Can you help me cut costs?

[Laura]

Right now, because of hubbys pay cut, we are struggling to pay our bills, I’m looking for a 2nd job, and it seems we don’t qualify for any assistance (mostly because we don’t have kids).  For my 4 bunnies I buy timothy hay (or orchard grass) by the bag which is $60 a month.  Litter (Feline Pine) is $20 a month. Straw (mostly for the 2 outside buns, but I put it in all litterboxes over the litter) we get by the bale and it lasts for a few months for $8. Then veggies $40 a month. And pellets (OxBow) $15 a month.

We used to get a 1/2 bale of timothy hay at the country store for $15 which lasted a few months.  But we stopped that when we bought a 1/2 bale and none of the buns would eat it.  We would try again a few months later and spent $15 and they didn’t eat it. 

Thanks,

Laura

[Furface]

Well could you try a different place for hay bales – I just bought 2 horse hay bales from a farm for $4 each. That will last my 4 smallish buns pretty close to all winter.
Wood Stove Pellets the same or very close to Feline Pine & are $6.99 for 40 pounds here at the big box hardware/building supply stores.
Do you have any space to grow some things inside? I’m going to try a baby leaf lettuce mix inside.

[BinkyBunny]

I know others will be along to help with the hay question. I know many find places to buy large quantities of great hay that their bunnies like, so you should have more advice/options about that too.

The Wood Stove Pellets that Furface was talking about is also a great way to save!

Also, IF you have a Farmers market near you – (We have them on the weekends), you can get greens for cheaper too. I used to buy them more in bulk and then cut the stems, put a damp paper towel at the stems, then wrapped them in a paper towel and stored them in a plastic bag or tupperware. Though you have to poke holes in the bags and tupperware. This would keep it fresh for about a week and half.

[KatnipCrzy]

I use woodstove pellets as litter- $5-6 for 40lbs.  And I buy a bale of hay from a local farmer.  $15 for half a bale of hay is crazy!  I spend about $4 on a full bale.  Try calling other feed stores or posting on Craigslist in your area under Farm and Garden that you are looking for high quality “horse” hay that is grass/timothy and that you are looking to buy one bale.

By saving money on bulk hay and pellets- I am still able to feed Oxbow pellets, treat hay (oat hay, smaller packaged hay for variety) and the veggies I buy are usually more “bulk”- such as Romaine, larger bunches of greens, etc.  I buy based on priced, quality and quantity.  My full grown Mini Lops only get 2 Tablespoons of pellets twice a day so a bag of pellets lasts a good long while.  For exaple- fresh mint is $2 a bundle right now at the grocery store- so instead of mint I buy parsley which is 79cents for a larger bundle.

 

[Toki+Pumpkin+Elmo]

Ok so this is what I do to cut the cost down

1. Depending on which veggies I buy, I go to different grocery stores. I like a variety of foods so I shop at different grocery stores anyway so it works for me. For cilantro, I go to Mexican grocery stores, $30 a bundle. for parsley, bok choy and watercress, I go to Asian grocery store. Bok choy is only $5 for a bag which has about 15 heads. See what stores are around you and shop around for prices. But also calculate gas cost and etc to make sure that it’s worth it.

2. Do you have Costco around you? They have 5 romain heads for $4. They also have big bag of spring mix, carrots, spinach very very cheap. I dont buy those because it’s so much that I would end up throwing out much of them. Ask you friends and family if they have Costco membership.

3. I stopped shopping at large pet stores. Shop at local feed store for litter and hay.

4. I also check websites like Craigslist frequently for people with horses that wants to sell their straw hay. You can stretch the cost of litter by adding some newspapers and straw hay in the litter box.

I hope this helps. It’s a difficult time right now. Good luck!

[KytKattin]

Wood stove pellets do tend to go up a dollar around my area when it starts getting cold, but one dollar is a lot less than the $17 it is now for Yesterdays News. It’s the only way I can afford 3 rabbits at this point with changing two of the boxes at least twice a week. If they lived on the stove pellets (like most small animals do) I wouldn’t use them, but for the rabbits, Hubble in particular, they are great! I have to wonder how YN can cost more as paper than actual wood does. I just don’t understand.

