Timothy hay should be the main, unlimited hay in your small pet’s diet (80–90%), while Ryegrass hay is best fed in smaller quantities as an enrichment “top-up” alongside Timothy or Meadow hay. Both are high in fibre and great for dental and digestive health, but Timothy hay has higher fibre and is the recommended basis, whereas Ryegrass hay is sweeter, slightly higher in protein, and used for variety and taste.
When choosing hay for your small pet, it’s always good to consider these five things:
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Taste
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Texture
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Palatability
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Nutrition
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Age of rabbit (or other small pet)
Providing a variety of hay types and textures is crucial for small herbivorous pets like rabbits, as it offers stimulation and flavour diversity in their diets. Taking into account your furry friend’s specific taste buds can help you narrow down the right hay for them.
Timothy hay vs Ryegrass hay – overview
Ryegrass hay and Timothy hay are just two different grass species you can feed your rabbits, guinea pigs, and other small animals. But if you’re new to the small pet world, it can be hard to know what to feed. You might be wondering: what is the difference between Timothy hay and Ryegrass hay, which is the best hay variety, how should you feed it, and how to incorporate it into your small pet’s diet?
Eating hay plays a huge role in keeping your small animals happy and healthy for life. Here’s a quick overview of what to expect from this guide:
Timothy hay and Ryegrass hay are similar in texture (coarse with long stems), but their nutritional qualities differ. Timothy hay is high in protein and fibre, whereas Ryegrass hay is typically higher in protein. Both are beautifully green in colour and very palatable.
Both Timothy and Ryegrass hay are great for rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and degus. Their coarse, stalky texture supports your small pet’s dental health, digestive health, and gut health. The fibre content in Timothy hay and Ryegrass hay also plays a crucial role in energy, weight management, and overall health.
Both hay types can stay fresh for up to a year if stored correctly. A dark, dry, well-ventilated room is recommended, with a breathable box being ideal for hay storage.
Unsure which hay to trial for your small pet? Try a HayDay Taster Pack – a 50/50 mix of Timothy hay and Meadow hay. You’re guaranteed to find a hay that sends your small pet hopping mad!
What is Ryegrass hay?
Ryegrass hay is a type of grass suitable for rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and degus when fed in moderation following feeding guidelines.
Its long, green, and stalky texture makes it a particularly palatable option for small pets, with enhanced nutrition and a sweet taste.
As a feeding hay, Ryegrass hay is best used in addition to everyday hay (such as Timothy hay or Meadow hay) or to top up nutrition if your pet is ill or you simply want a more varied diet. Ryegrass hay often contains seed heads, which add to its nutritional value and variety for small animals.
Is Ryegrass hay good for my small animals?
Ryegrass hay is better fed in smaller quantities alongside a primary hay such as Timothy hay or Meadow hay.
Ryegrass hay is sweet to taste – think of it like a sweet treat. Our nutritionist Briony recommends “sprinkling it on top of different hay varieties, which will help enrich their diet with slightly higher protein.”
What are the benefits of Ryegrass hay for small pets?
When choosing HayDay’s Sweet and Munchy Ryegrass hay, these are some of the things that make it great for small pets:
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Coarse stems – yes
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Soft texture – no
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Sweet taste – yes
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Barn-dried – yes
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Dust extracted – yes
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Great for dental and digestive health – yes
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Suitable for small pets – yes
What is Timothy hay?
Timothy hay is a grass species made from timothy grass. It is high in protein and fibre, which aid your small pet’s digestion and gut health (only healthy, golden poops round here please!).
With its naturally coarse and long stems, it is loved within the rabbit and guinea pig community for exactly that reason.
Purchase now > High-quality, palatable Timothy hay for small pets.
Is Timothy hay good for my small animals?
Timothy hay is a great addition to your small pet’s diet due to its coarse and crunchy stems, adored by all. Here are the characteristics of Timothy hay:
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High fibre
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High protein
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Highly palatable
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Coarse, long stems
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Beautifully green in colour
Timothy hay and Meadow hay should represent 80–90% of your small pet’s diet. If you wish, you can feed Ryegrass hay alongside these two options for added diversity in taste and texture.
At HayDay, you can also be pleased to know:
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We barn-dry our hay when needed for guaranteed high quality all year round
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Our first-cut Timothy hay is great forage to help your small animal’s digestive and dental health
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We work closely with our in-house nutritionist Briony to ensure you’re feeding your small pets the best
Refer to our feeding guidelines for further advice.
What are the Differences Between Timothy Hay and Ryegrass Hay
The key differences between Timothy Hay and Ryegrass Hay are:
| Tasty Timothy Hay | Ryegrass Hay | |
| Coarse, Long Stems | Yes | Yes |
| Nutritional Value | High | High |
| Great for dental and digestive health | Yes | Yes |
| Protein Levels | High | Moderate |
| Dust Extracted | Yes | Yes |
| Barn-dried | Yes | Yes |
| How to feed | Unlimited supply, each day | In addition to other hay types - as a top up |
Here is our in-house nutritionist Briony's advice on feeding Timothy Hay and Ryegrass Hay:
"When choosing a type of hay, there are two key considerations - what it provides in terms of nutrients and what it offers in terms of its functional role for maintaining dental and digestive health.
