Poor Hay Quality since COVID?

[HalaBuns]

Has anyone noticed their bunnies being less interested in hay recently? Both of mine are still eating it, but not with the same enthusiasm as they did a few weeks ago. They would much rather go for a cardboard box (to the point they seem so obsessive about it, I only let them have it for 30 mins every couple of days).

I’ve not found a local supplier yet, so the hay I get is from the pet store and shipped in from the UK (bloody expensive). I live in the Middle East, so locally produced hay is quite hard to come by, unless I buy a huge bale of it, which then presents a storage issue.

Even I can tell it’s different as I’m getting it out of the bag, but hard to describe how. It just seems dryer and the colour is different.

Has anyone else experienced changes in the hay quality recently?

 

[Hermelin]

It can be hay from last season, it will often have a ligther colour and more yellow. As long the hay aren’t musty, have dirt, really dusty or smell funky it will be okay.

Just keep an eye on the droppings of your bunny. Often the droppings will give a good indication if the hay is good or not.

 

[Mariam+Theo]

I got a bale a couple of months ago that was really bad. It was dusty, brown, and smelled weird. I threw it away and got another bale that wasn't much better, but I couldn't afford a third bale so I had to feed it to Theo. He still ate it, and he was fine, but I was very upset that I spent $50 on 2 strange bales.
Now that COVID is calming down, I have gotten a new bale it is is very good! Theo loves it! Maybe just get another bale?

 

[Diane R]

Be very careful with the cardboard, you really don't want them to eat that other than a small nibble. I know that some people in countries where good hay is hard to come by get it shipped from the UK. I can recommend some good UK suppliers if you're interested.

 

[HalaBuns]

I got a bale a couple of months ago that was really bad. It was dusty, brown, and smelled weird. I threw it away and got another bale that wasn't much better, but I couldn't afford a third bale so I had to feed it to Theo. He still ate it, and he was fine, but I was very upset that I spent $50 on 2 strange bales.
Now that COVID is calming down, I have gotten a new bale it is is very good! Theo loves it! Maybe just get another bale?

It can be hay from last season, it will often have a ligther colour and more yellow. As long the hay aren’t musty, have dirt, really dusty or smell funky it will be okay.

Just keep an eye on the droppings of your bunny. Often the droppings will give a good indication if the hay is good or not.

Thank you. Poops are all looking ok and the hay doesn’t seem bad, just not as good as before. They’re fine with it too, but not the same level as excitement as before. They used to be all over me whenever I came over with the bag and now they’re just a bit “meh, whatever”

 

[HalaBuns]

I got a bale a couple of months ago that was really bad. It was dusty, brown, and smelled weird. I threw it away and got another bale that wasn't much better, but I couldn't afford a third bale so I had to feed it to Theo. He still ate it, and he was fine, but I was very upset that I spent $50 on 2 strange bales.
Now that COVID is calming down, I have gotten a new bale it is is very good! Theo loves it! Maybe just get another bale?

Ugggh that’s so annoying

 

[HalaBuns]

Be very careful with the cardboard, you really don't want them to eat that other than a small nibble. I know that some people in countries where good hay is hard to come by get it shipped from the UK. I can recommend some good UK suppliers if you're interested.

Yeah, they’ve got bored with it now, but I was also concerned with the ferocity at which they were attacking it and that they would be ingesting too much, so took it away if it got intense. They were totally in love with it for some peculiar reason, like no other box they’ve ever had access to. Not sure why it was so special

If you could recommend some suppliers, that would be great. I’m currently spending around £15 / $20 a week on hay and there is literally 1 store that sells it near me, so it would be great to find a cheaper option.

 

[Diane R]

I use these two suppliers (not sure how difficult and/or expensive it would be to ship but some of my friends in the Philippines do this): timothyhay.co.uk and Hay and Straw For high quality forage I recommend Twig and nibble shop

 

[HalaBuns]

I use these two suppliers (not sure how difficult and/or expensive it would be to ship but some of my friends in the Philippines do this): timothyhay.co.uk and Hay and Straw For high quality forage I recommend Twig and nibble shop

Thank you so much, I will take a look!