Grow your own food stuffs? Cilantro grows like a weed in my mom’s garden and I can go raid it when I want. Obviously that doesn’t work for colder areas, but if you have a window sill you might be able to get something growing.

Joining your local House Rabbit society can lead to some good deals. You might find others in your area that can split a bale of hay with you, or a bag of feed, or even just tell you where the discounts are.

Call around! Ask if there is a sale that might be happening, or at least find out what they have before you take the time to go someplace. Maybe even call a rescue and ask where they buy their stuff when they don’t get donations. If you buy something really cheap in bulk then you could also donate to a rescue (for instance, if you buy veggies in bulk for cheaper than you’d get for just one or two of the same thing).

[Beka27]

I get the 50lb box of Oxbow Orchard hay. It lasts a long while, costs about 70-80 dollars with shipping… but it is ABSOLUTELY worth it… I fuigured that by buying the big box rather than small 40oz bags, I would save over $200… I was going and dropping 25 bucks on the little bags every couple weeks and it was a ridiculous waste of money. Of course you can go even cheaper and get actual bales, but I personally have nowhere to store that much hay. If you do, that’s an option… if not, the 50lb box is very, very condensed and fits perfectly in my closet.

For litter, woodstove pellets or horse stall bedding is the best (cheapest) way to go.

[Furface]

There are different size bales too.

I don’t think anyone would have rome for a large round bale & it would last bunnies for years & years. LOL

The last small square bale was 4 feet long & 19 inches by 14 inches (I think). It was pretty heavy & awkward.

The 2 small square bales that I just got are the same 19 by 14 but only 29 inches long. Much more manageable.
I got 2 extra large moving boxes to store it. the boxes are 24 x 24 x 18 so I’ll have to peel off a couple of bale layers (sheefs?) & use that first.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I can certainly relate to your situation. I find the biggest expense (aside from vet bills) is hay. I was lucky for a few months and bought bales from a friend at $5 per bale and the rabbits loved the stuff. The new shipment she just got is not the same quality and I won’t feed it to my buns so back to the pet store for hay. That stuff is so insanely priced.

[TARM]

I use horse stall bedding, which is cheap but my brother bunnies don’t like it, which I didn’t realize until I had a lightbulb moment earlier this week. I put the icky, bottom of the hay-rack hay over the pine pellets and they started using it. I’m glad I was paying attention, tonight when I go home I’ll clean their cage and see how long it stays that way.

I buy my pellets in 50 lb bags from the feed store. It’s alfalfa based so I just feed less. I get my greens from the asian grocery store and spend about $5 a week on them. My goofy rabbits really only like lettuce and parsley.

The most expensive thing I get is hay…and I buy it from the rescue for $1 a pound. I buy it $20 lbs at a time and it’ll last 2-3 weeks.

[kralspace]

I use the wood pellets and coastal hay in the litter boxes. They love munching it and I can get a good 40lb bale at the feed store for $8, lasts forever.

Check for rabbit rescues around you, I can go to the one in Dallas and get the big (25 lb?) box of oxbow timothy for feeding for only $30-35 dollars and don’t pay any shipping. For 6 rabbits, it will last almost 4 months.

[Deleted User]

Use your utilities bills by shredding them and filling your rabbits’ litterboxes with that. j/k!

–seriously, sometimes when I’m out of littermaterial I just use newsprint. My local library collects it for me annd I always have lots.

[Hedi]

Your costs are high! I have 4 rabbits myself and I can get a 50lb box of Timothy hay for $35. My local HRS (thats an hr away) buys Oxbow food and hay and then we dont have to pay shipping. Shipping Hay from Oxbow can be pricey but probably cheaper than what you are doing. (Like Beka said…shipping makes it expensive).The hay at petstores usually is a real rip off. With my 4 buns that big of a box will last at LEAST 4-6 months and they get it unlimited.

Do you have a local HRS that you can talk to and see if they have a store that you can buy from? Buying from them will also in turn help their buns too. OR…heres an idea..talk your Humane Society into stocking Hay if they have a store. We were able to talk our HS into buying and stocking bunny supplies from online.

