Would this be OK hay?

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This topic has 6sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 2 years, 10 months ago by DanaNM.

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- 01/03/2022 at 2:28 AM
  KieranKD
  Participant
  3 posts
  Hey! I feed my rabbits Orchard grass hay and in my area it tends to run 5-10 dollars higher (sometimes more) than timothy, especially at my local feed stores. I can buy 50 lbs of timothy for $24, while the biggest bale I can find locally of orchard is 10 lbs and $20. I can’t feed my rabbits timothy because I am SEVERELY allergic to it, I’m still allergic to orchard but it’s the difference between being midly itchy and going into a severe asthma attack the second I open the bag.
  
  and anyway, long story short. My local feed store sells 50 lb bales of an orchard/alfalfa mix for a similar price to the timothy bales. I understand alfalfa is really too rich for an adult rabbit to be their main hay source. My question is, would you feed this mix or would you just avoid it altogether because of how rich alfalfa is? Thanks
- 01/03/2022 at 3:10 AM
  GlennTheLionhead
  Participant
  377 posts
  Hey!
  
  What a tough situation to be allergic to hay :/
  
  This is a really random thing to add but have you tried haylage? My friend has a horse that is allergic to hay so she feeds him haylage. A couple of places on Google say this is also fine for rabbits. That way you could possibly feed Timothy haylage or find a cheaper haylage alternative, so perhaps that’s a way around it, just a thought and would be better than feeding alfalfa for adults.
  - 01/03/2022 at 5:24 AM
    KieranKD
    Participant
    3 posts
    Oh yikes, I’ve never seen a horse allergic to hay before, I bet that’s not fun. I haven’t tried it, I’m nervous to just buy it since the buns are in my bedroom but if I can find it in a store I can always sniff it and see what happens haha. I don’t mind taking the L for the hay that works for me (reactions are very similar to season reactions with orchard), just sucks bc the cheapest brand I can find in bulk is still $50, but at least it lasts a while
- 01/03/2022 at 6:06 AM
  Bam
  Moderator
  16965 posts
  You could perhaps find a hay that’s neither timothy nor orchard? There are many types of grass hays, for example brome, fescue, rye grass (not from the cereal rye) and also oat hay.
  
  If you can get the hay analysis for the orchard/alfalfa you could perhaps adjust your bun’s diet accordingly. It’d mean going pellets free and avoid other calcium sources, because the problem with alfalfa is its high protein-and calcium levels.
  
  Hay silage can be a last resort for rabbits that are allergic or extra sensitive to hay dust, but it spoils quickly since it’s wet. It should be consumed soon after opening a bale. That’s fine if you have horses because they eat heaps, but it’d be impractical for a rabbit.
- 01/03/2022 at 6:16 AM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  My suspicion is that the amount of alfalfa may be too high in the mixed bales (or your buns would just start picking out all the alfalfa).
  
  I agree you could look for other types of grass hay, such as oat, bermuda grass or rye grass.
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 01/04/2022 at 8:07 AM
  Cinnimon&Ollie
  Participant
  303 posts
  Oat hay is really high in fat and more of a treat so that shouldn’t be the main hay. Maybe you could order online, binky bunny, small pet select, oxbow are some.
- 01/04/2022 at 11:15 AM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  Oat hay is a healthy primary hay source for rabbits as long as they don’t selectively eat only the seed stalks and ignore the grassy parts. Different cuts of oat hay also have different amounts of seeds. I was feeding my buns oat for a while to see to entice a chronically ill bun to eat and they had the most beautiful round golden poops.
  
  Feeding a variety of hays is great too.
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
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