🌾 Guinea Pig Hay Types Compared

Timothy, orchard, meadow and alfalfa, which hay to feed, when, and why hay is 80% of the diet.

Hay is not a nice-to-have, it is about 80% of a guinea pig's diet. It keeps their gut moving and wears down teeth that never stop growing, so unlimited grass hay should be in front of them every hour of every day. But which hay?

• Timothy hay — the gold standard for adult pigs: high fibre, low calcium. If you buy one hay, buy Timothy.
• Orchard grass — very similar to Timothy, soft and sweet-smelling, and a great choice if anyone in the house is allergic to Timothy.
• Meadow hay — a softer, more varied mix pigs love to forage through. Fine as a daily hay or mixed with Timothy.
• Alfalfa hay — a legume, not a grass: rich, high in calcium and protein. Right only for babies under six months and pregnant or nursing sows. For healthy adults it is a rare treat, not a staple, because the calcium feeds bladder stones.
• Botanical / herbal hays — Timothy with dried herbs and flowers mixed in. A nice enrichment topper, not a replacement.

Last updated August 2026 · Written from years of keeping long-haired guinea pigs in the Houston area. This is general care information, not veterinary advice. For anything medical, please see an exotic vet.

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