Hay for rabbits: the most important part of every day

For a rabbit, hay is not a side dish but the main food. By far the largest part of what a rabbit eats should be hay: unlimited, fresh and topped up every day. The long fibres keep the gut moving, and the hours of chewing wear down the front teeth and cheek teeth, which keep growing throughout life. Pellets, vegetables and snacks complement hay, but never replace it.

That is why we at Zooply, our own premium brand, pay a lot of attention to hay. We feed this hay every day to the rabbits in our shop in Bodegraven and in our breeding facility. Here you will find Dutch meadow hay, German herbal hay, Austrian alpine hay and alpine hay with flowers, leaves, herbs or vegetables, loosely packed and not compressed. This category also includes edible hay tunnels, hay houses and hay bales from JR Farm and Trixie.

In short

• ✓ Hay should always be available without limit; your rabbit may eat it all day long.
• ✓ Refresh the hay daily and offer it in a hay rack so it stays clean and dry.
• ✓ Good hay smells fresh, is dry and gives off little dust; throw away musty or mouldy hay.
• ✓ Alternate between types of hay so your rabbit keeps finding it interesting.
• ✓ If your rabbit suddenly eats less hay or produces fewer droppings, contact a vet straight away.

What will you find in the Hay category?

Zooply Meadow Hay

Zooply Meadow Hay is natural hay from Dutch meadows, fresh from the field. It is a mild, grassy base that suits a fixed daily routine and that most rabbits are happy to eat. The hay is packed loosely in the bag and is not pressed, so its natural structure is preserved. You can choose from 1 kg, 5 kg or the Zooply Meadow Hay Bale of 20 kg, which is handy if you have several rabbits or like to keep a supply at home.

Zooply Austrian Alpine Hay

Zooply Austrian Alpine Hay comes from the Alps and, according to the product information, contains a variety of grasses. It has a strong scent, is rich in nutrients and is not stalky. No herbs have been added: the aroma comes from the hay itself. Many rabbits that leave ordinary hay untouched are keen to eat alpine hay. It is available in 1 kg and 5 kg.

Zooply German Herbal Hay and Herbal Hay with Flowers

Zooply German Herbal Hay is hay with herbs, which makes it extra fragrant and invites your rabbit to eat and forage. It is a good choice for fussy rabbits or to boost hay intake a little. You can choose from 1 kg and 5 kg. Zooply Herbal Hay with Flowers (5 kg) also contains a variety of flowers, which makes mealtime for your rabbit even more varied.

Zooply alpine hay with added ingredients

Four Zooply varieties combine alpine hay with their own mix, each in a 1 kg pack:

• Zooply Flower Meadow: with marigold, chamomile, rose petals, blue cornflower and sunflower.
• Zooply Woodland Meadow: with lime (linden) leaves, strawberry leaves, apricot leaves, nettle leaves, plantain and apple leaves.
• Zooply Oat Meadow: with green oats, dill, raspberry leaves, birch leaves and rose petals.
• Zooply Field Meadow: with pea, carrot, parsnip, pumpkin, celery, cucumber and bell pepper, among other things.

These varieties are ideal for alternating with meadow hay or alpine hay. Each one smells and tastes different, so your rabbit keeps searching, pulling and nibbling.

Edible hay tunnels, hay houses and hay bales

Besides loose hay, you will find hay products here that combine a snack, a toy and a hiding place. From JR Farm there is the Hay House with carrot (650 grams) and the Hay Tunnel made of mountain meadow hay (750 grams), both edible and suitable for rabbits. From Trixie you will find, among other things, the Willow Tunnel with hay and carrot (ø 15 × 33 cm and ø 20 × 38 cm), Hay Bales with blossom mix (200 and 500 grams) or with pumpkin and carrot (200 grams), a Hay Rack made of bark wood with maize and hay, a Tower with mountain hay and seeds and small Tunnels with hay and vegetables. Give these products as enrichment and as an extra treat. They do not replace the daily loose hay, and the varieties with carrot, maize or seeds in particular contain more sugar or starch than plain hay.

How much hay does a rabbit need?

Hay should be given without limit. A commonly used rule of thumb is that a rabbit needs at least an amount of hay as big as its own body every day, but more is always fine. If there is still a large amount left in the morning, remove the old, trampled bits and top up with fresh hay.

If your rabbit eats little hay, look at the rest of the menu first. A rabbit that gets a lot of pellets, muesli or snacks will eat less hay. Stick to the amount of pellets stated on the label of the rabbit food and limit snacks. Hay intake will then often go up by itself.

Meadow hay, alpine hay or herbal hay: which should you choose?

You do not have to choose: most rabbits eat best when you alternate different types. A practical approach is a fixed base of meadow hay or alpine hay, plus a handful of a variety with herbs, flowers or leaves every day. That keeps eating hay interesting without your rabbit only wanting the most fragrant kind.

