Best Hay for Every Animal: The Complete New York Feeding Guide
Best Hay by Animal
Horses
Clean grass hay like timothy or orchard grass daily, with alfalfa only when a horse needs extra protein or calories.
Miniature Horses
Low-sugar grass hay fed by weight, not by the flake. Minis are easy keepers prone to weight gain and laminitis.
Donkeys
Mature, coarse, low-sugar grass hay, sometimes stretched with clean barley straw. Skip the rich hay and alfalfa.
Goats
Leafy grass hay as the base, with alfalfa for does in milk and growing kids — but go easy on alfalfa for wethers and bucks.
Sheep
Good grass or grass-legume hay, stepped up for late-pregnant and nursing ewes. Keep the mineral feeder sheep-specific.
Cattle
Coarse first-cutting or mixed-grass hay for beef and dry cows; leafier, higher-protein hay or legume for dairy and growing stock.
Alpacas & Llamas
Moderate-protein grass hay. Camelids are efficient, so heavy alfalfa usually causes more harm than good.
Rabbits
Unlimited grass hay (timothy, orchard, oat) as about 80% of the diet for teeth and gut health. Alfalfa only for the young or nursing.
Guinea Pigs
Unlimited timothy grass hay for constantly-growing teeth — plus vitamin C from veggies or pellets, which hay doesn’t provide.
Chickens
Not a feed — straw and hay are for coop bedding, nesting, and winter warmth. Keep it dry to avoid mold.
How to Judge Hay Quality (Any Animal)
Whatever you feed, the quality test is the same: good hay is green, leafy, sweet-smelling, dry, and free of mold and dust. Learn exactly what to check, and the questions to ask a seller, in our guide on how to buy good hay — then keep your bales fresh with how to store hay so they last the season.