Hay

[Luvmyzoocrew]

I am getting hay locally from someone else then i got it from last time and my hubby went around to ask them what kind of hay an all, and my hubby asked about color and he was told that it was green when it was put in the barn. Can i go on smell alone, if it smells nice and fresh then it is ok? I have been told that it doesnt matter the color, even green doesnt mean that it is good. It is mixed hay, and the other bale i got for them and they loved it , and it is sssssssooooo much cheaper then getting it shipped.



So what should i be looking for?

 

[Leaf]

I've seen mine come in an assortment of colors depending on the cut and type. Timothy (IMO) looks a little different when buying 1st cut opposed to 2nd cut, but it could have been the box I received (from a farmer, 37#).

Go by smell. If it smells damp or moldy at all dont use it. I was given 20#+ of hay once and it looked good BUT I smelled a little something- figured it had been in a basement. Looked good so I debated and debated, figured since the rabbits who were eating it were now mine (hay, supplies & rabbits were given to me)it couldnt hurt to continue feeding for a day or two.

Yes, I did feed it to them that day and the next. I split the box onto my garage floor in the sun (on a tarp) and was actually very suprised at how the hay damage was from the bottom up where moisture must have gotten on the very bottom of the box.

Advised against "sunning" the hay to dry it and possibly kill mold... I ended up throwing it out which was a shame because at the time, with our flooding I was in a major hay crunch and could have used it.

Still, better safe than sorry.

 

[JadeIcing]

What Leaf said sounds awesome. :biggrin2:So stick with what she said.

 

[Luvmyzoocrew]

woo hoo just got three bales of hay, the farm around the corner so that is where i will continue to go from now on. It was mostly green and smells great!!!!!! i am excited and hope the buns and piggies love it

 

[Becknutt]

Wow, I wish my feed store sold mixed bales. My guys love the mixed bags I buy at the pet store but I can't find them in bulk. I get Timo from the feed store though...for litter boxes.

 

[Leaf]

Luvmyzoocrew wrote:

woo hoo just got three bales of hay, the farm around the corner so that is where i will continue to go from now on. It was mostly green and smells great!!!!!! i am excited and hope the buns and piggies love it

:highfive:

 

[Pet_Bunny]

I was visiting a breeder last Tuesday, and she brought 6 bales in for her rabbits. She gave me 7 flakes of fresh green Timothy hay and a bag full of Meadow grass. That is way too much hay for my two bunnies, so I passed some out to Luvabun, and am trying to contact some other owners to see if they want some hay.