What's the difference between timothy hay and western timothy hay?
Note: Timothy Hay is more suitable for adult rabbits due to the low calcium content. Oxbow Western Timothy Hay is high in fibre, low in protein and calcium and is a good, basic grass hay with high quality nutrition.
Western Timothy grass hay with high-fiber, low-protein and low-calcium content, helps keep the gastrointestinal tract of rabbits and small herbivores functioning properly. Western Timothy hay will help prevent obesity, maintain a healthy urinary system and improve overall health.
Oxbow's all-natural Western Timothy Hay is a nutritious, sweet-smelling grass that will stimulate the appetite of your rabbit, guinea pig, chinchilla, or other small pet. Western Timothy is the #1 vet-recommended hay for small herbivores.
Alfalfa, white clover, red clover and birdsfoot trefoil are common types of legumes, with alfalfa being the most popular choice. Benefits: Legumes are higher in protein and calcium than grass hay, and may also provide more energy and a higher level of total digestible nutrients, such as vitamin A.
Alfalfa hay and good quality grass hays are preferable to stemmy and mature hays that have tougher fiber to ferment. The small intestine loses some function - Older horses find it harder to digest protein in the small intestine.
In a recent study, Teff hay proved beneficial for laminitic horses because of its low sugar and starch content, making it safe for horses with certain conditions or diet restrictions to consume. Teff hay is usually grown in warm seasons that originate from Ethiopia as a grain.
If stored properly in a cool dark place with good ventilation, the Timothy Hay Food may keep for 6 months or longer.
Look for the following characteristics: Maturity - High quality hay will have a high proportion of leaves in the bale, with few or no coarse stems or seed heads. Condition - High quality hay will contain little dust or mold. Color & odor - High quality hay generally has a bright green color and a sweet, fresh odor.
Premium 2nd cut Timothy hay is preferred by most grass eating small animals (Bunnies, Rabbits, Chinchillas, Gerbils, Hamsters, Mice, Rats, and Tortoises). 2nd cutting is called “second” because it is the hay that is harvested after the 1st cutting.
We recommend a good quality soft straw as the ideal bedding for warmth and comfort, particularly for outdoor rabbits. It's warm because the hollow strands trap warm air and it's also absorbent. It's important to understand the difference between hay and straw.
Is orchard hay as good as timothy?
Orchard Grass is higher in protein (10-12%), higher in calorie content and contains the same balanced levels of calcium and phosphorus as Timothy grass. The higher calorie content of Orchard Grass is a result of higher fiber digestibility compared to Timothy Grass.
For your guinea pigs to be happy and healthy, you should: Ensure that your guinea pigs have a constant supply of grass and/or grass hay (such as Timothy, Oaten, Barley, or grassy hay). Guinea pigs should not be fed Lucerne (alfalfa) or Clover hay, as these are too high in protein and calcium.

Our choice for the best overall hay for guinea pigs is Oxbow Animal Health Western Timothy Hay. Oxbow is the brand most recommended by – and used by – veterinarians. This nutritious, sweet-smelling hay is grown specifically for small pets in the U.S.A. by the company's family of farms.
2nd cut Timothy hay is the most popular, and generally accepted as the best hay for guinea pigs. Orchard hay comes in at a close second. Other types of hay, such as meadow hay, bluegrass, brome, bermuda grass, and oat hay are also safe for guinea pigs.
Hoffman said there are a few grasses to avoid in hay or forage if you are feeding horses. They include: Perennial ryegrass and rye.
During daylight hours, grasses make and store sugars as they take in water, sunlight and carbon dioxide (photosynthesis). Plants use sugar to fuel growth overnight. So plant sugars are higher in the late afternoon and lower in the early morning.
If the hay was of good-quality when harvested and stored in a dry place with sufficient airflow, hay is likely suitable for consumption for two to three years. Keep in mind that hay, even premium forage, loses much of its vitamin content in the first few months of storage.
By age definition “senior” horse has been defined as 15+ years of age. Due to improvements in veterinary care and nutrition, horse routinely live 25-30 years of age, some into their 40's. It is not uncommon to see horses in late teens and twenties performing at high levels.
A horse can eat anywhere from 15-25 pounds of hay a day, which generally equates to a half of a 45/50-pound square bale of hay per day (~15-30 bales per month).
One of the biggest differences between alfalfa hay and grass hay is the protein content. On average, alfalfa hay has much higher levels of protein, ranging from 15% to 21% depending on when the alfalfa was cut. This is much higher than the protein levels of grass hay, which typically contains 10% or less protein.
Is it better to cut hay in the morning or evening?
Though starches and simple sugars accumulate during the day, a substantial amount of these carbohydrates are used up during the night for growth and maintenance (via the processes of respiration). Therefore, cutting the crop at night will likely maximize the sugar in the crop, at least at the time of cutting.
In addition to removing sugars, soaking also reduces some minerals. Crude protein, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium concentrations all decrease with soaking.
Timothy hay is considered a medium sugar hay. This warm-season grass measures at the low end of the normal range for ethanol soluble carbohydrates, measuring between 4.7 percent and 10.9 percent.
Signs of bad hay:
A bad smell. Brown and brittle. Visible mold. A bun who turns their nose up at their favorite cutting.
Plastic bags do a good job of preserving hay quality but require an investment in bagging equipment. While more expensive, they may be cost-effective for high-quality forage.