measured portion, so your rabbit keeps its appetite for hay.
• Houses: a hiding place near the hay spot gives peace and quiet while eating.

Frequently asked questions about hay racks for rabbits

Do I need a hay rack if I just put the hay on the floor?

You do not have to, but it makes a big difference. Hay on the floor quickly gets dirty and wet, and whatever your rabbit wees on or lies on, it will not eat any more. You then throw a lot away. In a rack the hay stays clean and airy, so most rabbits eat more of it. You can combine both: a rack as the regular hay spot and now and then a handful of hay in a basket or tunnel to forage for.

Can a rabbit get trapped in a hay rack?

With a rack that does not fit properly or is damaged, it can happen. Choose a rack made for rabbits, hang it up securely and check that the openings are not so large that your rabbit can get its head through. With free-standing racks, a lid stops your rabbit from climbing in. Check the rack regularly for gnaw damage and loose parts.

How often should I top up the hay rack?

At least once a day, and more often if it runs empty. Hay should always be available, at night too. If the rack is completely empty every morning, it is too small or you need a second rack. Topping up with fresh hay also makes the hay more appealing than a full rack of old hay.

My rabbit pulls all the hay out of the rack. Is that a problem?

That is normal behaviour: rabbits pick out the tastiest strands. As long as the hay does not end up in the wee corner, it is not a problem. You can pack the rack a bit more firmly so that tufts come loose less easily, or choose a rack with a closed base. The hay that falls on the floor can serve as an extra floor layer or nesting material.

Do I need one or two hay racks for two rabbits?

One long rack can be enough if your rabbits eat well together. If one rabbit is dominant, a second rack in another spot is a sensible idea. That way the calmer rabbit can always eat hay undisturbed. A second rack by a second litter tray is also handy in a large enclosure.

Can I put hay with herbs in the rack?

Yes. Herbal hay, such as Zooply German herbal hay, can simply go in the rack. Mix loose dried herbs through the hay in small amounts. Start with a little and vary it, so that the menu stays interesting and your rabbit keeps eating the hay itself.

Buying hay racks at Knaagplaza

At Knaagplaza, the webshop of 't Knaagplein, you will find hay racks that keep the hay clean and dry. Fill the rack with Zooply hay, our own premium brand that we use every day for our own rabbits in the shop and in the breeding facility, and your rabbit will always have fresh hay within easy reach.