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Guinea pigs and rabbits both need hay every day to stay happy and healthy. I give my guinea pigs as much timothy hay as they'll eat, and I provide it in several different ways to give them variety.

The simplest ways are stuffing it in a brown paper bag or toilet paper roll, but sometimes I like to give them a challenge so they eat more slowly. That's where the Super Pet Rollin' The Hay dispenser ball comes in.

A Tidy Way To Serve Hay

My guinea pigs' cages came with hay racks, but I quickly discovered the racks were much too messy. I started serving their hay in bags and cardboard rolls, but I wanted a less messy alternative that would also give them some amusement.

I spotted the Super Pet Rollin' The Hay ball dispenser in the pet store. It spins on a stand, giving the guinea pig or rabbit a bit of challenge in getting the hay out. I bought it because I thought that might be a nice enrichment for my piggies. They love to run through hay piles, but I like to change things up every few days so I thought it would be good to rotate the ball in for a couple days each week.

The ball does, indeed, help keep the cage tidy, although nothing completely keeps hay out of the bedding. The bars are small enough to contain most of the hay, but large enough to let an animal get it out by spinning the ball on its holder or moving it around the cage.

Stand Not Needed

Initially I set up the Super Pet Rollin' The Hay dispenser on its stand in my guinea pig Borat's cage so he could spin it.

It was easy to set up, although I found one flaw: the little door through which you put in the hay doesn't stay closed. I eventually used a binder clip on it, but that's the main reason I docked this product one star. Otherwise, it was sturdily constructed and simple to put together.

Borat wasn't all that thrilled with spinning it, so I removed it from the rack and put it loose in his cage. That got his attention! He loves to push things around, so he had a blast rolling the ball and playing with it as he got his munchies out.

Different pocket pets might have different preferences for how they use this feeder. I'm sure some guinea pigs and rabbits love spinning it on the rack, while others might be like Borat and want to play with it freestyle. It works just as well either way.

Even though the Super Pet Rollin' The Hay ball spills some hay as it gets rolled around, it's contained in the cage. The hay rack that was mounted to the exterior bars made my floor look like a barn, but the ball keeps everything inside.

Lazy Guinea Pigs

I tried the Rollin' The Hay dispenser with my other guinea pig, Amy, but she was lazy about pushing it around, so now it's Borat's toy. Every now and then he gets lazy, too, and begs for more hay even though he's still got some in the ball because he doesn't feel like working. Overall, though, it encourages him to get some exercise.

I do give my guinea pigs floor time in a playpen regularly, but sometimes I skip a day or two when my schedule is very busy. Toys that serve a function, like the Super Pet Rollin' The Hay Dispenser, get them moving in their cages on those days and also give them something to do rather than gulping down their food and then lazing around.

Another fun enrichment tool is to give some live grass in addition to the hay. I periodically give my guinea pigs Pet Greens Live Pet Grass, and it's great for rabbits (and cats) too.

You can buy the Super Pet Rollin' The Hay ball in pet stores or online, and you'll pay around $8 to $9 for it. It comes in a variety of colors if you want to match your cage decor.