Hay hay hay

[BabyRue]

So up until yesterday I had been feeding Rue the hay we feed our horses. I ran out yesterday and didn't have a chance to make it to the barn so I bought some timothy hay from the pet store.

Now looking at the hay from the pet store compared to the hay I feed my horses I am really confused. They have meadow hay, alphalpha and timothy. And they all look different then what we have here which is just regular ol timothy hay. It looks like the stuff from the pet store is more like the hay we would get from a second cut but even then its not the same.

Should I not be feeding her the first cut stuff? How do you determine which one is better for your bunny? Rue is 2 months old in case it makes a difference.

 

[melbaby80]

"An adult rabbit needs a quality grass hay always available. Grass hays include timothy, orchard grass, bermuda grass, and others. You can find grass hays in pet stores, from horse farms or feed stores, at vet offices who specialize in bunnies, or online from pet hay suppliers. The trick is to find a good hay. Look for a green, fragrant hay. Most rabbits like soft kinds best, but having a mix of stalks and soft parts is great for providing the different kinds of bulk fiber that are good for teeth and digestive systems. Don’t buy hay that is all brown, dusty, has visible mold, or smells moldy. Dusty/moldy hay is dangerous for a bunny!

The most important part of a good hay is one that your bunny will eat. If you find a huge bale of timothy for $4 and bunny loves it, great! But if bunny won’t eat it, it just won’t do her any good. Picky bunnies often love Oxbow Hay brand, which can be found in some pet and feed stores, online pet suppliers, and at www.oxbowhay.com. If you can’t find it locally, ask your pet supply store to order it for you or to start carrying it!
What about alfalfa hay?

Alfalfa hay is high in protein and minerals like calcium, which can be too rich for your bunny to eat all the time, causing health problems like obesity and bladder stones. Alfalfa is great for a baby or growing bunny, but an adult bunny usually needs a grass hay like timothy, or a mixed grass hay that is mostly timothy but might have some alfalfa in it. Most bunnies do like the taste of alfalfa better, so you might tempt a picky bunny with it first and then switch him to timothy by mixing the hays together for a while."

http://www.indianahrs.org/rabbit-care/food-pellets-hay.aspx

I feed my rabbits timothy hay and orchard hay. They also get alfalfa blocks.

 

[BabyRue]

Ok so there is no wrong hay as long as its not dusty or moldy(which is a given I wouldn't feed my rabbit hay I wouldn't feed my horse). I was just really starting to wonder if it was bad hay to feed her where it looked so different.

She doesn't seem to be picky. She eats anything I put in front of her. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't feeding the wrong kind of hay.