What is Alfalfa Hay? While it’s commonly referred to as Alfalfa Hay it’s actually a legume (beanstalk). Full of protein and nutrients it’s perfect for growing rabbits between the ages of 3 weeks and 7 months. Since Alfalfa Hay is a legume beanstalk it has a thicker stem and many leaves that are more elliptical in shape compared to the long leaves found on grass hays. The leaves run all along the thick and pliable stock. Alfalfa Hay is higher in both protein and calcium and lower in fiber than grass hays which allows it to be a mainstay of your young rabbit guinea pig or chinchilla’s diet. It’ll help them grow and put on weight while maintaining a healthy digestive system. Yet because of how high it is in protein and calcium there is an age at which you’ll need to transition them off of Alfalfa Hay and onto a grass hay (such as Timothy or Orchard). While they will no longer get to have an unlimited amount of Alfalfa Hay it does make a great treat for adult rabbits guinea pigs and chinchillas. Importance of Transitioning From Alfalfa Hay Alfalfa Hay is perfect for rabbits younger than 7 months guinea pigs younger than 6 months and chinchillas younger than a year. It’s crucial that you transition your small pet to a grass hay as soon as they are old enough otherwise they’ll end up facing major health issues such as obesity digestion and urinary tract issues along with an increase risk of bladder stones. In order to keep a healthy diet veterinarians recommend that adult rabbits 7 months and older and adult guinea pigs 6 months and older transition to a diet consisting of 80% grass hay. Adult chinchillas older than a year should have a diet consisting of 75% grass hay. Again while Alfalfa Hay can no longer be a mainstay of their adult diet it does make a fantastic treat for them. Feeding Your Rabbit Based on Their Age From birth until adulthood it’s crucial that you feed your rabbit specific hays and other foods based on how old they are. To keep your baby rabbit happy and healthy as they grow use the feeding timeline below to help guide you in your purchasing of hay and other foods. Birth – 3 weeks: Mother’s Milk 3 – 4 weeks: Mother’s Milk nibbles of Alfalfa Hay and Pellets 4 – 7 weeks: Mother’s Milk access to Alfalfa Hay and Pellets 7 weeks – 7 months: Unlimited Pellets and Alfalfa Hay (plus see 12 weeks below) 12 weeks: Introduce vegetables (one at a time quantities under ½ oz.) When your rabbit is older than 6 months you’ll need to start transitioning them from Alfalfa Hay to a grass hay such as Timothy or Orchard (any cut will work). You’ll need to decrease the amount of Pellets to ½ cup for every 6 pounds of body weight of your rabbit. While you are transitioning them to grass hays and decreasing their pellet intake you can gradually increase their daily vegetables (green ones) and give treats in moderation. These traditions will help keep your rabbit’s GI tract healthy and avoid obesity.