Right now is the perfect time to buy the Wood Stove Pellets- a 40lb bag is something like $5 here in Ohio. The farmer stores like Tractor Supply Stores carry it for those who use the wood pellets to heat their homes.

One thing to try with veggies- having 4 buns I probably spend about $15 a week in veggies (cant help it-they are spoiled). People have suggested to me to talk to the produce people- they throw out an insane amount of veggies every single week. Im not saying to feed your buns rotten veggies but talk to the manager of that dept and see if you can get stuff every week that will be going bad. You may have to make more trips or it might work out its only helpful sometimes but worth asking about!

[Laura]

Posted By Toki+Pumpkin+Elmo on 10/19/2009 09:51 PM
Ok so this is what I do to cut the cost down

1. Depending on which veggies I buy, I go to different grocery stores. I like a variety of foods so I shop at different grocery stores anyway so it works for me. For cilantro, I go to Mexican grocery stores, $30 a bundle. for parsley, bok choy and watercress, I go to Asian grocery store. Bok choy is only $5 for a bag which has about 15 heads. See what stores are around you and shop around for prices. But also calculate gas cost and etc to make sure that it’s worth it.

2. Do you have Costco around you? They have 5 romain heads for $4. They also have big bag of spring mix, carrots, spinach very very cheap. I dont buy those because it’s so much that I would end up throwing out much of them. Ask you friends and family if they have Costco membership.

3. I stopped shopping at large pet stores. Shop at local feed store for litter and hay.

4. I also check websites like Craigslist frequently for people with horses that wants to sell their straw hay. You can stretch the cost of litter by adding some newspapers and straw hay in the litter box.

I hope this helps. It’s a difficult time right now. Good luck!

 

I don’t shop at pet stores.  Just the Country Store for litter, straw and timothy hay/orchard grass.

Costco, yes, okay.

I wish my buns liked bok choy, it’s cheap.

[Laura]

Posted By Hedi on 10/20/2009 06:45 PM
Your costs are high! I have 4 rabbits myself and I can get a 50lb box of Timothy hay for $35. My local HRS (thats an hr away) buys Oxbow food and hay and then we dont have to pay shipping. Shipping Hay from Oxbow can be pricey but probably cheaper than what you are doing. (Like Beka said…shipping makes it expensive).The hay at petstores usually is a real rip off. With my 4 buns that big of a box will last at LEAST 4-6 months and they get it unlimited.

Do you have a local HRS that you can talk to and see if they have a store that you can buy from? Buying from them will also in turn help their buns too. OR…heres an idea..talk your Humane Society into stocking Hay if they have a store. We were able to talk our HS into buying and stocking bunny supplies from online.

Right now is the perfect time to buy the Wood Stove Pellets- a 40lb bag is something like $5 here in Ohio. The farmer stores like Tractor Supply Stores carry it for those who use the wood pellets to heat their homes.

One thing to try with veggies- having 4 buns I probably spend about $15 a week in veggies (cant help it-they are spoiled). People have suggested to me to talk to the produce people- they throw out an insane amount of veggies every single week. Im not saying to feed your buns rotten veggies but talk to the manager of that dept and see if you can get stuff every week that will be going bad. You may have to make more trips or it might work out its only helpful sometimes but worth asking about!

 

My local Humane is where I volunteer at, and it’s small place, they don’t have much of a store (it’s in the adoption room, dog collars and cat toys is about it).

[Laura]

I looked into buying wood pellets about 2 years ago and didn’t. I read the ingredients of the pellets and was afraid of all the stuff in it, so I didn’t get it.

All the farmers markets end in Sept/Oct around here. They usually don’t have much of a selection anyway.

I am not able to grow veggies inside, my cats would get it.

[Laura]

Posted By KatnipCrzy on 10/19/2009 08:37 PM

I use woodstove pellets as litter- $5-6 for 40lbs.  And I buy a bale of hay from a local farmer.  $15 for half a bale of hay is crazy!  I spend about $4 on a full bale.  Try calling other feed stores or posting on Craigslist in your area under Farm and Garden that you are looking for high quality “horse” hay that is grass/timothy and that you are looking to buy one bale.