From a functional point of view, the overall fibre level and type of fibre is important for small animals. Insoluble fibre content (fibre which cannot be broken down) is key for helping to maintain digestive and dental function. This is where our Tasty Timothy and Moreish Meadow hays are particularly useful as they tend to have higher fibre contents in comparison to our Ryegrass Hay. This is why these hays are often recommended to form the basis of your small pet’s hay ration, while Ryegrass Hay is recommended in small quantities offered alongside this for enrichment."
What other types of hay should I consider?
Meadow hay
Meadow hay has a soft and palatable texture, making it a great tasting feeding hay that also pairs well as bedding hay for rabbits or guinea pigs.
Suitable for even the fussiest pets, Meadow hay is typically a blend of meadow grasses. At HayDay, our Moreish Meadow is 100% natural for small pets with a mix of traditional hay meadow grasses that are high in fibre to support gut health. Its long stems also assist your small pet’s ever-growing teeth.
Shop now > High-quality, long-stem Meadow hay for small pets.
Alfalfa hay
Alfalfa hay is a legume, not a grass, and stems from the same family as clovers and peas. It is an excellent forage choice for young rabbits, growing or breeding small pets, due to its high protein and calcium content to support health and development.
It is also suitable for small pets that are ill or recovering from injury. Its coarse, green, and leafy texture is guaranteed to add enrichment to most small pets’ diets. Alfalfa hay can be fed ad-lib in addition to other forage for adult small pets or to top up nutrition for those needing a little health kick.
Shop 1kg hay boxes now > Premium, barn-dried Alfalfa hay for small pets.
What does a typical rabbit diet look like?
A typical rabbit diet should consist of:
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80–90% premium-quality hay
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An (approximately) egg-cup full of pellets
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A handful of leafy greens
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Fresh water
For fussy small pets, try introducing our Meadow hay to their diet, as it is soft in texture and extremely palatable. Meadow hay also pairs perfectly as bedding hay – it’s a 2-in-1 product. Win win!
How do I guarantee quality hay?
Finding hay that is barn-dried, dust-free, and just the best quality for your small pet can be hard. At HayDay, we have invested in new, innovative, and sustainable farming practices to ensure high-quality hay with every box.
Drying sheds
Powered by green energy, our drying sheds assist us when British inclement weather conditions don’t allow natural drying.
Traditional farming techniques include mowing the hay and leaving it in the field for 5 days to dry naturally. However, British weather doesn’t always allow for this, which is why we invested in drying sheds. Our facilities allow us to perfectly dry the hay for 3–5 days, allowing for consistent quality hay each time – all year round.
How should I store and handle hay?
To ensure that the quality of your hay isn’t compromised, it is best practice to store your hay in a dark, cool, and well-ventilated room. If you store your pet’s hay correctly, the quality and freshness can last for as long as a year.
Here are some top tips to prevent your hay from mould and spoiling:
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Allow it to breathe – our hay boxes are a great solution for this
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Place it in a well-ventilated room
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Store your hay in a spare bin or container to avoid mess
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Ensure it’s stored in a dark, cool, and well-ventilated space
Click here > for more tips on storing your small pet’s hay correctly.
Summary
Timothy hay and Ryegrass hay are two great forage options to feed your small pet. While you can just feed one type of hay, it is very common for small pet owners to feed a combination of hays. This helps satisfy both nutritional and functional requirements and offers additional enrichment.
Here’s a feeding top tip from our nutritionist Briony to conclude on feeding forage to small animals:
“From a functional point of view, the overall fibre level and type of fibre is important for small animals. Insoluble fibre content (fibre which cannot be broken down) is key for helping to maintain digestive and dental function. This is where our Tasty Timothy and Moreish Meadow hay are particularly useful as they tend to have higher fibre contents in comparison to our Ryegrass hay. This is why these hays are often recommended to form the basis of your small pet’s hay ration, while Ryegrass hay is recommended in smaller quantities offered alongside this for enrichment.”
Relevant advice
Frequently asked questions
Can I use feeding hay for bedding?
Yes, you can use Timothy hay as bedding. However, there are other suitable feeding hays to be used as bedding, such as Meadow hay. Meadow hay is naturally softer in texture and therefore pairs as a toasty bed for rabbits or guinea pigs.
Is Meadow hay similar to Ryegrass hay?
Meadow hay and Ryegrass hay are two different types of hay when it comes to taste and texture. Meadow hay has a softer texture, whereas Ryegrass hay is coarser, but both are palatable options for small pets.
We recommend feeding Meadow hay as your small pet’s main fibre source, whereas Ryegrass hay should be fed in addition to other hay types (such as Timothy or Meadow hay) to add enrichment or to top up nutrition where required.
Relevant Advice
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use feeding hay for bedding?
For example, you can use Timothy Hay as bedding - yes. However, there are other suitable feeding hay's to be used as bedding such as Meadow Hay. Meadow Hay is naturally softer in texture and therefore pairs as a toasty bed for rabbits or guinea pigs.
Is Meadow Hay similar to Ryegrass Hay?
Meadow Hay and Ryegrass Hay are two different types of hay when it comes to taste and texture. Meadow Hay has a softer texture as opposed to Ryegrass Hay which is coarser - but both are two palatable options for your small pets.
We would also recommend feeding Meadow Hay as your small pet's main fibre source, whereas Ryegrass Hay should be fed in addition to other hay types (such as Timothy or Meadow Hay) to add enrichment or to top up nutrition where required.
