HAY, small pet parents! If your rabbit is binkying or your guinea pig is popcorning, they’ve probably got a pile of sweet-to-taste timothy hay to thank.
This firm favorite forage is the ultimate forage for rabbits, guinea pigs, degus and chinchillas across the UK.
It’s not just great tasting hay – it’s a lifestyle! Let’s dive into why Timothy hay is the VIP forage for your small pets, from its origins to its UK roots, plus why low quality hay is a total no-no!
The Origin Story: Timothy Hay’s Backstory
This perennial is a born-and-bred European grass. It got its nickname in the 1700s when a farmer named Timothy Hanson took it to North America, and it became a best-seller.
Growing 2 to 3.5 feet tall, packed with timothy heads, it’s like the cream of the crop (no pun intended!); coarse, fibrous, and perfect for your pet’s overall health and wellbeing. In the UK, it’s been a farming fave forever, evolving from the equine world to the go-to hay for your fur friends.
Sustainable UK Farming: Timothy Hay That’s Great for The Environment
In the UK, Timothy hay is grown with serious eco-credentials too. Farms in places like Yorkshire and Northumberland are turning out to produce premium quality hay while keeping the environment at a priority too.
HayDay, for example, can use green energy to produce their hay sustainability, ensuring that fresh, green goodness.
They also dust extract their hay, and pack it in recyclable packaging. By choosing UK-grown Timothy hay, you’re giving your pets a treat with the best forage and supporting the environment’s future.
What the Hay Experts Say About Timothy Hay
“Timothy hay is like the gold standard for small pets, it’s packed with high fibre and protein, and has a coarse texture to keep their teeth and tummies happy and healthy,” says Tom Woolhouse, “The Head of Hay” at HayDay, a Yorkshire based farm, producing high quality and highly nutritious hay for small pets.
“We plan our crop production to ensure the best grass mixes for your fur friends, prioritising a consistent quality product each time!”
Why Top-Quality Timothy Hay is a Game-Changer
Premium timothy hay is like a Michelin-starred meal for your small pets. Here’s why it’s a great option to feed:
Packed with Fibre and Protein
With an average of 30 to 34% crude fibre, this hay keeps your pet’s digestive health in check and the long fibre keeps things moving in the gut for rabbits, guinea pigs, degus, and chinchillas!
Fibrous Stems for Dental and Digestive Health
Those coarse, chewy stems (highly fibrous) are great for the maintenance of healthy dental function. Constant chewing action helps manage their ever-growing teeth, preventing dental issues.
High Quality Timothy
Put it this way…Timothy hay is totally irresistible to pets. Packed with timothy heads (where all the protein is found!), your pets are guaranteed the best nutrition and diet with this forage choice.
A daily pile as big as your pet’s body (at minimum but free choice is preferable) keeps them healthy and happy, with 80–90% of their diet coming from this superstar hay.
Low Quality Timothy Hay
You can typically tell if a hay is low quality by a few factors: colour, smell and consistency. Low quality hay is brown in colour with a musty smell.
Also on the dental health note, short, low quality hay also isn’t great for your pets dental and digestive health as it lacks the essential nutrients.
Pet owners who’ve tried premium hay rave about the physical differences they’ve seen in their rabbits and guinea pigs who eat high quality Timothy hay – put it this way,t hey are pooping perfect, golden nuggets!.
The Final Nibble
Timothy hay is the ultimate treat for your small pets, and it’s no wonder it’s a UK favourite. From its European roots as Phleum pratense to how it can be sustainably grown, this grass is a nutritional rockstar.
With great protein and fibre content, its naturally coarse texture and fussy-eater appeal, top-quality Timothy hay keeps your fur friends healthy and hopping.
By choosing hay produced at HayDay and you’ll have guaranteed happy pets. So, purchase HayDay today, watch your bunny binky and let the hay party begin!
