7 Best Hay For Guinea Pigs
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If you walk into a pet store, you’ll find a wide selection of guinea pig foods. What many pet owners fail to realize, however, is that commercial foods should make up a small portion of your guinea pig’s diet. The most important food for a pet guinea pig is fresh hay.
In this article, we’ll talk about your guinea pig’s nutritional needs and how important it is to provide fresh hay. We’ll also show you our top 7 picks for the best hay for guinea pigs.
We highly recommend looking at the comparison table we have below where we highlighted the features of each product. You’ll also find more detailed information about each product later in the article.
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Compare Best Hay For Guinea Pigs
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Best Affordable
5. Kaytee Timothy Hay Plus Variety Pack Small Animal Food |
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Main Ingredient
Timothy Hay |
Main Ingredient
Timothy Hay |
Main Ingredient
Oat Grass Hay |
Main Ingredient
Orchard Grass |
Main Ingredient
Timothy Hay |
Main Ingredient
Alfalfa hay |
Main Ingredient
Hay |
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Additional Ingredients
None |
Additional Ingredients
None |
Additional Ingredients
None |
Additional Ingredients
None |
Additional Ingredients
Dried carrots, cranberries, mango, mint, and calendula |
Additional Ingredients
None |
Additional Ingredients
None |
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Cutting
Second cut |
Cutting
First cut, sun-cured |
Cutting
First cut |
Cutting
Unknown |
Cutting
Unknown |
Cutting
Unknown |
Cutting
Second cut |
What To Look For In Hay For Guinea Pigs?
About 80% of your guinea pig’s diet should consist of fresh hay. Fresh hay provides the essential nutrients your guinea pig needs, but it also helps grind down the guinea pig’s teeth and supports healthy digestion.
The best kind of hay for guinea pigs is timothy hay, though other low-calcium grass hays like oat hay and orchard grass can be fed occasionally.
Legume hays like clover and alfalfa should be reserved for very young guinea pigs and pregnant or lactating females who have higher needs for protein and calcium than adult guinea pigs.
Here are some important things to look for in guinea pig hay:
- All-natural ingredients. The fresh hay you feed your guinea pig should consist of 100% natural hay with no added ingredients, and it should be delivered fresh for maximum nutritional value.
- First, second, third cut. First-cut timothy hay is high in fiber with a coarse texture. Second and third cuts are softer and more palatable. First-cut hay has more seed heads which guinea pigs love but are less nutritious. Look for second or third-cut timothy hay for your guinea pig.
- Proper leaf-to-stem ratio. Guinea pigs love soft, leafy hay, but it is lower in fiber than the stems. An ideal leaf-to-stem ratio supports healthy digestion while also appealing to your guinea pig.
- No additives or preservatives. Fresh hay should be nothing more than that – hay. Avoid any guinea pig hay that contains artificial additives or preservatives.
- Optimal protein content. For young guinea pigs (under 4 months) and pregnant mothers, a higher protein intake is needed. Alfalfa hay is high in protein, but it is too high in calcium for adult guinea pigs, so only feed it to young guinea pigs or as an occasional treat for adults.
Now that you have a better idea what to look for in guinea pig hay, it’s time to start shopping! Keep reading to see our top 7 picks for the best hay for guinea pigs.
Generally speaking, timothy hay is the best hay for guinea pigs. It is high in fiber, low in calories and fat, with moderate protein content.
For young guinea pigs (as well as pregnant or lactating females), alfalfa or clover hay can be added in moderate amounts to provide additional protein and calcium.
For adult guinea pigs, avoid alfalfa hay as much as possible, supplementing your guinea pig’s timothy hay with small amounts of other grass hays like orchard grass and oat grass hay.
