Can rabbits eat Pillow Wad hay as well as sleep on it?

Yes, and that's largely the point — hay should make up most of a rabbit or guinea pig's daily diet, not just line their enclosure, so a hay that's eaten as much as it's slept on is doing its job properly.

What's the difference between the standard and bio hay?

The bio versions are typically grown without the same level of chemical treatment as the standard range, which some owners prefer, though both are sold as suitable forage and bedding for small pets and rated for the same everyday use.

How does pond straw help with algae?

As barley straw breaks down in water it's believed to release compounds that discourage algae growth, which is why pond keepers use bagged straw as a gentler, ongoing measure alongside — not instead of — good pond maintenance and regular water testing.

How often should I change small-pet bedding?

Spot-clean soiled bedding every day or two and do a fuller change weekly, adjusting for how many animals share the space and how quickly it gets soiled. A hutch that smells or looks damp needs changing sooner than a schedule alone would suggest.

How much hay should a rabbit have each day?

As a general guide, a rabbit should have access to a pile of hay roughly the size of their own body every day, available at all times rather than given as a single ration, since it's meant to be grazed on continuously rather than eaten in one go. Fresh water and a small amount of pellets or greens sit alongside it, not instead of it.

Pillow Wad hay, straw and bedding

Pillow Wad is a small-animal bedding and forage range — meadow hay, timothy hay, barley straw and wood shavings — plus a bagged pond straw for keeping garden ponds clear. Most of what we stock covers the everyday basics of a rabbit, guinea pig or small rodent's setup.

Hay and forage

Meadow hay, timothy hay and barley straw are the three forage options, sold both standard and as a bio version. Hay isn't just bedding for a rabbit or guinea pig — it should make up the bulk of their daily diet, so buying it regularly and in a decent quantity matters more than it might for a purely bedding product.

Barley straw and the Farmer's Blend give a coarser, more absorbent option some owners prefer for bedding specifically rather than eating, while the hay varieties are soft enough to be eaten as readily as they're slept on.

Bedding and the pond straw

The wood shavings and the Eco-Nest bio bedding are aimed at burrowing and nesting small pets rather than rabbits and guinea pigs specifically, giving a softer, more insulating base than straw alone in a hutch or cage.

The pond straw is a different product entirely — bagged barley straw used in garden ponds to help control algae naturally, which is a common, low-effort approach pond keepers use before reaching for a chemical treatment.

A 1KG bag of fine bathing sand for chinchillas, degus, gerbils and hamsters

£5.70

Common questions

Can rabbits eat Pillow Wad hay as well as sleep on it?: Yes, and that's largely the point — hay should make up most of a rabbit or guinea pig's daily diet, not just line their enclosure, so a hay that's eaten as much as it's slept on is doing its job properly.
What's the difference between the standard and bio hay?: The bio versions are typically grown without the same level of chemical treatment as the standard range, which some owners prefer, though both are sold as suitable forage and bedding for small pets and rated for the same everyday use.
How does pond straw help with algae?: As barley straw breaks down in water it's believed to release compounds that discourage algae growth, which is why pond keepers use bagged straw as a gentler, ongoing measure alongside — not instead of — good pond maintenance and regular water testing.
How often should I change small-pet bedding?: Spot-clean soiled bedding every day or two and do a fuller change weekly, adjusting for how many animals share the space and how quickly it gets soiled. A hutch that smells or looks damp needs changing sooner than a schedule alone would suggest.
How much hay should a rabbit have each day?: As a general guide, a rabbit should have access to a pile of hay roughly the size of their own body every day, available at all times rather than given as a single ration, since it's meant to be grazed on continuously rather than eaten in one go. Fresh water and a small amount of pellets or greens sit alongside it, not instead of it.

Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.

Pillow Wad hay, straw and bedding

Hay and forage

Bedding and the pond straw

The range

Common questions

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