By saving money on bulk hay and pellets- I am still able to feed Oxbow pellets, treat hay (oat hay, smaller packaged hay for variety) and the veggies I buy are usually more “bulk”- such as Romaine, larger bunches of greens, etc.  I buy based on priced, quality and quantity.  My full grown Mini Lops only get 2 Tablespoons of pellets twice a day so a bag of pellets lasts a good long while.  For exaple- fresh mint is $2 a bundle right now at the grocery store- so instead of mint I buy parsley which is 79cents for a larger bundle.

 

I think $15 for a half bale is great because it lasted for months.  Right now I spend that on 3 bags that lasts 2 weeks.

I will be checking Craigslist, thanks.

 

[Furface]

You want wood pellets with no accellerant.

[Furface]

My bag says
100% Wood
No Bark
No Additives
No Chemicals

[RabbitPam]

I found the Feline Pine pellets at the grocery store for less than at the pet stores. As safe pellets go for litter, I think you can get a very large bag for cats that will be very cheap.

There’s a local farmer’s type market near me that has fresh vegetables, and they sell to restaurants as well as the public. (Like Costco does). They might not be cheaper, but they have HUGE heads of romaine and other lettuces, plus something is always on sale. Since you’re buying for several bunnies, it would be good to find one near you if you can. You can even ask a local restaurant that specializes in salads where they get their fresh produce. They might steer you to a supplier that will work with you.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I buy my hay in a local feed store, it’s works out to about 7$ a month.
I buy my pellets from there too, made by masterfeeds. It’s 16$ for 55lbs. That works out to about 3-4 months of food for 4 rabbits, two large and two medium.
I buy my veggies I buy at Walmart-I couldn’t calculate a cost on those as I just buy for all of us-parsley and stuff it their veggies but mostly the bunnies share with me.

So even though I have four-it’s VERY cheap. Minus veggies-10$ a month or so.

[Deleted User]

Posted By Kokaneeandkahlua on 10/21/2009 03:42 PM

I buy my pellets from there too, made by masterfeeds. It’s 16$ for 55lbs. That works out to about 3-4 months of food for 4 rabbits, 

— That is so cheap it seems almost ‘wrong’, you know?.  Is it a breeders’ ration? I wonder why the Tmothy-based pellets have to be so much more expensive, even if purchased in bulk.

[Deleted User]

Another way to cut costs is if you can get your friends/coworkers to save things like carrot tops for you, organic apple peels or parsley stems etc.

[Laura]

OK, I found a BALE of orchard grass for $13, it will last MONTHS.

AND a 40 pound bag of horse stall pellets for $5.

OMG.

THANK YOU ALL for your help and suggestions!

Next thing I will look into is cheaper pellets. Right now I get OxBow, ouch.

[Moonlight_Wolf]

Thats great! But just in case you want another opinion, I get my veggies at BJ’s (I get four romaine hearts for a good price, I’m not sure how much) I also buy wood stove pellets and get a forty pound bale of hay for five dollars. Luckily I just drive over to the hay place and the hay is nice and green and the bunnies love it!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

That is so cheap it seems almost ‘wrong’, you know?. Is it a breeders’ ration? I wonder why the Tmothy-based pellets have to be so much more expensive, even if purchased in bulk.

They are timothy Just locally produced! They are also plain with no junk and low calcium content

[Deleted User]

KK, that is amazing. Where do you get it, which store in Edmonton?

[jerseygirl]

Good to hear you’ve had some success Laura!  I’ve just revived a thread in the Lounge that is full of general day-to-day cost effective living tips if you’re interested in looking. It was from earlier in the year but still relevant and times are still tough for many.  It’s just frugal living stuff that’s useful for anyone really.

https://www.binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/a…spx#138900

[Deleted User]

Posted By Kokaneeandkahlua on 10/28/2009 03:55 PM

They are timothy Just locally produced!

Never mind, I found a store that carries the Masterfeeds! It is Canadian product, maybe that’s why it’s cheaper to buy for us. I never understood why the timothy pellets should be more expensive than alfalfa. Thanks, KK, that’s a great find. The cheapest timothy-based feed I used to be able to get is Zupreem at $ 45 for 20 lbs.

