Resistance to hay

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 10sd replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 9 months ago by Sirius&Luna.

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- 05/31/2018 at 7:37 PM
  OnyxMoon
  Participant
  260 posts
  Hey guys!
  
  So some of you may know, Onyx has been resistant to hay a lot in the past month or two. From recommendations on here and doing some research, Oxbow Orchard Grass Hay would be a good fit. He enjoyed it a lot more than the Timothy. He would get an 1/8-1/4 cup of pellets in the morning/afternoon, and his Hay rack would be full all day and then he would empty it overnight (sometimes he would empty it throughout the day, and i’d have to refill at night and again in the morning). That went on until late April / Beginning of May, when he started to refuse to touch the hay at all.
  
  We did switch over to buying it in bulk around that time, (a 9 pound bag) because we have two other Bunnies and a trio of Guinea Pigs that needed hay as well. They still enjoy it, Guinea Pigs will eat anything but the other bunnies also still like it. So i gave him a small bit of Alfalfa in the mean time (i had it already), because his poops were smaller and not as frequent. He was and still is on Baytril, so i was kind of panicking.
  
  He also had his back teeth checked while we were at the vet about two weeks ago, they said they looked normal, so i don’t think its a problem with his teeth. I’ve been giving him small amounts of Alfalfa mixed in with the rest of the hay to entice him, because he of course loves the Alfalfa, but he just picks out the pieces or wont touch it still. He still gobbles down his pellets though.
  
  So i was wondering if i could just give him Alfalfa? He gets so worked up and excited whenever i refill Rosalie’s hay feeder, and then looks mad because he doesn’t get any. I feel bad, but i also know that it isn’t the best to give adult bunnies Alfalfa because its high in calcium and is fattening, so i haven’t been giving him any on its own.
  
  Are any hays similar to Alfalfa, but not as bad for adults? Could it just be the bulk bag doesn’t taste as good as the small bags? I read that the smaller bags are handpicked. I’m worried his teeth will overgrow, as he is a smaller breed, if he doesn’t start eating more hay soon.
- 05/31/2018 at 8:29 PM
  Dface
  Participant
  1084 posts
  Have you ever tried mixing in the herbal mixes to his food? I use it with mine and it helps with picky rabbits
  Spraying hay with a pit of apple juice (not made from concentrate) can help as well ( but be sure to change they hay daily as wet hay goes mouldy)
- 05/31/2018 at 8:48 PM
  OnyxMoon
  Participant
  260 posts
  I haven’t tried mixing in herbal stuff but I’ve been thinking about it, what kinds would you recommend? I did try the apple trick, i used a clean garlic press to do it and it worked great , but i think he caught on as the last time i did that he sniffed like crazy at the hay but wouldn’t eat it. lol Apple is his favorite treat as well.
- 06/03/2018 at 3:19 AM
  Sirius&Luna
  Participant
  2320 posts
  I buy dried rose petals, marigolds, chamomile and cornflower. Then for leaves I get dried black currant leaves, strawberry leaves, birch leaves, dandelion leaves. They love it all! I think we have much better options for buying forage in Europe than you do in the US though
- 06/03/2018 at 3:47 AM
  OnyxMoon
  Participant
  260 posts
  I think I know just the place to go! I have a herbal shop near me that sells leaves for tea, I’m wondering now if its okay for bunnies to eat. its just plain tea leaves, I think they have strawberry leaves and possibly black currant. (Been a while since ive gone lol)
  
  Are roses safe for them as well? Just leaves or petals too?
- 06/04/2018 at 8:18 AM
  Sirius&Luna
  Participant
  2320 posts
  I think as long as there’s no added ingredients, and just dried leaves, it should be fine.
  
  The whole of a rose plant is safe
- 06/04/2018 at 12:11 PM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17029 posts
  Yes, all of the rose plant is fine. Raspberry leaves are often used for herbal teas, that’s often well liked by buns. Yarrow and goose grass are fine (other multi-purpose medicinal plants often used in teas).
- 06/13/2018 at 6:03 AM
  Eeyore&Piglet
  Participant
  2 posts
  I am also having this problem too. I tried the apple juice trick and tried adding the herbs but he just digs out the good bits and leaves the hay. He loves grass and will instantly gobble that up but we have a very small lawn and very limited amounts we can feed him. As an indoor rabbit I need to find a good hay alternative. Does anyone have any UK recommendations as I’ve looked for second cut hay but none of the packets reference that here. I’ve tried 4 packets now of hay which are all very green and a mix of Timothy and herbs but he still turns his nose up.
- 06/13/2018 at 6:39 AM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  Posted By Eeyore&Piglet on 6/13/2018 6:03 AM
  I am also having this problem too. I tried the apple juice trick and tried adding the herbs but he just digs out the good bits and leaves the hay. He loves grass and will instantly gobble that up but we have a very small lawn and very limited amounts we can feed him. As an indoor rabbit I need to find a good hay alternative. Does anyone have any UK recommendations as I’ve looked for second cut hay but none of the packets reference that here. I’ve tried 4 packets now of hay which are all very green and a mix of Timothy and herbs but he still turns his nose up.
  
  You might like to check out The Hay Experts based in the UK. Readigrass in another option for fussy rabbits but feeding too much of it is not advised.
  Does your rabbit get pellets? If so, are you able to cut back those to encourage more hay intake?
- 06/13/2018 at 6:40 AM
  sarahthegemini
  Participant
  5584 posts
  Posted By Eeyore&Piglet on 6/13/2018 6:03 AM
  
  I am also having this problem too. I tried the apple juice trick and tried adding the herbs but he just digs out the good bits and leaves the hay. He loves grass and will instantly gobble that up but we have a very small lawn and very limited amounts we can feed him. As an indoor rabbit I need to find a good hay alternative. Does anyone have any UK recommendations as I’ve looked for second cut hay but none of the packets reference that here. I’ve tried 4 packets now of hay which are all very green and a mix of Timothy and herbs but he still turns his nose up.
  
  Have you tried different types of hay rather than just timothy? Orchard and oat is usually well loved by bunnies. Mine have orchard as their staple hay. I use Oxbow. I’ve also just recently bought a sack of oat from timothyhay.co.uk which is fabulous! It’s so luscious and green.
- 06/13/2018 at 6:42 AM
  Sirius&Luna
  Participant
  2320 posts
  in the UK, I buy hay from timothyhay.co.uk. Unfortunately they only sell it in 9kg bags, so if you have a fussy bunny who might reject it, it might not be the best option. If you email them, I think they’ll send you a sample.
  
  Their cuts differ throughout the year – one of my friends has just bought the freshest 2018 batch, and apparently its very leafy and fresh, so might appeal to a bunny that loves grass.
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