• Meadow hay: a mild base for every day, great as the main type.
• Alpine hay: strongly scented and not stalky, good for rabbits that leave ordinary hay untouched.
• Herbal hay and Flower Meadow, Woodland Meadow or Oat Meadow: extra scent and variety, also to tempt a fussy eater.
• Field Meadow: with vegetables; give this as variety alongside a base type, because it also contains some sweeter vegetables such as carrot and pumpkin.

Offering hay the right way

Ideally, offer hay in a hay rack. Hay lying on the floor gets soiled with urine and droppings, and rabbits are then less keen to eat it. Hang the rack so your rabbit can reach it easily without stretching, and so that it cannot get a paw or its head stuck anywhere. Many rabbits like to eat while sitting on their toilet, so a rack above the litter tray also helps with litter training.

Also put some hay in different places around the enclosure, for example in a basket or tunnel. Searching and pulling is natural behaviour, and this way your rabbit eats more spread throughout the day. Sprinkling a few Zooply herbs through the hay makes it even more appealing.

Recognising and storing good hay

Good hay is dry, smells fresh and fragrant and has a green to greenish-yellow colour. It should not smell musty or sour, should not feel damp and should not have any white or grey patches.

Store hay in a dry, airy place out of the sun. Hay needs to breathe: in a closed plastic box or bag it can heat up and go mouldy. A cardboard box, a cotton bag or an open container in a dry spot works well. Buy an amount you will use within a few months, because old hay loses its scent and is eaten less willingly.

Hay for young, older and outdoor rabbits

Young rabbits learn what to eat from their mother and in their first weeks. So teach them to eat plenty of hay from the start and offer different types. Older rabbits sometimes have trouble with hard stalks; a softer type such as alpine hay can help then. Do always have an older rabbit that eats less checked, because dental problems are more common in older rabbits.

Outdoor rabbits eat more in winter. Put extra hay in the sleeping compartment and check that it does not get wet.

Useful combinations

Hay is the foundation; with these categories you complete the menu and the enclosure:

• Hay racks: keep the hay clean and dry, so your rabbit eats more of it.
• Rabbit food: Zooply pellets in a measured portion alongside unlimited hay.
• Dried herbs: Zooply herbs to mix through the hay for extra variety.
• Toilet pellets & corner toilets: a litter tray under the hay rack helps with litter training.
• Water bottles: a rabbit that eats a lot of hay also drinks a lot; always make sure there is fresh water.

Frequently asked questions about hay for rabbits

My rabbit hardly eats any hay. What can I do?

First check whether your rabbit is getting too many pellets, too much muesli or too many snacks; if so, it will have less appetite for hay. Also offer a different type, for example Zooply Austrian Alpine Hay or one of the meadow mixes with flowers or leaves, and hang it fresh in a rack. If your rabbit suddenly eats much less than usual, produces fewer droppings or sits still, contact a vet with rabbit experience straight away. In rabbits, that is always an emergency.

Is herbal hay suitable as everyday hay?

Yes. Zooply German Herbal Hay and the other herbal hay varieties are simply hay with an extra scent, and can be given every day. Many rabbit owners mix it with meadow hay or alpine hay. Do keep an eye on whether your rabbit only picks out the herbs and leaves the rest.

Why does my rabbit leave the stalks?

Rabbits prefer to eat the fine leaves and soft blades. Leaving a little behind is normal. If your rabbit leaves a striking amount, remove the old leftovers and give fresh hay. You can also try a finer type, such as the non-stalky Zooply Austrian Alpine Hay. If your rabbit suddenly stops eating hard stalks when it used to eat them, have its front teeth and cheek teeth checked.

Can I store hay in a plastic box?

Preferably not in a closed box. Hay needs to breathe; in a sealed plastic box moisture can linger, causing it to heat up or go mouldy. Store it in a cardboard box, a cotton bag or an open container in a dry, cool place out of the sun.

Are hay tunnels and hay bales a replacement for loose hay?

No. Products such as the JR Farm Hay Tunnel or the Trixie Hay Bale with blossom mix are enrichment: your rabbit can crawl into them, pull at them and eat from them. They are a fun extra, but the loose hay in the rack remains the foundation. Give varieties with carrot, maize or seeds in moderation, just like other snacks.

My rabbit sneezes when I give fresh hay. Is that a problem?

The occasional sneeze while sniffing through fresh hay happens. If your rabbit sneezes often, has watery eyes or a wet nose, have it checked by a vet with rabbit experience. Hang the hay in a rack and do not shake it out above the enclosure, so that as little fine dust as possible is released.

Buying hay at Knaagplaza

At Knaagplaza, the webshop of 't Knaagplein, you choose hay that we work with ourselves every day. Zooply is our own premium brand: meadow hay, alpine hay and herbal hay that we feed daily to our own rabbits in the shop and breeding facility. Combine a fixed base type with variety, a good hay rack and fresh water, and your rabbit has the most important foundation for a healthy gut and healthy teeth every single day.