Another Hay Question

[AbbyGirl]

Sorry again for all the questions.  I did a search first but didn’t find exactly what I was looking for.  I am wondering about buying from a farm.  My question is about the color.  Does it need to be really green like when you order from Oxbow?  I think with a 13lb bun I’d go broke real quick! 

I was at a friends farm today where they grow and bale their own hay.  I know it is not alfalfa but not sure if it was a mix or what type of grass hay it was.  It was not very green.  It was her 1st cut of the year and they were cutting again today.  I know it had no mold and was not exposed to water.  She feeds it to her cows, horses, llamas and goats.  It did smell good though.  Oh how I missed that smell. 

Sorry if I missed my answer somewhere.  Thanks again! 

[Sarita]

I think it sounds good. As long as Hugo likes it that’s what it important. You can ask her if she will give you a flake to see if Hugo will like it. Some hay, especially first doesn’t seem very green to me like the 2nd and 3rd cuts…especially once it dries out. You know it’s fresh though and it’s grass hay and that’s all you need to worry about.

[AbbyGirl]

Thank you. That is awesome to know. I now have one less thing to worry about. =)

[Moonlight_Wolf]

Yea I buy farm hay and the first cutting is not as green. I normally buy second cutting and that is normally pretty green, but if it in not super green it is ok. As long as it is not brown and yucky looking – like all the pieces are dead. Most farm hay is good stuff. There may be some hard brown bits, but I actually find my bunnies really like these bits!

Buying barn hay is a great way to save money. I don’t feel as bad throwing away soiled hay now that I get barn hay! And my buns actually won’t eat oxbow anymore because the baled hay is better!

[AbbyGirl]

I think part of the reason it doesn’t look as nice is because of the horrible weather we’ve had here this year. We got 15 inches of rain in July. They weren’t able to do a 2nd cut. Today was suppose to be a 3rd cut but is their 2nd and last of the season. They had too plant late too. Thanks for all the advice.

[jerseygirl]

Last year was hard for hay growers too I heard. I agree with Sarita, get a small amount 1st and see if it gets approved. By the way, don’t apologise for asking questions. It’s what the forums are for! And I think I speak for many, it’s always nice to see people learning about optimum pet care. We do this by asking questions.

[AbbyGirl]

Thank you. I feel better now.

[BinkyBunny]

Hay can really vary in the richness of color– many people think that because hay may not be really green, that it is not fresh or good. That is definitely not the case. Brown can happen for many reasons, (weather, how the hay leans while growing, the timing of the harvest, storage,etc), yet it can still be fresh and good for your bunny. As long as it is not dark dark brown and smells fresh then the main thing that is in tact is the fiber. Water damage can make hay darker, but you just have to be sure that it’s not mold (which will have a musty smell to it)

Nutrients are a little bit higher in green hay, but bunnies don’t get most of their nutrients from hay anyway—it’s all about the fiber when it comes to hay.

I have heard that hay for cows does differ in quality than what is typically given to horses, rabbits and smaller hay critters. I know that one of my own hay suppliers has a different quality of hay for cows, than they do for horses, rabbit, guinea pigs, etc) I really am not sure why that is, maybe the digestive differences somehow? I’ll have to look more into that and ask specifics.

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