 

[Ejomo]

Has anyone noticed their bunnies being less interested in hay recently? Both of mine are still eating it, but not with the same enthusiasm as they did a few weeks ago. They would much rather go for a cardboard box (to the point they seem so obsessive about it, I only let them have it for 30 mins every couple of days).

I’ve not found a local supplier yet, so the hay I get is from the pet store and shipped in from the UK (bloody expensive). I live in the Middle East, so locally produced hay is quite hard to come by, unless I buy a huge bale of it, which then presents a storage issue.

Even I can tell it’s different as I’m getting it out of the bag, but hard to describe how. It just seems dryer and the colour is different.

Has anyone else experienced changes in the hay quality recently?

Hi, just a thought but have u tried sourcing your hay from thoroughbred horse places? I read that in the middle East it can be easier to source hay used for specialist horses, than for rabbits and small pets. Just an idea! Nibble and Gnaw About Us | Our Story do that! Good luck!

 

[HalaBuns]

Hi, just a thought but have u tried sourcing your hay from thoroughbred horse places? I read that in the middle East it can be easier to source hay used for specialist horses, than for rabbits and small pets. Just an idea! Nibble and Gnaw About Us | Our Story do that! Good luck!

Hi there

Thank you! I was actually searching for that yesterday as there are a few equestrian suppliers. I’m trying to find one that will deliver just a small bale, rather than a massive load of it as I’d have nowhere to put it all.

I am also super lazy and trying to find somewhere that will let me order online, rather than having to speak to an actual human . Sadly I think I will have to pick up the phone and try to explain to someone what I need. I’m so unsociable haha

 

[JBun]

Hi there

Thank you! I was actually searching for that yesterday as there are a few equestrian suppliers. I’m trying to find one that will deliver just a small bale, rather than a massive load of it as I’d have nowhere to put it all.

I am also super lazy and trying to find somewhere that will let me order online, rather than having to speak to an actual human . Sadly I think I will have to pick up the phone and try to explain to someone what I need. I’m so unsociable haha

If you have a horse barn nearby, they might be willing to sell you a partial bale so you don't have to buy a whole bale. Just make sure it's good horse quality grass hay that has never been wet. Moldy hay(white or black spots in hay, damp, white dust when dry, musty or sour smell) can kill horses and rabbits. If it's a nice horse stable, you should be able to count on their hay being good too. Might be worth calling around, horse stables or suppliers, and just see what might be available and the price.

 

[HalaBuns]

If you have a horse barn nearby, they might be willing to sell you a partial bale so you don't have to buy a whole bale. Just make sure it's good horse quality grass hay that has never been wet. Moldy hay(white or black spots in hay, damp, white dust when dry, musty or sour smell) can kill horses and rabbits. If it's a nice horse stable, you should be able to count on their hay being good too. Might be worth calling around, horse stables or suppliers, and just see what might be available and the price.

Thank you, that’s a great idea

 

[Ejomo]

Ps, I did buy hay from Nibble and Gnaw and it was Excellent quality and I did it all online!

 

[nicolekline97]

I got a bale a couple of months ago that was really bad. It was dusty, brown, and smelled weird. I threw it away and got another bale that wasn't much better, but I couldn't afford a third bale so I had to feed it to Theo. He still ate it, and he was fine, but I was very upset that I spent $50 on 2 strange bales.
Now that COVID is calming down, I have gotten a new bale it is is very good! Theo loves it! Maybe just get another bale?

My last one was very dusty. I am very much a tightwad and do not want to toss it. I am liberally putting it in her litter pan and looking for better options.

 

[Ejomo]

Yes, that's what I do, any hay she doesn't like becomes 'tray hay' for her litter box, which I top over with her nice eating hay, and that seems to work quite well. When u say u had horrible hay, did u mean that was that from Nibble and Gnaw?

 

[Ejomo]

Ps Just4Rabbits is another lovely hay place to sell beautiful mini hay bales to help with foraging, and it really works. That have a small bale, like mini mini, and sprinkle them with a range of things like dried flowers, or ape leaves, or nettles and dandilions etc. My bunny went crazy for the plaintain and dandylion bale, with fescue grasses and Timothy hay!