How To Keep Your Small Pet Food Fresh For Your Little Bun?

Rabbits and guinea pigs have over 17,000 taste buds so it’s understandable they can be very picky when it comes to their food. We know that Timothy Hay (grass hay) should make up the majority of an adult rabbit’s and guinea pig's diet, but what are you supposed to do when your small pet won’t eat their food or eat nuggets of hay?

Click Here For a Guide to Understanding Your Rabbits Diet.

A big reason for this can be that the hay is no longer appetizing to your cotton-tailed friend due to spoilage. Without the proper storage, hay can become unappealing for your small pet to eat and can even make them sick if left under the wrong conditions. Do you know how to keep your guinea big and bunny food fresh? Keep reading for these handy tips!

1. Be Picky

Attempting to keep hay fresh is pointless without starting out with a great quality product. Refuse to settle for buying hay that seems old, wet, moldy or doesn’t possess a pleasant aroma. You are what you eat, and so is your small pet, so be sure you are only providing hay that is in exceptional condition to offer as rabbit and guinea pig food.

2. Buy Only What You Need

Many pet owners think they are saving time and money by purchasing hay in bulk. The truth is that bales contain a large amount of hay which can go stale before you've even got the chance to offer all of it to your small pet as food. The longer the hay sits around, the more nutrients are lost. Buying smaller amounts of hay can help to ensure you are giving your small pet the freshest hay possible.

3. Keep Your Hay In The Dark

Sunlight can leach the nutrients out of healthy timothy hay which lessens its value as a key part of their diet. The sun can also discolor your hay, making it seem less desirable. Store your hay somewhere convenient for you but also somewhere dark enough to prevent it from losing nutrients or becoming bleached by the sun.

4. Don’t Expose It To Moisture

Storing your hay in a dry place will help to prevent mold from growing on your small pet food and will keep you from having to replace hay unnecessarily. It is advised to leave hay in a place like a closet or in a plastic bin which will protect it from wetness.

5. Let It Breathe

Though a lot of humidity is not good for hay, keeping it sealed tightly without ventilation can also be damaging. Since hay naturally contains some moisture, preventing air from getting to it can also cause mold resulting in inedible small pet food.

6. Cool It

Mold growth can increase in hay when exposed to warmth. Protect the product by storing it in an area that protects it from heat.

Now you know how to keep your bunny food fresh, just remember that you also want to make sure you’re feeding the freshest hay you can to your pet rabbit and guinea pig!

You can also download our Hay is for Rabbits eBook to know all about the different types of hay, the best ones to feed your rabbit based on their age, and more! That way the next time you run out of hay, you can purchase your next order with us with confidence.