Why is long stem hay important for rabbits and small animals?
Long-stem fibre is essential when searching for your perfect hay choice as it promotes dental and gut health. The long stem length helps to encourage more chewing and natural foraging behaviour which helps to keep your small animals enriched and occupied for longer. According to the RSPCA, good quality hay (sweet-smelling and dust-free) should constitute the majority of your rabbit's diet and they should always have it available. It's good for:
- Providing vital fibre
- Wearing down their constantly growing teeth
- Keeping digestive systems healthy
- Emotional wellbeing
What is long stem hay for rabbits and guinea pigs?
Long stem hay is hay that keeps the full length of the grass stem, giving small pets more coarse fibre to chew. Long stem hay refers to the length of the stem of the type of forage that you’re feeding. As part of our practice at HayDay, we try and protect the stem of most cuts of grass that we grow (to include timothy, meadow, ryegrass and alfalfa) to promote healthy dental and digestive functions for your small animals. Long stem is essential to keep the digestive system working and will help to avoid any issues such as GI Stasis in your small animal.
(A field of Tasty Timothy Hay - Timothy Heads)
What are the benefits of feeding long stem hay?
The main benefits of long stem hay are better dental health, better gut health and less waste.
How does long stem hay help rabbit teeth?
Long stem hay supports dental health because its coarse stems need plenty of chewing, which wears down constantly growing teeth. Naturally coarse stems help assist with the maintenance of healthy dental function. We recently spoke to our nutritionist Briony, who provided lots of information on the importance of dental health.
How does long stem hay support gut health?
Long stem hay supports gut health because its insoluble fibre keeps the gut moving and produces healthy poops. Naturally coarse stems (and the insoluble fibre they contain) help to maintain healthy gut movement and therefore function i.e. they help your smell pet pass healthy poops! Phew! Ample fibre, including indigestible or insoluble fibre is essential to help maintain digestive function.
Does long stem hay reduce waste?
Yes, long stem hay reduces waste when it is good quality and served in racks, pillows or nets. Waste will typically be reduced if a suitable quality and type of hay is offered. Furthermore, presentation of hay (such as racks, pillows, nets) can help to further enrich the environment and reduce contamination, thereby increasing the amount eaten.
Which HayDay hay boxes are long stem?
Both Tasty Timothy and Moreish Meadow are long stem hays. A misconception of hay is that it’s just Timothy that is long stem, but that is in-fact a myth for the team at HayDay…
Farming practices can have a huge impact on the quality of hay produced however due to the consistency of our products; Tasty Timothy and Moreish Meadow, both are long stem cuts of grass! Hooray!
Is Tasty Timothy a long stem hay?
Yes, Tasty Timothy is a long stem timothy hay that is high in fibre and dust extracted. Timothy hay is ideal for rabbits, guinea pigs and other small animals and is packed full of flavour with naturally coarse stems to assist with the maintenance of healthy dental function. High in fibre and dust extracted, our timothy hay is a top-quality choice for your furry friend..
- A long stem hay for rabbits, guinea pigs and other small animals.
- Naturally course stems to assist with digestion and dental function
- Excellent source of 100% natural fibre
- Palatable and dust extracted
Is Moreish Meadow a long stem hay?
Yes, Moreish Meadow is a long stem meadow hay with soft, palatable stems that tempt fussy eaters. Suitable for rabbits, guinea pigs and other small animals, our Meadow hay is great to tempt those fussy eaters to eat more hay. Due to its soft and palatable stems, it also pairs as a comfy bed too!
- 100% natural + traditional hay meadow grasses
- High fibre to support gut health
- Makes a comfy bed too…cue happy pets!
How do you choose the best long stem hay for your small pet?
Choose a sweet-smelling, dust-free long stem hay that your small pet actually eats, and if they aren’t nibbling, try a different hay or brand.
- Whether or not your current hay is long stem can be a factor when it comes to palatability (i.e. if your small pet eats it!). Try switching hay brands if you find your furry friend isn’t nibbling mad for their current supply!
- It’s hard to go wrong with great quality hay. Remember, 85-90% of your small animal’s diet should be hay - so make sure you feed the best!
- Quality hay is also represented by the quality of poops. Introduce quality, long stem hay into their diet - and watch those poops turn golden!
Is long stem hay better than short chopped hay?
Yes, long stem hay is generally better than short chopped hay because it encourages more chewing and natural foraging behaviour. Our guides to the different types of hay and what hay is explain how to compare options, and our hay vs straw guide covers the difference with bedding.
How much long stem hay should rabbits and guinea pigs eat?
Rabbits and guinea pigs should eat long stem hay for the majority of their diet, around 80 to 90%, with fresh hay available at all times. Store it somewhere dry and well ventilated, as our guide to how to store hay explains.
Can long stem hay help prevent GI stasis?
Long stem hay helps keep the gut moving, which supports healthy digestion and lowers the risk of problems such as GI stasis. A rabbit that stops eating or pooping still needs to see a vet urgently.
Stuck on which HayDay your small pet might prefer? You can read our advice on which hay may be the right choice for your small pet.
