Timothy hay is a crucial dietary component for small animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchillas, providing essential fiber and nutrients for their health. Choosing the right brand of timothy hay can make a significant difference in the well-being of these pets, as quality can vary widely. From freshness to texture, the best brands offer a range of options to meet your pet's specific needs, ensuring they receive the optimal blend of nutrition and enjoyment. If you’re looking to make an informed decision on the top choices available, explore the detailed list below for a comprehensive guide.
Illustration of timothy hay
Best brands of timothy hay in 2025
Oxbow Animal Health
Oxbow Animal Health is renowned for producing high-quality timothy hay, particularly favored by small herbivores such as rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchillas. With over 25 years of expertise and a strict quality process, Oxbow ensures its hay is rich in fiber (up to 32% crude fiber) and protein (minimum 7% crude protein), and has minimal moisture content (maximum 15%). Their hay is harvested fresh from family-owned farms in ideal climates and undergoes rigorous inspections and nutritional testing to meet the highest standards. Oxbow's commitment to quality is evident in their proprietary processing methods, which include hand-sorting and hand-packing to remove less premium portions of hay. This dedication has made Western Timothy Hay the #1 vet-recommended hay for small herbivores.
Small Pet Select
Small Pet Select is renowned as one of the best producers of Timothy hay, sourcing their high-quality hay from the Pacific Northwest, particularly Washington's Kittitas Valley, known for its ideal climate for hay production. Their hay is hand-selected, hand-packed, and shipped promptly to ensure maximum freshness, with a focus on bio-availability to provide nutrient-rich food for small animals. The company, based in Louisville, Kentucky, operates a 46,000-square-foot facility and has been recognized by Newsweek as one of America's best pet brands. Their 2nd cutting Timothy hay boasts high fiber content, supporting healthy digestion and dental wellness, with a guaranteed analysis showing 25-29% crude fiber and 14% minimum crude protein. Small Pet Select also uses 100% biodegradable and breathable packaging, emphasizing sustainability. For more details on their products, visit their Timothy hay collection.
Kaytee
Kaytee is renowned as America's #1 hay brand, particularly for its high-quality Timothy hay, which is hand selected to ensure long fiber strands and a proper leaf to stem ratio to support digestive health in small animals. Grown specifically for small animals, Kaytee Timothy Hay is naturally cultivated without pesticides or GMOs and boasts a crude fiber content of up to 32.0% and moisture levels of no more than 12.0%. This hay is ideal for animals over 7 months of age due to its higher fiber and lower protein and calcium content compared to alfalfa hay. Kaytee's commitment to quality is evident in their satisfaction guarantee and their position as the largest supplier of hay to small pets, as per Nielsen data from 2020. The hay is sun-cured and harvested with care to ensure superior nutrition.
Standlee Premium Western Forage
Standlee Premium Western Forage is a leading producer of high-quality timothy hay, having grown and manufactured premium forage products since 1981. They manage over 18,000 acres of carefully maintained fields, ensuring consistent and superior forage. Their products, such as Grab & Go and Compressed Bales, offer convenience, cleanliness, and reduced storage space, making them a favorite among animal owners. Standlee's timothy grass products are part of their extensive range, which also includes alfalfa, orchard grass, and mixed forages. Their commitment to quality has established them as a trusted name in the forage industry.
American Pet Diner
American Pet Diner is renowned for producing high-quality Timothy Hay, particularly their High Fiber Timothy Hay, which boasts a higher fiber content and lower calories, making it ideal for healthy, less active, and older pets. This hay has a crude protein level of around 5%, a Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF) content of 65%, and an Acid Detergent Fibre (ADF) of approximately 39%, ensuring optimal gut health and dental wear for small herbivores like rabbits, chinchillas, and guinea pigs. The hay is guaranteed fresh, has a sweet and aromatic smell, and supports both dental and digestive health. American Pet Diner's reputation for quality, nutrition, and palatability has made their Timothy Hay a favorite among pet owners worldwide. Their products are free from preservatives and ensure a healthy gut and teeth for pets.
Vitakraft
Vitakraft is renowned as one of the best producers of timothy hay, offering high-quality, 100% North American farm-grown timothy hay that is essential for the daily diet of small herbivores. Their timothy hay products are lower in protein and higher in fiber, making them ideal for adult rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchillas. Vitakraft's timothy hay is packaged to minimize mess and ensure easy feeding, and it is part of their comprehensive range of products that include hay-based treats and food supplements. The brand's commitment to quality is highlighted by their involvement in international trade agreements, such as the U.S.-China Economic and Trade Agreement signed in 2020, which expanded market access for U.S. timothy hay. Vitakraft's products are designed to promote healthy digestion and strong, healthy teeth in small animals. For more information, explore their timothy hay offerings.
Higgins Sunburst
Higgins Sunburst is renowned as one of the best producers of timothy hay, offering high-quality products that are conveniently pre-cut into 4 portions for easy feeding and foraging, reducing dust and mess. Their Sunburst Break-A-Bale Compressed Hay expands up to 8 times its compressed size, making it a favorite among animal owners. In 2022, significant imports of Higgins Sunburst timothy hay were recorded, highlighting its global demand. The brand's commitment to quality and convenience has made it a staple in the market. With its user-friendly packaging and superior hay quality, Higgins Sunburst continues to be a top choice.
Rabbit Hole Hay
Rabbit Hole Hay is renowned as one of the best producers of Timothy Hay, offering high-quality options such as Ultra Premium Medium and Coarse Timothy Hay. Their 2024 harvest of Medium Timothy Hay, rated 9/10, features a healthy blend of stems and leaves, harvested in July and August in the Northwestern United States. The hay is characterized by light green color, stems averaging 8"-9" in length, and generous soft leaves. With a commitment to quality, Rabbit Hole Hay ensures minimal leaf crush, no weeds, and very light dust, making it ideal for small pets' digestive and dental health. Their hay is hand-processed to maintain freshness and quality. For more details on the 2024 harvest of Medium Timothy Hay, please visit their website.
ZuPreem
ZuPreem is renowned for its high-quality timothy hay products, particularly the ZuPreem Nature's Promise Rabbit Food, which is made with weed-free timothy hay to promote healthy digestion in adult pet rabbits. This product is tested and monitored for pesticides, ensuring a safe and nutritious diet. The timothy hay used is cold tolerant and well suited for cool, humid regions, making it an ideal choice for pet nutrition. ZuPreem's commitment to complete and balanced nutrition is evident in their rigorous testing and monitoring processes. This attention to detail has made ZuPreem a trusted brand among pet owners.
Sunseed
Sunseed is a renowned brand for producing high-quality timothy hay, particularly notable for its Sunseed SunSations Natural Timothy Hay and Sunseed Natural Timothy Hay Cubes. These products are made from 100% North American farm-grown timothy hay, ensuring a high fiber content of at least 30% and a crude protein level of 8%. The hay is sun-cured and free from artificial colors and preservatives, making it an excellent choice for supporting the digestive and dental health of small herbivores like rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchillas. The easy-to-feed flakes and cubes are convenient and mess-free, enhancing the feeding experience for pets. With a maximum moisture content of 14%, these products ensure freshness and nutritional integrity.
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