This is a specific conversation about Rabbit food and hay — getting the diet right — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
A formula change is one of the most frustrating things that can happen — your rabbit had a good hay habit and now it's been disrupted through no fault of yours. Before we sort this out, it's worth knowing that hay needs to make up around 80% of a rabbit's diet. It's not a nice-to-have: it keeps the gut moving and wears down teeth that never stop growing. Pellets are a small supplement, not the main event. So getting your rabbit back on hay is genuinely urgent, not just a preference. How old is your rabbit, are they otherwise healthy, and what brand were they on before the change — and what are they eating instead of hay right now?
She's 3, an Astrex rex type. She was on Supreme Science Selective hay but the texture and smell seem totally different now — she just sniffs it and walks off. She's eating her pellets fine and the odd bit of leafy veg but barely touching the hay. She seems healthy otherwise.
inparticular.ai
That tracks — rabbits have a very precise sense of smell and Supreme's hay has had noticeable batch inconsistency reported by owners over the past year or so. She's not being awkward, she's responding to a genuine change in the product. The good news is she ate hay well before, so this is a trust issue with that specific hay, not a hay aversion. A 3-year-old healthy rabbit has no excuse not to be eating hay freely, so we do need to fix this. Can I ask — is she a house rabbit or does she have outdoor time? And does she tend to prefer softer, leafier hay or was she fine with the more stalky, coarser cuts?
She's indoors. She seemed fine with the texture before — it used to be quite soft and sweet-smelling. Now it's dry and almost dusty. She's always liked the softer bits.
inparticular.ai
That tells me everything I need. She wants fragrant, soft hay — which is exactly what good Timothy hay delivers when it's properly dried and handled well. I'd switch her to Burgess Excel Timothy Hay. It's consistently cut from good-quality Timothy grass, has a naturally sweet grassy smell that rabbits respond well to, and the texture is soft enough that picky indoor rabbits tend to accept it readily. It's widely available on Amazon UK and the quality is reliable across bags. Give her a small pile somewhere she already likes to sit — rabbits eat more hay when it's near where they naturally hang out, not just in a rack by the litter tray. Within a few days you should see her grazing on it properly.
That sounds good. Should I just bin the old hay or try mixing them to transition her?
inparticular.ai
Don't mix — she's already associating the old hay with something she doesn't want, and blending it will just contaminate the new stuff with that smell. Bin or compost what's left and start fresh with the Burgess. Because she had a solid hay habit before, she should accept it without a lengthy transition. The only thing I'd add: keep her pellet portion on the smaller side while she's rebuilding her hay intake. If pellets are plentiful, there's less incentive to graze. Half an eggcup per kg of body weight per day is the right ballpark for a healthy adult.
Great, really helpful. I'll order it today.
inparticular.ai
Good. Burgess Excel Timothy Hay on Amazon UK is the one to go for — check you're getting the actual Burgess Excel branded bag rather than a third-party reseller with a generic label. If she's still reluctant after a few days, try warming a small handful slightly in your hands before putting it down — body warmth releases the scent and can nudge a hesitant rabbit to investigate. She's young and healthy, so with the right hay back in front of her she should settle quickly.