[Deleted User]

Posted By Laura on 10/27/2009 09:07 PM
OK, I found a BALE of orchard grass for $13, it will last MONTHS.

AND a 40 pound bag of horse stall pellets for $5.

OMG.

THANK YOU ALL for your help and suggestions!

Next thing I will look into is cheaper pellets. Right now I get OxBow, ouch.

 

If you are going with alfalfa pellets measure skimpily, it’s better to give too little in alfalfa pellets than too much.

For making the hay go farther I give my rabbits the hay fines in a bowl.

[Beka27]

If you can save money with litter and cheap, good quality hay, you might consider keeping them on the Oxbow pellets. They really are good and if fed sparingly, will last quite awhile.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Never mind, I found a store that carries the Masterfeeds! It is Canadian product, maybe that’s why it’s cheaper to buy for us. I never understood why the timothy pellets should be more expensive than alfalfa. Thanks, KK, that’s a great find. The cheapest timothy-based feed I used to be able to get is Zupreem at $ 45 for 20 lbs

I’m glad you found it !! It’s wonderful food, the analysis is on the tag on the bag (I couldn’t find it online) but they’re pretty standard good timothy pellets. I’ve been feeding that for I think a year or so? They all preferred it to Oxbow and LIttle Martins (Extruded pellet and they all previously loved that…) So it’s an easy to feed pellet too.

It seriously a needed staple when you have so many buns!! :p

[Deleted User]

Posted By Kokaneeandkahlua on 11/02/2009 09:04 AM

I’m glad you found it !! It’s wonderful food, the analysis is on the tag on the bag (I couldn’t find it online) but they’re pretty standard good timothy pellets. I’ve been feeding that for I think a year or so? They all preferred it to Oxbow and LIttle Martins (Extruded pellet and they all previously loved that…) So it’s an easy to feed pellet too.

I went to buy them on Friday at my feed store but what they had ordered in for me must be another kind of pellet. It was called Masterline and was all alfalfa. Maybe when I get to Edmonton before x-mas I will check there.

[Laura]

They get OxBow Timothy hay now and they get 1/4 cup a day, can I really give them less than that?  They eat it all, I would feel bad if I gave them less.

Looked into Purina Rabbit Chow, but it doesn’t meet the requirements listed under Bunny Info/feeding.

[Deleted User]

I’m not familiar with Purina Rabbit Chow, but they seem to make a high fiber pellet as well. Did you compare that one to the guidelines?

http://www.purinamills.com/OurProducts.aspx

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

went to buy them on Friday at my feed store but what they had ordered in for me must be another kind of pellet. It was called Masterline and was all alfalfa. Maybe when I get to Edmonton before x-mas I will check there.

That’s awful!!

Are you coming to Edmonton at xmas? You have to come for a visit!!!

G&E on Whyte carries it and it’s always in stock (they are called G&E vet pharmacy, and that’s what they started off as, now they carry more stuff then petsmart) the kibbles are in the horse section

[Deleted User]

G&E rocks. I think it’s my favorite store. Never checked in the horse section though.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Back wall-their are racks of white bags of masterfeeds-rabbit is the middle or so

G&E rocks

LOVE that place. Get paid tomorrow-going shopping!!!

[Deleted User]

Yes, you reminded me that I needed some stuff from there, too. –I placed my order yesterday. Don’t think I’m going with the Masterfeeds in the end. This company only makes one kind of rabbit food as I found out and it’s alfalfa-based and also has oats in it. That’s too rich for mine. especially, as my batch of hay this year is on the rich side alread (because of birdsfoot-trefoil). I really have to watch my rabbits’ weight. Except for Mops everybunny puts it on fast. As Beka pointed out the pellets go a long way so I might just stick with the more expensive kind. I think your rabbits might be larger than mine, KK, plus, yours have a room to run around 24/7 — mine are in a condo half the time and winter coming has shut down the patio for them. I don’t know why but my rabbits don’t exercise half as vigorously in the house as on the patio. Indoors they tend to do a lot more loafing than binkying. No binkies = less pellets.

