Is oat hay okay for baby bunnies?

[lifeasweknowit]

I have some oat hay thinking that my older bunny would like it but he only likes the actual oats? not the stalks? if that makes sense.

However I gave my baby bunny the grass part without the oats and she seems to like it, only problem is I think i heard somewhere that baby bunnies have a hard time digesting oat hay? Not sure if they were talking about the actual oat “seeds” or the grass part or all of it? But I just want to make sure! She is 9 weeks

[RabbitPam]

Well, my bunny has always loved oat hay, and I gave it to her quite young. She never went on the alfalfa which is often suggested for babies, only to have them need to wean off of it within a few months anyway due to it being fattening. Timothy is the safest kind of hay for all ages if your bunny likes it. I don’t think the oat will harm the baby if she likes it, but you could get a small bag of timothy as an alternative if she doesn’t want more oat. It’s basically a very good hay for bunnies.

It’s really introducing the greens carefully at that age that you want to watch. Not many, mild at first, and don’t add or change greens more often than every one to two weeks. It’s the frequent changes in diet that tends to upset them.

[lifeasweknowit]

i am allergic to timothy, i ran out of alfalfa hay today. right now she is on orchard grass, she seems to really like it, but i think she prefers alfalfa. i went to 2 different pet stores and i couldnt find any alfalfa! theres one pet store around 30 minutes from where i live that sells alfalfa hay (oxbow) but it seems ridiculous to drive there just to get a small 5$ bag of hay, i mean i could go there and buy some litter cause that’s where i go to buy my litter. i plan on introducing veggies when she is 12 weeks, is that alright?

[LBJ10]

Don’t all buns prefer alfalfa? LOL

It isn’t recommended when they get older. Oat hay is fine at any age, if Timothy doesn’t work for you.

[jerseygirl]

Potamus had oat hay from the start and she did fine.

There shouldn’t really be any oat in the hay as they cut it before the grain develops. You can test it by pulling apart the husk, there should be no hard grain at the centre. I sometimes bite it to be sure. Lol

[RabbitPam]

I wouldn’t bother to find alfalfa. Orchard Grass is also very good for bunnies, even young ones, so with either Orchard Grass or Oat Hay in the house, you’re fine.

[lifeasweknowit]

LOL true, LBJ10!

And ah, thanks for clarifying that jersey girl. I’m so clueless sometimes! And oh really? okay well that’s great! she is on alfalfa pellets, hopefully that’s enough alfalfa? I just don’t want to stunt her growth or jeopardize her health or anything by not providing enough calories or nutrients that’s present in alfalfa (hay)

[jerseygirl]

Oh don’t worry! I used to break off of that part of the hay. Haha. Now I’m not so fussy and they really like that part.

She should do fine on junior pellets and grass hay. Some rabbits go straight onto a Timothy pellet very young and they also so fine.

[lifeasweknowit]

alright! thanks

[Author]

Messages