Galen’s Garden

We now have a new site all about hay.

Hay, and other forages made from herbs and wild plants, form the most important part of the rabbit, guinea pig or chinchilla diet. The Small Animal Veterinary Association recommend that hay and grass products should form a substantial part of their diet.

Hay is important not just for the long fibre. It also helps wear down the rabbit, guinea pig or chinchilla’s teeth in a natural way. Hay should be provided ad lib and any uneaten hay cleared away each day and replaced with fresh hay.

Although guinea pigs like to burrow in the hay and rabbits like it as bedding, hay is a major part of the diet and will not be eaten if it has been contaminated by urine or faeces.

A good way to provide clean hay is in a hay rack. This also acts as a boredom buster as the rabbit, guinea pig or chinchilla pulls the hay through. More often than not dropping it on the floor and eating it from there - but, you did your best!

Timothy hay is normally described as first or second cut. First cut Timothy hay is coarser and contains a lot of lignified fibre. It is ideal for rabbits and chinchillas. Second cut Timothy hay is cut later in the season. The grass is shorter and the resulting hay is also softer and leafier. 2nd cut Timothy hay is a great favourite with guinea pigs who love to create hay tunnels as they would in the wild grasses of their natural habitat.

Alpine meadow hay has a sweet nose reminiscent of the high mountain pastures in which it is grown. Softer than Timothy hay but still with good abrasion for the teeth and long fibre for the digestive tract. Alpine meadow hay is much loved by all rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas. The richness of the soil makes Alpine hay a good source of minor minerals and trace elements.

Herbal hay comes in two forms. The first is grass hay with some herbs in it. These vary according to the season in which the herb hay was but. The terms herbal hay or herb hay are also used to refer to hay which consists entirely of herbs and wild plants. In the US this is referred to as Botanical Hay and is available from Oxbow hay.

Oxbow’s Botanical Hay consists of a blend of several herbs according to season. From our Herbal Hay site we will soon be selling a multiple herb hay based on our successful cut herb blend Galens Gardens Hedgerow Herbs in response for requests for a UK product similar to Oxbow’s Botanical Hay.

Individual herb hays have been produced and used by rabbit keepers for hundreds of years, ever since rabbits were kept in the monasteries as food. Clover hay is a rich source of calcium, nettle hay is a good source of iron. Both are valuable for pregnant and nursing animals. Nettles are one of the herbs which help increas the milk supply during lactation.

For information on the properties of the various herbs which can be dried as herb hay, visit Galen’s Garden and check out the Herb monographs.

Herbs and Wild Plants| Constituents and Actions
Agrimony | Avens | Borage | Chickweed | Cleavers | Coltsfoot | Cornsilk | Dandelion | Goats Rue | Golden Rod | Groundsel | Lemon Balm | Mallow | Marshmallow | Meadowsweet | Melilot | Milk Thistle | Mouse Ear | Nettles | Parsley | Plantain | Raspberry Leaf | Red Clover | Rosehip | Shepherds Purse | Yarrow

On our herbal hay site; http://www.herbalhay.co.uk/ you can find out more about hay, growing and harvesting hay, how to judge the quality of hay and how to grow and dry your own hay.