singapore rabbits

hay brand comparison available in SG

updated 19 May 2026

hay is the single most important part of your rabbit’s diet, making up around 80% of what they should eat every day. in Singapore, finding consistently good hay is harder than it sounds. our tropical climate runs 28 to 32 degrees celsius year-round, with relative humidity between 70 and 90%. that level of moisture accelerates hay spoilage dramatically. a bag that stays fresh for three weeks in the UK can go musty or develop mould within days here if stored badly or left sitting on a shelf too long. add in the fact that SG’s exotic pet retail market is much smaller than in the US or UK, and you end up with a narrower product range and slower shelf turnover. knowing which brands are worth buying, and which to approach with caution, saves you money and protects your rabbit’s health.

hay types you will find in SG

before comparing brands, it helps to understand what kinds of hay exist and which ones actually matter.

timothy hay is the gold standard for adult rabbits. it is high in fibre, low in calcium, and low enough in calories to support healthy gut motility without promoting weight gain. most brands offer first cut and second cut timothy. first cut is coarser and higher in fibre, better for dental wear. second cut is softer and leafier, which picky rabbits tend to prefer.

orchard grass is softer than timothy and has a mild, pleasant smell. it suits rabbits with dental sensitivities or those who stubbornly refuse timothy. it mixes well with timothy to add variety to the hay rack.

oat hay is coarser and higher in fat. use it as an occasional addition rather than a daily staple.

meadow hay blends contain a mix of grasses, dried flowers, and herbs. they encourage natural foraging behaviour and are good for enrichment. use them alongside timothy, not as a replacement for it.

in SG, you will primarily find Oxbow, Burgess, Kaytee, and sometimes Sherwood. some specialty rabbit shops and online stores carry smaller or lesser-known brands, but these four are the most consistently available to local owners.

Oxbow: the most widely available premium brand

Oxbow is the brand most SG rabbit owners encounter first, and for good reason. it is stocked at major pet chains and specialist rabbit retailers across the island. Oxbow western timothy hay is sun-cured and sourced from the western United States, which produces high-quality timothy with good leaf-to-stem ratios and a naturally sweet smell.

the range available in SG includes timothy, orchard grass, oat hay, and botanical hay blends. this variety is useful for rotating your rabbit’s hay and keeping things interesting for fussy eaters.

for a 425g bag, expect to pay SGD 9 to SGD 13 as of 2026, depending on the retailer. the 1.13kg bags work out cheaper per gram and reduce how often you need to restock. if you have an AC room to store hay in, buying in the larger size is worth it.

the main thing to watch with Oxbow in SG is shelf freshness. not every retailer moves stock quickly enough. always check the production date printed on the bag and aim for hay produced within the past six months. fresh Oxbow should smell sweet and grassy. if the bag smells stale, dusty, or flat, leave it on the shelf regardless of the date.

Burgess: a strong UK alternative gaining ground locally

Burgess Excel is the dominant rabbit hay brand in the UK and has been growing in availability in SG through online pet retailers. the quality is solid and it is generally competitive with Oxbow on price.

Burgess excel timothy hay typically comes in 1kg bags and costs SGD 10 to SGD 15 in SG as of 2026, depending on the seller. some owners find their rabbits prefer the slightly finer-stemmed texture of Burgess hay. others notice no difference at all. if your rabbit is a reluctant hay eater, trying Burgess alongside Oxbow is a reasonable comparison to run.

the main challenge with Burgess in SG is that it is harder to find in physical stores. most owners order it online, which means planning ahead is essential. do not let your supply drop below one week’s worth if you rely on Burgess, since delivery takes time and exotic pet stock can go out of stock without notice.

Sherwood: a premium pick for the most demanding rabbits

Sherwood Pet Health is a US brand with a dedicated following among owners who prioritise hay quality above cost. Sherwood positions its products as minimally processed, with careful harvesting and curing intended to preserve nutritional value and aroma. many owners who try it report that picky rabbits respond well to the texture and smell.

in SG, Sherwood is available through specialty rabbit retailers and some online importers. pricing sits at the top end: expect SGD 18 to SGD 30 for a 453g bag as of 2026, depending on the source. that is a significant premium over Oxbow and Burgess.

for most SG owners, Sherwood makes practical sense as a supplement or a targeted fix for rabbits that refuse everything else. the cost makes it hard to justify as a daily primary hay unless your rabbit truly needs the specific texture or quality difference. if your rabbit eats Oxbow or Burgess without complaint, there is no nutritional reason to switch.

Kaytee: widely stocked, but inspect before buying

Kaytee is one of the most visible hay brands in SG pet shops. it is inexpensive, easy to find in chain stores, and comes in large bags. a 907g bag typically costs SGD 8 to SGD 12 as of 2026.

the catch is that Kaytee hay quality is inconsistent between batches. some bags are dusty, overly stemmy, or have a poor leaf-to-stem ratio. others are perfectly fine. this batch-to-batch variation makes it less reliable than Oxbow or Burgess as a primary daily hay source.

before buying any Kaytee bag, squeeze it gently and smell it through the packaging. fresh hay should smell sweet and slightly earthy. a musty, flat, or chemical smell is a clear sign to skip that bag. if the hay looks pale, stemmy, or unusually dusty through the clear window, keep looking.

Kaytee can work as a short-term option or a secondary variety hay. for most adult rabbits in SG, Oxbow or Burgess is a more consistent primary choice.

what owners often get wrong

buying based on price alone. SG import costs make all hay more expensive here than in the west, and the pressure to find the cheapest bag is real. but hay quality directly affects your rabbit’s gut motility, molar wear, and health. a rabbit eating lower-quality hay they find less palatable will eat less of it, which creates problems downstream. spending a few extra dollars per bag on a brand your rabbit actually eats freely is better value over time.

ignoring the production date. packaged hay is not always fresh. slow retail turnover in the SG exotic pet market means bags can sit on shelves for months after import. always find the production or best-before date before buying. aim for hay produced within the past six months. this applies to every brand, including Oxbow.

storing hay in sealed airtight containers. in SG’s humidity, an airtight container traps moisture and creates conditions for mould to develop inside the bag. store hay in a breathable cloth bag, a loosely lidded rattan basket, or a cardboard box kept in an AC room. airflow matters more than airtightness in this climate.

mixing new hay into a batch that has started to go stale. adding fresh hay on top of old hay that has lost its smell contaminates the new supply. finish or discard the old batch before opening a new bag. in SG’s heat and humidity, this step matters more than it would in a cooler, drier country.

community-sourced information here is not veterinary advice. for any health concern see a licensed SG exotic vet.

community-sourced information, not veterinary advice. for medical issues, see a licensed SG exotic vet — start with our vet directory.

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