What Is Timothy Hay?

Timothy Hay is almost ubiquitous for most people who keep small furries as pets.  Or rather, it should be; but there are still too many pet owners who do not recognise its importance.  That fact becomes rather obvious when you consider some of the shocking statistics available, and the number of small furries that do not get any hay in their diet at all.

Considering the importance of Timothy Hay and the fibre it provides, perhaps it is time to get back to basics.  After all, the more informed pet owners become, the more likely their pets are to live happier, longer lives.  And that is something that every pet – and every owner – truly wants.

Timothy Hay: The Basics

The grass itself is, unsurprisingly, known as Timothy Grass.  It is indigenous to Europe, although it is not naturally found in the Mediterranean region.  For a number of years, this grass was just a grass.  It was not until it found its way over to New England in North America, and was used to feed cattle that Europeans began to take notice. 

Of course, this is because there were plenty of other grasses for livestock to consume.  Still, when an American farmer named Timothy Hanson discovered its properties, he began to promote the grass (named for himself) throughout North America, and in England, as well.  He did suggest it for cattle, though obviously Timothy Hay has benefits for many animals.

In England, Timothy Grass can be seen growing throughout the countryside, and bales of Timothy Hay are just as common a sight.  One primary reason for this is that it grows remarkably easily.  It can take in nearly any sort of soil, and the drier and poorer that soil is, the more this grass thrives.  It is also naturally drought resistant, so it tends to hold its nutrients better than other grasses once harvested.  The grass is known to exceed 75 cm in height, and it boasts flowers with a pretty pink stamen. 

More importantly, Timothy Hay is filled with fibre.  It is bursting with the nutrients that small furries such as rabbits, chinchillas and guinea pigs need.  Knowing this, it is a little surprising that there are still pet owners who ignore the importance of Timothy Hay for their pets.

Timothy Hay should form the basis of any small fibrevores diet.  This includes chinchillas, guinea pigs and rabbits.  As one of the most popular pets in the UK, rabbit owners should especially take note of the need for Timothy Hay.  It is not a treat, but rather, a necessity.

Feeding Small Furries: What Every Owner Needs to Know

Feeding Timothy Hay to your pets is remarkably easy.  Essentially, you just need to tuck a pile of it into their cage every day, and allow them to munch to their heart’s content.  However, there are a few tips that will enhance fibrevore health.

Small furries need to eat a pile of hay that is at least as large as themselves – every single day.  They can eat more, of course, though they should never be offered less.  It is impossible for fibrevores to over eat Timothy Hay, so if it looks as if they may need more, feel free to offer it.

Before feeding your fibrevore Timothy Hay, you should always check that it is free from dust, and it retains a sweet, meadow-smelling fragrance.  Hay should be stored in sealed bags indoors, away from damp areas.  If hay becomes dry and brittle, it should not be offered to your pet. 

Do not worry about a few pieces of flowers or other plants mixed in with your Timothy Hay; this is something your small furries would encounter naturally in the wild.  Indeed, fresh herbs and leafy greens can and should, be added to your fibrevore’s meals.  These offer additional nutrients and a pleasant variety of flavour.  However, be wary about substituting the primary hays and grasses that you typically provide for your pets.  Their immune systems are rather delicate, and animals may experience discomfort when their primary food source changes. 

Also, do not forget that, along with Timothy Hay, small furries need plenty of fresh water.  Treats are also delightful additions, provided they are specially formulated for your pet.  In other words, do not feed your chinchilla treats that were designed for rabbits.  Although fibrevores have similar needs, they are not identical. 

The Extra Benefits of Timothy Hay

Not only does Timothy Hay provide small furries with the almost incredible amount of fibre that they need in their daily diet, it also has a few additional benefits. 

Take oral hygiene, for example.  Rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas all have teeth that continue to grow throughout their lifetime.  These can become dangerous for pets (and their owners) if not properly worn down.  Animals, such as rabbits, eat their hay by grinding it from side to side, wearing down their teeth in the process.  Hay is eaten differently than treats, which are chewed up and down, therefore sharpening long fibrevore teeth into a point.

But, more than oral hygiene, Timothy Hay is also just pure fun.  Small furries can spend hours with their piles of hay.  They will eat it, play with it, and move it about.  Truly, they cannot get enough of it, which is precisely why it should be ubiquitous to every fibrevore owner.  After all, Timothy Hay does not just provide the nutrients for life, but also some happiness to go with it.

For more information please visit the Burgess website - http://www.burgesspetcare.co.uk/

Why Is Timothy Hay So Important for My Rabbit?

Rabbit owners are delightful people.  You know that they are rarely loud and obnoxious (their rabbits would never stand for it); they have plenty of patience (because getting to know a rabbit takes time); and you can be certain that they are full of love and laughter (because that is exactly what rabbits inspire).

