What is Ultra Premium Medium Timothy Hay?

Our Medium Timothy Hay contains mostly thin stems, short seed heads, and broad flat leaves. This grade of hay comes from the second harvest of Timothy Hay or a beautiful first harvest that was on the softer-side. 

The 2022 Ultra Premium Medium Timothy Hay we have in stock is currently a 7/10. This year's Medium Timothy Hay is not the best example of what Medium Timothy Hay should be. This hay is very soft for a Medium Timothy Hay. The cool weather stunted the growth of the hay and caused the leaves to be broader, and the stems to be thinner and almost non-existent. We gave it a 7/10 because this is not a traditional Medium (2nd Cut) harvest, even though the hay is very nice, it just might not be what you are expecting. Our Coarse Timothy Hay was also a little softer than normal, if you are looking for a little coarser Timothy Hay then the Coarse Timothy might be a great option for you. Click here to read the full Medium 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. 

Medium Timothy Hay is a softer hay that has thinner stems and larger leaves, making it easier for small pets to eat. It’s particularly good for aging rabbits as it is on the softer side, but still meets the nutrition requirements to maintain their dental and digestive health. 

• Fresh Hay - We hand-pack every box so you get fresh, green & fragrant hay with little to no dust.
• High Fiber & Low Protein - Promotes healthy weight & digestion
• Medium Roughage - Perfect amount of “roughage” to promote dental health.
• 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 Medium Timothy like Second Cut Timothy?

Timothy Hay begins growing after it's winter nap in the spring.  By late spring or early summer that the hay is ready to be harvested for the first time that growing season. It’s usually by mid June that the farmer cuts the first growth of the year, commonly known as First Cut Timothy. The hay is then left to regrow and is harvested a second time usually by late summer, commonly referred to as Second Cut Timothy Hay. 

When it comes to First Cut, it is often times during the hay’s  early growth that the plant grows long thick stems, short broad leaves, and long seed head (flowers). However, if we were to have an especially hot spring or the farmer were to "short-cut" the harvest (meaning harvest the hay early), the first cut hay may have qualities more akin to a Second Cut Timothy Hay. 

Second Cut Timothy Hay generally has broader leaves, smaller and thinner stems, and shorter seed heads. We have renamed our product to Medium Timothy Hay to allow us to provide you a product based on the qualities that you are looking for in your hay rather than the time of year that it is harvested. 

Most of the time you will receive Second Cut Timothy Hay when you buy our Medium Timothy Hay, however, on occasion you may receive a very soft First Cut Timothy Hay. We will of course notify you in the hay report if this happens. (Click here to see the hay report) You can rest assured that you will be getting consistent hay, with the qualities that you are looking for. 

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.