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THE BEST
TIMOTHY HAY
FOR RABBITS: #1
GUIDE
LANITA HOOLEY / MAY 3, 2023 / PET-RELATED

Photo: Small Pet Select

Timothy Hay is ranked as the most popular hay to

feed rabbits. But are there different kinds of
Timothy hay that are better than others? Our goal
in this article is to give you simple but inclusive
answers to all your timothy hay questions. Continue
reading, or skip to our table comparing the different
cuts of timothy hay or our price comparison chart
of our different kinds of hay.

Table of Contents

What is Timothy Hay?

Why is Timothy Hay the healthiest option for most
rabbits?
What cut of Timothy hay is the best?
1st Cut of Timothy Hay:
2nd Cut of Timothy Hay:
3rd Cut of Timothy Hay:
The 3 cuts of Timothy Hay Compared:
Cost of Timothy Hay
How much Timothy Hay should you feed your rabbit?
Cons of Timothy Hay
Is Timothy Hay good for Rabbits with Allergies?
What We (Blue Mountain Hay) Offer…
Conclusion

WHAT IS TIMOTHY
HAY?
Timothy Hay is a perennial grass hay that is known
for its nutritional value and texture variety. It grows
best in high altitudes and places where the weather
is more extreme: cold winters and springs, and
warm dry summers. Timothy Hay is a popular
choice among rabbits because of its tasty leafy
elements. Later cuts also have flower clusters that
rabbits tend to love. The first three cuts are usually
the options for rabbit feed, which we look at more
in depth down below.

WHY IS TIMOTHY HAY

THE HEALTHIEST
OPTION FOR MOST
RABBITS?
Timothy Hay has a very good balance of fiber to
other nutrients like protein or calcium.

Rabbits need a very high fiber content for their

digestive systems to work properly. If not given
enough fiber, they could contract a disease known
as gastrointestinal stasis, which can be fatal.
Timothy hay has a high content in fiber but also
provides the tasty nutritional effects of protein.

Because of its high fiber content in the stems,

Timothy Hay has proven to be a good sustainer of
teeth heath. As with many rodents, rabbits’ teeth
never stop growing. Fiber is essential in keeping
their teeth at optimum size and strength, as it helps
whittle them down. Overgrown teeth result in less
and painful eating which leads to other health
problems.

WHAT CUT OF
TIMOTHY HAY IS THE
BEST?
Second cut timothy hay is the most nutritionally
balanced and popular hay to feed rabbits that
don’t have other current specific needs. But each
cut of hay has benefits and strengths for rabbits at
different stages. We’ve condensed the information
into a table you can see down below.

What is a certain “cut” of hay? A cut of hay is when

the farmer will cut the hay and package/bale it and
then repeat the process, letting the same field grow
for another cutting. The first harvest is call the “1st
cut”; the second harvest is called the “2nd cut” of
that hay, and so on.

1st Cut Of Timothy Hay:

The first cut of hay has the highest volume of stems,
fewer leaves, but the most flower clusters compared
to the other cuts. This means that the fiber content
is the highest of all the cuts, with the protein and
fat levels being the lowest. With so much energy
needed to eat and process it, 1st cut hay is good for
rabbits that are youthful, need to lose weight, or
need extra fiber. Rabbits also seem to love the
flowers included in some hay cuttings, making this
cut not quite so bland in its lack of leaves.

2nd Cut Of Timothy Hay:

Second cut Timothy hay is the most popular type of
Timothy hay to feed rabbits, because of its ideal
nutritional proportions and tastiness.

The second cut of Timothy Hay is richer than the

1st cut because of its high leaf content. This raises
the protein and fat content. While there is slightly
less fiber in this cutting, the nutritional proportions
are considered optimal for rabbits’ daily feed.
Rabbits will also enjoy the more tasty
characteristics the leaves provide. It’s best for adult
rabbits with no need for extra fiber or weight gain.
Rabbits can’t eat too much of this balanced hay. It’s
perfect for daily feeding.

3rd Cut Of Timothy Hay:

This cut of timothy hay is most suitable for senior
rabbits or those who need to gain more weight.
With a high amount of leaves and seeds, compared
to stems, it contains more protein and fat, and less
fiber. Rabbits who don’t have the energy to chew
and process all the fiber of earlier cuttings will
benefit from the higher protein/fat content. Rabbits
who need to put on some more pounds will benefit
from the extra nutrients. Being the most tasty and
tender of the cuts, picky rabbits are usually more
willing to eat 3rd cut hay, or can be rewarded with
it. However, 3rd cut Timothy hay is more rare than
other cuts because many farmers don’t grow a 3rd
cut of timothy hay at all.