So, it you have gotten yourself a pet rabbit, welcome to the club.  Your new baby bunny is sure to hop his way into your heart (or thump, depending on how stubborn you are about it).  Rabbits are truly easy to love, as long as you give them just a few basics.  Bunnies of all ages can be skittish, so avoid loud noises when you can.  They also love to keep their feet on the ground, so be prepared to build ramps up to the couch.  And, above all, rabbits have a specific diet, which undoubtedly should not be altered as it will affect the health and happiness of your pet.

Feeding Your Rabbit Starts (and Ends) with Timothy Hay

Rabbits (and other small furries, including chinchillas and guinea pigs) are fibrevores.  They are not herbivores; they are that plus an incredible need for fibre.  The amount of fibre that a rabbit needs in proportion to his weight and diet is impossible to translate to a human diet.  If people ate as much fibre as a rabbit needs, they would never leave their bathrooms.  And, obviously, if rabbits need such an enormous amount of fibre, it has got to come from a concentrated source.  Considering the amount of time rabbits spend eating already, a primary diet excluding incredible sources of fibre would mean that bunnies have no time to sleep or play.  It would also make them ill.

Timothy Hay just so happens to be that incredible source of fibre that rabbits need.  There are, of course, other hays and grasses that rabbits can eat, but Timothy has such an intense amount of fibre that it makes remarkably little sense to look elsewhere.  This is especially true considering that the British countryside is an ideal location for growing Timothy Hay.  Not only that, but, because the grass naturally resists drought, it clings to its nutrients once it has been harvested and packaged for sale.  This hay also retains a sweet, meadowy smell that lingers, meaning that feeding your rabbit is a pleasant experience for everyone.  Timothy Hay has got everything a rabbit needs – and nothing it cannot digest, meaning it is the singularly best food your rabbit can ever have.

Small fibrevores, like rabbits, have exceptionally sensitive digestive systems.  There are simply a lot of things that rabbits cannot digest, and, therefore, should not eat.  And, once your rabbit has adjusted to a particular type of hay, it is rather uncomfortable for them to switch to another food.  Responsible rabbit breeders are aware of this and will start baby bunnies off on the food that is best for them.  And, once again, the answer to that question is Timothy Hay.  This is just one more of the reasons that your pet should be fed on Timothy Hay from the moment you bring her home.  And, if she has had another diet, then it is a brilliant idea to switch her over to Timothy Hay soonest as there are some foods that negatively affect rabbits.

Unfortunately, muesli has long been regarded as rabbit food at certain pet stores and supermarkets.  However, nothing could be further from the truth.  Muesli is severely detrimental to rabbit health.  Not only is it difficult to digest, it is also unsuitable for oral hygiene.  And those are two areas of well being that rabbits are ill advised to compromise.  Muesli has also been known to induce urinary tract infections and obesity.  So, although the muesli may have tempting packaging (and possibly a price to match), ensure that no muesli is ever fed to your rabbits. 

One of the reasons that muesli is so hurtful within a rabbit’s diet is that bunnies will chew this up and down.  Although that does not sound ridiculous, it truly is.  Rabbits, along with other small furries, have teeth that continue to grow throughout their lifetime.  Without proper care, these teeth will only become unmanageably long and frightfully dangerous.  These animals require a food that they naturally chew from side to side, like hay.  Rabbits eat hay by gnawing it back and forth in their mouth, which obviously promotes teeth grinding.  While people are not encouraged to do this, it is essential for the health of small furries.

Better still is the fact that your rabbits loves hay.  It is not just beneficial for them; they enjoys it.  And, they like it more than just for eating.  Rabbits can be rather playful, and one of their best toys is something they should have plenty of in their hutch – Timothy Hay.  The pile that you put in the cage will likely become a plaything as well as a meal.  It is, after all, fun for rabbits to find treats hidden in hay, or to move it into exactly the right area before promptly eating it (you see why rabbit people are always so patient, right?).  If a food can be fun as well as nutritious, then why would you feed your pet anything else?

There are just a few quick tips to feeding your rabbits.  Each one of your bunnies needs a pile of Timothy Hay as large as himself, and they need this amount every day.  You can always give them a little extra, but you should never give them any less.  Timothy Hay is the most crucial part of a rabbit’s diet; anything else needs to be considered additionally.  This includes leafy green vegetables, such as kale and spinach and of course, fresh water.  Specially formulated treats are also not a bad idea, but only if they were specifically produced for rabbits.  Although you may want to treat your pet to a carrot, try not to do this too often, as they have plenty of sugar.  If you genuinely want to spoil your rabbit (as rabbit people are prone to doing), offer her more Timothy Hay – she honestly does love it.

For more information about feeding Timothy Hay please visit the Excel Feeding Plan website - http://www.burgesspetcare.co.uk/excelfeedingplan/