Oxbow makes separate foods for rabbits and guinea pigs, and for young, adult and senior animals, so the first question is not "is Oxbow good" but "which bag is mine". This guide answers that directly: which Oxbow pellet suits which pet and life stage, why guinea pigs need vitamin C in the bowl and rabbits do not, and how hay, pellets, treats and enrichment fit together. Product details come from Oxbow's own listings.
Which Oxbow pellet for which pet?
| Your pet | Oxbow food | Bag |
|---|---|---|
| Adult rabbit | Essentials Adult Rabbit Food | 2.25 kg |
| Young, growing rabbit | Essentials Young Rabbit Food | 2.25 kg |
| Older rabbit | Essentials Senior Rabbit Food | 1.8 kg |
| Adult guinea pig | Essentials Adult Guinea Pig Food | 2.25 kg |
| Young, growing guinea pig | Essentials Young Guinea Pig Food | 2.25 kg |
| Guinea pig over 4 years | Essentials Senior Guinea Pig Food | 1.8 kg |
The rabbit and guinea pig formulas are made separately, not relabelled, and the senior guinea pig listing shows why that matters: Oxbow lists it as a fortified pellet for guinea pigs over 4 years of age, with timothy grass meal as the first ingredient, minimum 13 percent crude protein, 25 to 29 percent crude fibre and a minimum of 300 mg of vitamin C per kilogram, fed at an eighth of a cup for a senior guinea pig. That vitamin C figure is the difference between the two species.
Why guinea pigs need vitamin C and rabbits do not
Guinea pigs cannot make their own vitamin C, so it has to come from the diet every day; rabbits make their own, so rabbit pellets are not fortified the same way. This is why a guinea pig should be on a guinea-pig pellet rather than sharing the rabbit's bag, and why Oxbow's guinea pig foods carry a stated vitamin C level. For a guinea pig that is eating poorly or that a vet has asked you to supplement, Oxbow Natural Science Vitamin C is a 120 g supplement designed to be added to the regular diet as directed on the pack, not a replacement for a proper pellet. Fresh capsicum and leafy greens add vitamin C as well.
Hay comes first
For rabbits and guinea pigs, unlimited grass hay is the foundation of a healthy diet, and Oxbow's hay range gives owners a few ways to keep it on hand. Western Timothy Large is a 4kg bag of timothy hay sized for households that get through it quickly, while Oat Hay in a 425g pack offers a change of pace from timothy for pets that enjoy variety in the hay rack. Orchard Grass Hay Medium is a softer, sweeter-smelling alternative at 1.13kg, useful for fussier eaters or as a rotation option.
For a more portioned format, Harvest Stacks packages Western Timothy hay into easy-to-portion stacks at 922g, with plain, carrot and chamomile variations for a bit of flavour variety without changing the underlying hay-first approach.
Everyday pellets, matched to life stage
Once hay is covered, Oxbow's pelleted foods round out the diet. The Essentials range is built around life stage: Essentials Adult Rabbit Food and Essentials Adult Guinea Pig Food are the everyday staples for grown pets, both in 2.25kg bags, while Essentials Young Rabbit Food and Essentials Young Guinea Pig Food are formulated for growing pets in the same 2.25kg size. Essentials Senior Rabbit Food, in a 1.8kg bag, is formulated for older rabbits whose needs shift as they age.
If you are after a different formulation, Garden Select offers adult food for guinea pigs, rabbits and rats in 1.13-1.18kg bags, and Organic Bounty gives adult rabbits and guinea pigs an organic option in a 1.36kg bag. Between Essentials, Garden Select and Organic Bounty, there is a pelleted diet to suit most feeding preferences and budgets.
Treats and hay-based enrichment
Oxbow's Simple Rewards range covers treat time with single or dual-flavour options in 85g packs, including apple and banana, bell pepper, carrot and dill, and cranberry, plus a 40g timothy-flavoured option. They are sized as an addition to the diet rather than a meal replacement, which keeps treat time from crowding out hay and pellets.
The Timothy Club range turns hay into enrichment as well as food. The Timothy Club Hideout doubles as a cosy hiding spot and a chew, while the Timothy Club Tunnel and Timothy Club Twist give small pets something shaped and textured to nibble and explore. The Timothy Club Mat, available in medium and large, gives pets a woven hay surface to rest on that can also be chewed, and the Timothy Club Carrot is a simple carrot-shaped hay chew for pets that just want something familiar to gnaw on.
Rounding out the diet
Oxbow also produces a Natural Science range of small animal supplements in 120g packs, covering areas like digestive support, joint support, multivitamin, skin and coat, urinary support, papaya and vitamin C. These are designed to be added to a pet's regular daily diet as an extra on top of hay and pellets, rather than a substitute for either.
Why hay stays the priority
It is easy to focus on pellets and treats because they come in smaller, more manageable bags, but hay is genuinely the bulk of what a rabbit or guinea pig should be working through each day. Oxbow's range reflects that by giving hay several formats rather than just one bale: a plain hay for everyday grazing, flavoured Harvest Stacks for variety, and the Timothy Club range that turns hay into a hideout, tunnel or mat so pets get to chew and forage on it throughout the day, not just at mealtime. If your pet's diet is currently pellet-heavy and hay-light, working in more hay first is generally the better order of operations before adding extra pellets or treats.
Putting it together
A simple way to shop the range: start with a hay you know your pet will eat through steadily, whether that is Western Timothy, Oat Hay or Orchard Grass, add an Essentials, Garden Select or Organic Bounty pellet matched to age, then layer in Simple Rewards treats and Timothy Club enrichment as extras. Hay stays the largest part of the bowl, pellets are the daily measured portion, and treats and hideouts round out an enclosure that gives your pet something to do as well as something to eat.
See the full range in our small pet food collection, or browse the wider small pets collection for bowls, hideouts and other everyday gear.
Frequently asked questions
Which Oxbow food is best for a guinea pig?
Match the life stage: Essentials Young Guinea Pig Food while it is growing, Essentials Adult Guinea Pig Food from adulthood, and Essentials Senior Guinea Pig Food for guinea pigs over 4 years. All three are guinea-pig formulas with a stated vitamin C level.
Can my rabbit eat guinea pig food, or the other way round?
Oxbow formulates the two separately, and the main difference is vitamin C fortification for guinea pigs. Keep each species on its own pellet; a guinea pig on rabbit pellets is the one to worry about, because it is missing the vitamin C it cannot make itself.
How much hay versus pellets?
Hay is the bulk of the diet for both species and should be available all day; pellets are a measured daily portion on top, not a free-feed. Oxbow's senior guinea pig listing gives an eighth of a cup a day as its serve, which shows how small the pellet portion is next to the hay rack.
Do the Timothy Club hideouts and tunnels count as food?
They are made of hay, so a pet that chews them is eating hay, but treat them as enrichment on top of the hay rack rather than the main supply.
Does Oxbow make food for rats and mice?
Yes: the Garden Select range includes an adult food for rats alongside the rabbit and guinea pig versions.
Shop next: Small Pet Food · Essentials Adult Guinea Pig Food · Essentials Adult Rabbit Food · Natural Science Vitamin C
Sources
Product facts in this guide are taken from the manufacturers' own pages listed below and from the product listings on this site; general care points are given as practical guidance, not veterinary advice. Last reviewed 17 September 2026.
- Specialised Animal Nutrition Pty Ltd (Oxbow Australia): The Australian Home of Oxbow Animal Health
- Specialised Animal Nutrition Pty Ltd (Oxbow Australia): About