Our Top Picks For The Best Hay For Guinea Pigs
Small Pet Select 2nd Cutting Timothy Hay Pet Food
Product Info
- Main Ingredient: Timothy Hay
- Additional Ingredients: None
- Cutting: Second cut
- High-quality, second cut timothy hay
- Delivered fresh in a cardboard box for easy storage
- Hand-selected in small batches for freshness and quality
- Quality and freshness may vary between shipments
Standlee Premium Western Forage Timothy Grass
Product Info
- Main Ingredient: Timothy Hay
- Additional Ingredients: None
- Cutting: First cut, sun-cured
- Hand-selected and 100% natural timothy hay
- Completely free from additives and preservatives
- Supports natural foraging and healthy digestion
- Some batches may be first-cut, others second-cut
- May contain broken pieces if handled roughly during shipping
Oxbow Oat Hay Small Animal Food
Product Info
- Main Ingredient: Oat Grass Hay
- Additional Ingredients: None
- Cutting: First cut
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
- Made from 100% natural oat grass hay, no additives
- Harvested at the peak of maturity, before seed head develops
- Natural source of long strand fiber for healthy digestion
- Some guinea pigs may find it too tough
- Freshness may vary from one shipment to another
This hay is harvested at the ideal state of maturity, before the seed head develops, to maximize nutrition. It also acts as a natural source of long strand fiber for healthy digestion and optimal intestinal function.
Oxbow Orchard Grass Hay Small Animal Food
Product Info
- Main Ingredient: Orchard Grass
- Additional Ingredients: None
- Cutting: Unknown
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
- Adds healthy variety to a guinea pig’s diet
- Supports natural foraging behavior and healthy digestion
- Sweet smell and taste with a soft texture
- Freshness may vary from one shipment to another
It supports your guinea pig’s natural foraging behavior as well as healthy intestinal function and efficient digestion. This hay has a sweet smell and taste with a soft texture, making it the ideal snack for adult guinea pigs.
Kaytee Timothy Hay Plus Variety Pack Small Animal Food
Product Info
- Main Ingredient: Timothy Hay
- Additional Ingredients: Dried carrots, cranberries, mango, mint, and calendula
- Cutting: Unknown
- Comes with 5 bags of flavored timothy hay
- Hay is harvested fresh and sun-cured
- Adds variety and flavor to your guinea pig’s diet
- Some guinea pigs may pick out the fruit and leave the hay
- Freshness may vary from one shipment to another
The hay itself is sun-cured and harvested fresh to deliver a high-fiber, low-protein, healthy meal for your pet.
Oxbow Alfalfa Hay Small Animal Food
Product Info
- Main Ingredient: Alfalfa hay
- Additional Ingredients: None
- Cutting: Unknown
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
- Delivered fresh in a mess-free bag
- High in protein and fiber, low in fat
- Sweet flavor and soft texture
- Somewhat more expensive than timothy hay
- Some shipments are dusty and dry
Kaytee First Cut Timothy Hay Small Animal Food
Product Info
- Main Ingredient: Hay
- Additional Ingredients: None
- Cutting: Second cut
- Available in first or second cut
- Stay-fresh inner package, arrives fresh
- Hand-selected for stem-to-leaf ratio
- Some bags arrive finely shredded and dusty
Tips for Feeding Guinea Pigs
Like all animals, guinea pigs require a balanced diet for optimal health and wellness. What you need to know about your guinea pig is that it is an herbivorous animal, so its diet should come entirely from plant foods.
As you’ve already learned, about 80% of that diet should come from fresh hay.
Here are some other tips for feeding your guinea pig:
- Make sure the hay you feed your guinea pig is fresh – it should be dry in texture but green rather than yellow or brown.
- Supplement your guinea pig’s diet with about 2 tablespoons of commercial timothy hay pellets per day.
- Provide your guinea pig with small amounts of leafy greens and colorful veggies (high in Vitamin C) on a daily basis.
- Give small amounts of fresh fruit as occasional treats, no more than a few times per week.
- Keep your guinea pig’s water bottle full of fresh water and rinse and refill it daily.
In addition to following these tips, consider adding a liquid vitamin C supplement to your guinea pig’s water. This will help maintain its optimal health and wellness.
Final Remarks
Though you should be careful to make sure that your guinea pig’s nutritional needs are met, you don’t have to worry too much about overfeeding. Guinea pigs don’t tend to overeat as much as other animals, and as long as your guinea pig’s diet is primarily made up of hay, the calorie content is not enough to worry about unhealthy weight gain.
If you’re still not sure where to start in looking for guinea pig hay, try out one of the top 7 best guinea pig hays we’ve reviewed above. Good luck!