The 3 Cuts Of Timothy Hay Compared:

Type of Cut Pros Cons Bes

Not as high
High fiber You
of protein
contentMore rab
contentTakes
tasty flower wh
more energy
1st Cut clustersGood los
to eatNot as
for promoting we
tastyMost
weight lossBest tha
coarse
for teeth health ext
textured

Good balance
between fiber
and
Not as much
protein/fatMore All
fiber as first
2nd Cut(most tasty than first adu
(but more
recommended) cut with more rab
that 3rd cut
leaves and fee
hay)
seedsSofter/
easy to chew
and process

Higher
Least
protein/fat
fiberHigher
content Old
protein and
for Requires rab
fat could be
less energy to tha
detrimental
3rd Cut eatMost tasty/ gai
to some
good for picky hav
rabbitsMost
eatersSoftest nu
rareCauses
textureHelps eat
more weight
with weight
gain
gain

For even more information on the different cuttings

of Timothy Hay read through this article.

COST OF TIMOTHY
HAY
Timothy Hay is actually one of the cheaper hays,
only preceded by possibly oat hay or orchard hay.
However, it all depends on the company you buy it
from because the price per pound can vary greatly.

Here is a table of how our Blue Mountain Hays

compare in price per pound.

Type of Hay Cost per Pound

High-Altitude Timothy Hay $7.00

Timothy Grass Hay $12.00

Organic Alfalfa Hay $8.00

Alfalfa Hay $12.00

Orchard Grass Hay $12.00

Organic Meadow Hay $14.00

Organic Oat Hay $14.00

Teff Grass Hay $14.00

HOW MUCH TIMOTHY

HAY SHOULD YOU
FEED YOUR RABBIT?
You should have a constant supply of Timothy hay
available for your rabbit. You basically can’t give
your rabbit too much hay. You should only limit the
supply of hay if there are some diet needs or
restrictions that need to be considered. For
example, you should not provide an unlimited
supply of alfalfa hay to your adult rabbits, for it
could cause digestive issues. Not having a
consistent, unlimited supply of hay to your rabbits
could actually be detrimental to their teeth health
and upkeep.

Always having plenty of Timothy Hay available to

your rabbit is an important part of their health and
diet.

CONS OF TIMOTHY
HAY
There really aren’t any substantial cons to feeding
your rabbit Timothy hay. As previously mentioned,
the first cutting of Timothy hay can be harder to eat
and not as tasty as some hays. In general, while
timothy hay may not be as flavorful as some
options, the second cutting of hay is especially
popular because of the good nutrient balance and
numerous other benefits.

If your rabbit is underweight, timothy hay may not

be the best hay option. Learn more about why
organic oat hay is a better solution for underweight
rabbits and bunnies.

IS TIMOTHY HAY GOOD

FOR RABBITS WITH
ALLERGIES?
Timothy hay rarely causes allergies in rabbits and is
generally the most highly recommended hay for
rabbits. Often, excess dust in the hay may begin to
cause irritation. You could try switching brands of
timothy hay to a kind that has less dust content.

If your rabbit is still experiencing allergies to the

Timothy hay. Many people recommend orchard
grass hay as a good alternative.

For more information on hay and rabbits’ allergies

try reading through this article.

WHAT WE (BLUE
MOUNTAIN HAY)
OFFER…
Blue Mountain Timothy hay is a high altitude
grown hay. High-altitude cultivation of our Timothy
Hay promotes slower growth, which enriches the
nutrients and enhances digestibility. Our hay is
hand-selected, inspected, and packaged thoroughly
to ensure the very best food for your pet.

We have committed our Timothy hay to…

Be High-Altitude Grown
Have No Preservatives
Have No Artificial Colors
Have No Flavorings
Be Fresh from our Family Business
Have No Additives

We offer our timothy hay in pouches or boxes in

various sizes. You can also choose the frequency of
purchase if you would like a consistent supply.

Check out our timothy hay, or see all the kinds of

hay we offer for your pet!

CONCLUSION
Finding the right hay for your rabbit can be
confusing, but we hope this article helped you find
the best hay to keep your rabbit healthy. Timothy
hay is a good source of nutrients and fiber, and
while it is often the best option for your rabbit,
sometimes other hay can be better. Check out our
other articles for more information such as alfalfa
hay for rabbits. We hope we can help in keeping
your rabbits in optimal health.

HEALTHY. FRESH.
GENUINE.
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