Barley Straw

Barley Straw is the dried stalk from a barley crop (so not grass like hay). It’s golden, springy, and naturally hollow, which helps create a cosy, airy feel. 

Our Pillow Wad Barley Straw is unchopped and dust-extracted here on the farm, so it stays lovely and long for rummaging, dragging about, and general small-pet mischief. Rabbits in particular enjoy dragging straw into mysterious little interior design projects.

Hay is dried grass grown as a nutritious forage, while straw is the dried stalk left behind after crops such as barley have been harvested.

Straw has light, springy stems that many small pets enjoy nibbling, chewing and exploring, while hay provides the higher levels of fibre needed to support healthy digestion.

Both have their place, but hay should always be the main munch, making up around 80–90% of your pet’s daily diet.

Barley Straw is perfectly safe to nibble on. Barley’s crunchy stalks are great for keeping gnawers busy too. Straw is lower in nutrition than hay though, so it’s not a substitute. Keep plenty of lovely hay available for important fibre and goodness.

Worth a quick note here: some welfare guidance recommends avoiding coarse straw for guinea pigs because it can occasionally cause eye injuries, especially with lively rummagers. 

If you’ve got guineas, a gentler option like Eco-Nest ™  (or other soft, low-dust bedding choices) is often a safer pick for their little faces.

Good quality barley straw should feel dry, springy and light, with a clean, fresh smell. It shouldn’t feel damp, dusty or clumpy.

If straw is stored somewhere humid it can lose that lovely fresh feel, so keeping it cool, dry and able to breathe helps it stay golden and usable for longer.