Hay: The Great Debate

[MissRobynKennedy]

Can rats eat timothy or orchard hay? Alfalfa, I know, is out of the question because it's too rich for them. The only semi-reliable information I can find on rats and timothy (or orchard) hay is this:

• Rats may poke themselves in the eye with hay
• Rats can't digest hay because... [no reasons given]
• Rats don't eat hay, they just use it to nest
• Hay is pointless because it doesn't grind down their teeth (but rats don't need food to keep their teeth short anyway, so does it matter?)
• Hay is too high in fat, so just give it as an occasional treat

I don't plan to give my boys hay on a regular basis, nor as a staple diet. They get lab blocks as a staple, no seeds, and tons of fruits, veggies, cereal, and whatever I'm eating (as long as it's relatively healthy). Please don't lecture me on "proper" diets and nutrition, thank you.

Thank you in advance, everyone!

[gal5150]

All I've ever heard is that it is indigestible so it's a no go. The eye poking is a very real concern...had one of our guinea pigs have that happen and they do not burrow as a rat would. It does grind down teeth, which is why it is a staple in guinea pig diets, but I doubt rays would eat it frequently enough to gain this benefit. It's messy as can be and I imagine with rats playing it in it would be all over the place. I vote no, but it's your call.

[lilspaz68]

Can rats eat timothy or orchard hay? Alfalfa, I know, is out of the question because it's too rich for them. The only semi-reliable information I can find on rats and timothy (or orchard) hay is this:

• Rats may poke themselves in the eye with hay
• Rats can't digest hay because... [no reasons given]
• Rats don't eat hay, they just use it to nest
• Hay is pointless because it doesn't grind down their teeth (but rats don't need food to keep their teeth short anyway, so does it matter?)
• Hay is too high in fat, so just give it as an occasional treat

I don't plan to give my boys hay on a regular basis, nor as a staple diet. They get lab blocks as a staple, no seeds, and tons of fruits, veggies, cereal, and whatever I'm eating (as long as it's relatively healthy). Please don't lecture me on "proper" diets and nutrition, thank you.

Thank you in advance, everyone!

Rats need a certain type of diet and are more omnivorous. A rabbit, guineapig or a even a horse all have specially designed digestive systems for forage like this, rats do not. They won't get any nutritional benefit from it at all.
I also have seen the damage hay can do to eyes or skin when they poke them by mistake

The rest is all kind of bogus information beyond the nesting, but then you can refer back to poking. Just remember if a rat can find a way to injure itself it might LOLOL

[MissRobynKennedy]

Rats need a certain type of diet and are more omnivorous. A rabbit, guineapig or a even a horse all have specially designed digestive systems for forage like this, rats do not. They won't get any nutritional benefit from it at all.
I also have seen the damage hay can do to eyes or skin when they poke them by mistake

The rest is all kind of bogus information beyond the nesting, but then you can refer back to poking. Just remember if a rat can find a way to injure itself it might LOLOL

I believe that lmao! Do you know what type of hay rats do best with, or just as long as it's generally soft? The bag I have (I got it when I adopted my boys, but I'm hesitant to continue using it, hence the thread) is full of teeny, super soft stalks, but the stuff we use at work is super stiff... I can definitely see how that would hurt any critter lol.