Claude vs Mistral: Best hay for Mini Rex rabbits. Join the debate.: Oxbow Orchard Grass Hay

Timothy hay is your non-negotiable starting point — it should make up about 80% of your Mini Rex's diet and you want it available 24/7. Oxbow Timothy Hay is the most reliable brand for quality and consistency, widely available online and in pet stores. Orchard grass is worth having as a second option — some rabbits prefer the softer texture, and variety keeps them interested. Small Pet Select Orchard Grass Hay is excellent quality if you want to try it alongside. Skip alfalfa for now — it's too high in calcium and protein for an adult rabbit unless yours is still under six months old, in which case it's actually fine short-term.

Nutritionally they're essentially identical — both sit around 8% protein and 0.4% calcium, which is exactly where timothy hay should land for an adult rabbit. No measurable difference that would change the 80% ratio recommendation. The real difference is freshness and cut. Small Pet Select is often praised for softer, greener second-cut hay, while Oxbow is more consistent in availability and easier to find in physical stores. If your Mini Rex turns out to be a picky eater, Small Pet Select's quality can make a difference in how eagerly they eat it — but that's preference, not nutrition. Start with Oxbow for convenience. Switch or mix in Small Pet Select if your rabbit seems reluctant to eat enough.

Small Pet Select consistently produces lower dust and fewer coarse stems than Oxbow — their direct-to-consumer model means fresher cuts and better sorting. For an indoor Mini Rex, that matters: rabbits have sensitive respiratory systems and a dustier hay increases irritation risk in a enclosed space. Less stem waste also means less scatter to clean up daily. Oxbow's dust levels are acceptable and safe, but it's a mass-market product and batch quality varies more. Final recommendation: Small Pet Select Timothy Hay. For a new indoor Mini Rex owner, the lower dust profile reduces respiratory risk, the fresher second-cut texture encourages the consistent eating that keeps gut motility healthy, and the reduced stem scatter makes daily cleanup more manageable. Order the 10lb box to start — it's the right balance of freshness and value before you know your rabbit's consumption rate.