Pets
How much hay does a rabbit or guinea pig need?
Daily hay grams and monthly bags for rabbits, guinea pigs or chinchillas — by weight and how many pets.
Quick answer
For rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas, hay is not a side dish — it should be the bulk of the diet (roughly 80%), available all day. Owners who buy by the bag still need a number: how many grams per day, and how fast a 1 kg or 5 kg pack disappears. A practical planning range is about 45–75 g of dry hay per kg of body weight per day, depending on species; young animals eat toward the high end. The calculator multiplies weight × animals × that factor so you can stock without guessing.
Hay per day
130 g
- Hay per month
- 3.9 kg
- 1 kg bags / month
- 4
- 5 kg bags / month
- 1
Planning estimate for dry grass hay (e.g. timothy): roughly 45–75 g per kg of body weight per day depending on species, with hay always available. Leftover hay is normal. Alfalfa is richer — usually for young or special cases, not the only hay for most adults. Pellets are a small measured add-on. Not veterinary advice.
How it works
Timothy and other grass hays suit most adults; alfalfa is richer and better reserved for growing, pregnant or underweight pets — ask your vet if unsure. Always offer more than the minimum: leftover hay is normal and healthier than an empty rack. Treat pellets as a measured supplement, not the main course. This tool is a shopping guide, not a veterinary prescription.
Frequently asked questions
How much hay should a 2 kg rabbit eat per day?+
Plan on roughly 120–140 g of grass hay per day for a typical 2 kg adult (about 65 g per kg), with unlimited access so they can nibble all day. A 1 kg bag lasts about a week for one rabbit; a 5 kg bag about a month. Adjust if they leave piles uneaten or clean the rack in hours.
Do guinea pigs need more hay than rabbits?+
Per kg they often sit slightly higher, and they also need daily vitamin C from veg or supplements. Use the guinea-pig preset in the calculator, keep hay always available, and never replace hay with only pellets.
Timothy or alfalfa hay?+
Timothy (or other grass hay) for most adults. Alfalfa is higher in protein and calcium — useful for kits and some nursing animals, but too rich as the only hay for many healthy adults. Mix or switch on veterinary advice.
Can they eat too much hay?+
Healthy rabbits and guinea pigs self-regulate on grass hay; waste and bedding use are bigger issues than overeating fiber. Overfeeding usually means too many pellets or treats, not too much hay.
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