edit: I started a discussion over in Diet & Care about pellet dust, how are the MF pellets for that?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I think your rabbits might be larger than mine, KK, plus, yours have a room to run around 24/7 —

Oh yes!! Rupert by far is bigger then deirdra, Chuck is chubby (But his history-he’s not obese so it’s fine by me! He’s deserved it!) he’s quite large. Kahlua and Noot are smaller but still bigger then dwaves-like Noot is supposed to be a nethy but as Beka pointed out he’s a cross somewhere-he was ridiculously small when I brougt him home and he has the huge eyes/little ears-but body size (he’s quite fit) is big-around 3-4 lbs

No binkies = less pellets.

Hahah that’s a super rule

I think they binky more in a ‘new’ area…like dogs and cats practice predatory behavior as play, rabbits practice evasion as play-not saying binkies aren’t playing, but they do them more in a new area. I change the habit layout regularly to enourage activity. Kokanee always was active, but I think dutch bunnies=lab dogs lol

I’ve found mixing things up encourges aerobics

[DeVaStAt0r]

i may have to follow K&K around when i’m getting gizmo’s hay and pellets haha.

Can i have your licence plate number?

haha kidding

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Yeah no prob!! LOL

Are you in Edmonton??? I thought…for some reason you did live here…if so…then yes, I will take you to G&E heheh

[Deleted User]

Who would think it could be this hard to get the info on a pellet? — G&E didn’t even know what is in the Masterfeeds.

It is a commercial ration, hence the sweet deal. However, it’s pretty decent by comparison with a fiber content that sits at 20% (am I reading this right? Elrohwen maybe knows how to read nutritional info like this with a min. and max) And my co-op store was wrong about it containing whole oats so I think I may give it a try. I was thinking of going half and half with this pellet and Zupreem to offset my cost a bit. Is this a bad idea? (Sixteen dollars for fifty-five pounds is so hard to pass up. )

I will post nutritional analysis here and ingredients. It is high in protein, too high for my mini rexes but OK for my long-haired Mops. Argh. Am I doomed to feed my rabbits separately to save $?

Masterfeeds

Ingredient Name
ALFALFA DEHY PELL
WHT SHORTS -BA
WHEAT, GRD ONT
SOYMEAL 48
OAT HULLS
BARLEY, GRD W
[20P] RABBIT-5310-20/2
SALT MICRO
LIMESTONE-GRD
LIGNO-2X
DICAL-PHOS
DL-METHIONINE

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MASTERFEEDSPRIVATE

(VP) RABBIT PELLETS 16%

M‑700940

 

THIS FEED CONTAINS ADDED SELENIUM AT 0.100 MG/KG.

 

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS:

CRUDE PROTEIN (MIN. %)  16.00  VITAMIN A (MIN. IU/KG) 11,000

CRUDE FAT (MIN. %)       2.50  VITAMIN D (MIN. IU/KG)  1,500

CRUDE FIBRE (MAX. %)    20.00  VITAMIN E (MIN. IU/KG)     50

CRUDE FIBRE (MIN. %)    15.00  CALCIUM (ACT. %)          1.0

SODIUM (ACT. %)          0.30  PHOSPHORUS (ACT. %)      0.60

                              

A LIST OF THE INGREDIENTS USED IN THIS FEED MAY BE OBTAINED

FROM THE MANUFACTURER OR REGISTRANT. (???weird!)

 

KK: The bag is huge. It would last me like a year. I don’t want to buy it and regret it. Tell me if this pellet is dusty at all?

 

 

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

WEIRD!! The stuff I buy at G&E is timothy based

At any rate-not dusty at all Actually it’s a huge bag and no real pellet dust! BUT seriously I’d watch which one you buy and ensure it’s not alfalfa based-I know someone once bought a bag of it and it was alfalfa based. BUT I’ve never seen alfalafa based at G&E???
The one I buy (it’s master feeds) has 22% fibre, and 0.5% calcium-so I’m thinking it must be diff from that you posted?

[Deleted User]

*confused*

[Author]

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