I will admit to buying packaged hay from my local Fred Meyer or pet store which is usually well received. I am very careful, however to choose a package that looks like tender and tasty hay, or at least in my opinion, looks tender and tasty. Sometimes I go to Sumner Grub, a nearby feed store, and buy a brand they carry. (I love Sumner Grub. They've got all that farm stuff that's fun to look at. It's like a big old barn with a couple of pot bellied stoves.) Once I even ordered hay from a catalog that I was sure Clovis would love. No, he didn't.
I really get disappointed when I open the bag and there's all these big stiff pieces and little two inch pieces and handfuls of dust. I put the crummy stuff in the hay/litter box toward the back because I know it's going to get tossed out with the poo. It's got to be good for something.
So I'm wondering, is Clovis really finicky or if this common among rabbits?
12 comments:
No, Mickey's just as picky about his hay. Right now, the only hay he eats is either Oxbow oat hay or Oxbow botanical hay, and he will even pick at that. The oat hay can be hit-or-miss, especially if it's mostly thick pieces, but since I can only get it online, I'm stuck with what's sent. The local places only sell timothy hay, which I use in his litterbox because he rarely touches it. I've ended up crumbling compressed timothy hay cubes into his pellet mix in order to get more hay into him, but he's still not eating as much of it as he should.
Oh so common. Reading this is like listening to my own thoughts!!
My four are not picky, I think living in a warren situation creates a natural competition for food and they well eat any kind of hay. I get it by the half bale from the feed store. I may be more picky than them, I don't like super dusty hay and I prefer the softer kinds because I imagine they are better for the litter box. I used to buy Oxbow hay, but it got too expensive.
The bunnies always go for the leafy parts, but the stems are really what is best for them -- better fiber. We use bermuda hay (what we feed the horses) and stuff their litter box full. It's changed daily, so they always have fresh hay. If they had their choice, they would only eat the flowers from alfalfa hay! It's like candy to them.
Edward is finicky sometimes, but I doubt that help you any. I am so in love with that Clovis face!!
No, I think it's pretty normal to be picky about hay!!! Many bunnies like to spread out their hay so that they can more easily pick out the best pieces, does Clovis do that? Biffy builds a work of art with his hay as soon as i supply it. Sogna seems to be interested in the production of playing with the hay, but she'll eat anything. I think that's not normal, rather a vestige of her survival skills learned during her period of severe neglect, she never turns down ANY food.
I find that buying farm hay is not only higher quality but also cheaper than pet store hay, even after adding shipping. Also can buy more. I say, if your hay is good quality, and he likes it, to each his own! Just make sure he has enough ;)
Thanks everyone for taking the Hay Survey!
I really appreciate the feedback. Now I know Clovis is "normal" about his hay and I might consider buying a hay bale, although I'm not sure where I'd keep it...
A water tight Rubbermaid large garbage can is a good option. It saves me time to take the hay sleeves and "fluff" them up and fill the plastic container with this. I place this near the bunny's room, so I can quickly give them a huge amount of hay. I put a bunch more in their houses than they'll ever eat. I tend to make a big mess for myself to clean up, but they love it. They love throwing the hay up with their little noses and building little "houses" in the hay. I take all the hay out and switch it out twice per week, so they always have fresh somewhere in their house. Now the downside of doing this, besides the huge mess it makes ... , is that when hay gets on the floor, my bunnies tend to confuse it with the litter box, since the litterbox is topped off with hay for them to nibble while they "go." This can lead to some messy houses on that third day when it's time to switch out all the hay. Probably not the best, cleanest plan, but the buns have their own room and the hay makes the tile floor more comfy for their sweet little lagomorph feet. Plus, they love to "freak out" in new hay piles ... like a kid in a pile of leaves! I buy Timothy or Orchard Grass hay at the farm store (I love the farm store, too!) for a few dollars a bale and probably go through a whole bale in a week or a week and a half ... we make a whole hay filled room pretty much. Anything for bun fun!
They are very picky when I buy the stuff in bags at the stores or even that Oxbow hay online. For some reason, they don't like those big thick pieces. The hay bales have more tender pieces I've found. We get "new" Timothy hay. It's only cut once per year, so for about 6 months, we use that ...until it gets to be kind of older. Then we switch to Orchard Grass, Bermuda, Coastal, whatever if soft and smells good. We get some dirty hay every once in a while and we've even gotten some bales with lots of cow manure in it... yuck. When that happens, I just toss it out. The bales are inexpensive enough I can be picky. The buns jump right on the hay and start munching away and I do have very picky eaters otherwise ... but hay they "heart"!!!
I'm sorry ... One more thing. I just absolutely love Clovie Boy also! You have a very special bunny! Just perfect!
6B-thanks for all the information! Sounds like your bunnies get to have a ton of fun! I wish I could do that for Clovis but my husband and I have a little trouble with hay fever...
PS Thank you, I think Clovis is pretty special too. A very sweet boy.
Rabbit rescue organizations often sell hay. The one near you, Rabbit Haven sells fresh hay. Our buns love Orchard Grass Hay.
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