Crau Hay, Meadow Hay or Second Cut: Which Hay Should You Choose for Your Rabbit?
Hay is not an accessory: it is the staple of a rabbit’s diet, and should make up around 80 % of the daily ration. It wears down the teeth (which grow continuously), keeps digestion moving and occupies the animal for a good part of the day. But you still need to pick the right one: not all hays are created equal.
The three main families of hay
- Meadow hay: the most common, harvested from natural meadows made up of varied grasses. It’s an excellent everyday hay, provided it is green, long-stemmed and fragrant. Expect 3 to 8 € per kilo in pet shops, often less through farm suppliers.
- Crau hay: grown in Provence under a protected designation of origin, prized for its botanical richness and palatability. It’s often the favourite of fussy rabbits. It costs more, generally 5 to 10 € per kilo depending on packaging.
- Second cut: the year’s second harvest — softer, leafier and richer in protein. Useful for young, convalescing or underweight rabbits, but to be fed judiciously to a healthy adult, as it contains less fibre than a first cut.
How to recognise quality hay
Trust your senses:
- a predominantly green colour (straw-yellow hay has lost part of its nutritional value);
- a pleasant smell of dried grass — never mould or dust;
- long, varied strands, the sign of a careful harvest;
- no foreign objects and no dampness.
Dusty or mouldy hay should be discarded without hesitation: it can cause respiratory and digestive problems.
Unlimited hay — really?
Yes: hay should be offered ad libitum and refreshed daily even if some is left. Rabbits sort naturally and ignore soiled strands. Serve it in a rack or straight into the litter tray (many rabbits love nibbling while doing their business), alongside a safe litter. Hay is no substitute for fresh water, ideally offered in a bowl rather than a bottle.
Storing your hay properly
Badly stored hay loses its qualities fast. Keep it dry, away from direct light and in a ventilated container: an open cardboard box, a cloth bag or a wooden crate. Avoid airtight plastic bags, which encourage condensation and mould. Buying in bulk (5 to 10 kg bales) brings the price per kilo down noticeably, provided you can store it properly and use it within a few months.
And compared with pellets?
Pellets are only a measured supplement: learn to decode their label to avoid overly rich mixes. If your rabbit snubs its hay, switch variety or brand before piling on treats: palatability varies enormously from one batch to the next. Find our detailed comparisons in the rabbit food section on Planète Pets.
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Rabbits universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.