What is Ultra Premium Soft Timothy Hay?

Our Soft Timothy Hay contains mostly leaves with very few stems or seed heads. This grade of hay comes from the third harvest of Timothy Hay or an exceptionally soft second harvest. Stems, if any, will be thin and occasional seed heads will be short. The key to this grade of premium hay is that it is made up almost entirely of soft leaves.

The 2022 Ultra Premium Soft Timothy Hay we have in stock is currently a 8/10. This year's Soft Timothy Hay is an okay example of what Soft Timothy Hay should be. It has minimal seed heads on the short side, however, because of the high amount of leaves and the stem size, we find it works well for Soft Timothy Hay loving pets. The only reason it doesn't receive a 10/10 is the light amount of brown leaf scattered throughout. Click here to read the full Soft Timothy Hay Report.

At Rabbit Hole Hay, we are monitoring the RHDV2 virus closely and at this time it has NOT affected our area of the country (Northern California). While all our hay is now from the 2022 growing season from Northern California, there have been NO reported cases affecting the area of the country where we source our hay. Click here to read more about what we are doing to ensure the safety of your small pet. 

Soft Timothy Hay is good for small pets that have soft or weak teeth, making it hard for them to eat more coarse types of Timothy Hay. It’s also fantastic for small pets who are extremely picky about what they eat as it still offers all the nutrients and fiber that are required for digestive health.

While the softness of our Soft Timothy Hay is what makes it popular, it lacks the coarse fiber important to maintain dental health. If you are feeding your rabbit, guinea pig, or chinchilla exclusively Soft Timothy Hay we recommend you mentioning this to your vet so that they can keep an eye on their teeth. Investing in chew toys, such as Apple Sticks, or mixing in some coarse hay such as Coarse Orchard Grass or First Cut Timothy Hay can also help maintain healthy teeth. 

• Fresh Hay - We hand-pack every box so you get fresh, green & fragrant hay with little to no dust.
• Soft Grass Blades - Perfect for aging rabbits & picky eaters
• High Fiber & Low Protein - Promotes healthy weight & digestion
• Perfect for Small Pets - Keep your rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchillas happy & healthy.
• 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed - We provide the finest hay with industry leading customer service.

Is Soft Timothy like Third Cut Timothy?

After the first harvest of Timothy Hay, known as First Cut, the hay regrows and is harvested again, known as Second Cut. The third harvest is rare, but with the right growing conditions, it can be harvested in September or October, which is why it’s called Third Cut Timothy Hay

In order for the farmer to be able to complete a third harvest the spring needs to be warm, followed by a dry and warm fall. This weather pattern is not consistent, therefore receiving a quality third harvest of Timothy Hay can be extremely difficult, if not impossible. We have been working with our farmers to try and come up with a solution to this. Our farmer has a high elevation field which stays considerably cooler than his other fields. This allows the hay to grow thinner stalks and fuller leaves, creating a second harvest that is very similar to a third harvest. We are carefully grading this hay to ensure that it maintains our standard of an Ultra Premium Soft Timothy Hay.

Why Hay is Essential to Their Diet

Grass hay is an important staple in the diet of rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas. For rabbits 7 months and older and guinea pigs 6 months and older, grass hay should make up 80% of their diet. For chinchillas older than a year, grass hay should make up 75% of their diet. The constant foraging and grazing encouraged by hay helps to keep them physically active and mentally stimulated. It also helps to wear down their teeth while the long strand fiber helps to keep their digestion regular and functioning properly.

Stop Wasting Time & Money on Bad Hay

Tired of wasting time picking through bad hay just to find the bits your rabbit, guinea pig, or chinchilla will actually eat? We visually inspect and hand-pack every package of hay to ensure that you get fresh, green, fragrant hay of the highest quality. Your hay is always hand-processed, never machine-cut, creating nice long strands and less small pieces. You’ll no longer have to worry about your small pet suffering from irritated eyes or sneezing from excessive dust. We preserve freshness by bagging all of our hay inside the box. This helps keep it from drying out or absorbing unwanted odors.

Supporting Local Farmers

We are located in Northern California, in the heart of hay country. We source all of our hay from local growers in the surrounding regions of the Northwest United States. We pride ourselves on supporting a community of small pet owners who care deeply about providing happy and healthy lifestyles for their pets.