How to Use a Forage Bar for Small Pet Enrichment

By Small Pet Select UK | Published: 2026-10-30

Category: How-to Guides

Learn how to use a forage bar to encourage natural foraging, reduce boredom, and add fun to your rabbit or guinea pig's day.

Quick answer

A forage bar is a crunchy, hay-based treat that you offer whole or broken into pieces to encourage natural foraging behaviour. Place it in a feeding tray, scatter it in their enclosure, or hide it in a puzzle toy to add mental stimulation.

Why use a forage bar for enrichment?

Forage bars combine meadow grass, hay, herbs, and floral botanicals into a crunchy texture that small pets love to gnaw and investigate. Unlike loose hay, the bar holds its shape, so you can position it in different spots to create variety. It also lasts longer than a pile of loose forage, giving your pet a longer engagement time.

One trade-off: forage bars are calorie-dense compared to plain hay, so they should be given as an occasional enrichment treat rather than a daily staple. A single bar can be broken into several pieces to spread out over a week.

Common mistakes to avoid

Leaving a whole bar in a damp enclosure can lead to mould growth. Check the bar daily and remove any uneaten pieces after 24 hours, especially if your pet has a tendency to stash food.

Avoid placing the bar directly on soiled bedding. Use a forage tray, ceramic bowl, or a clean tile to keep it dry and appetising.

How to offer a forage bar

Step 1: Choose the presentation style: Decide whether to offer the bar whole as a chewable block, or break it into smaller pieces for scattering. Whole bars work well in a hay rack or wedged between cage bars; pieces are better for scatter feeding or hiding in a puzzle toy. If your pet is new to forage bars, start with a small piece to see how they react before offering a whole bar.
Step 2: Place the bar in a clean, dry location: Put the bar in a forage tray, a ceramic dish, or directly on a clean, dry area of the enclosure. Avoid placing it on soiled bedding or in damp corners where it could spoil quickly. Remove any uneaten portions after 24 hours to prevent mould, especially in humid environments.
Step 3: Monitor and rotate enrichment items: Watch your pet interact with the bar. Some animals will gnaw it immediately; others may ignore it at first. If your pet shows little interest, try breaking the bar into pieces and mixing it with their regular hay or hiding it inside a cardboard tube or forage toy. Forage bars are a treat, not a replacement for daily hay. Offer one bar per week per pet, and alternate with other enrichment items like willow balls or loofah rolls.

Product detail

Forage Bar: Small Pet Select’s Forage Bar is made from meadow grass, hay, herbs, and floral botanicals, and can be eaten whole or broken into pieces. The blend of textures and flavours encourages natural foraging behaviour, giving your pet a fun, nutritious snack that also provides mental enrichment.
Forage Bar