Concerns about hay and pesticides

[Adam]

To be economical, I had been buying mini bales of timothy hay from tractor supply Co for my bunnies. 

Now that one of them has died suddenly, without a cause I can understand, I’m questioning everything.

Does anyone know if that hay, since it isn’t exactly intended for small animals vs horses, might contain a harmful amount of chemicals?

Also, the last two bales I got (I tossed the first one and found all of the rest were the same) were super dry and pale colored, but I have little choice for affordable options.  Is this hay, dry as it is, harmful?

Thanks for any answers.

[DanaNM]

Sorry for you loss

Hmmm, too my knowledge the main concern with hay is if it has gone moldy, which is usually dark and musty smelling. Did the hay smell good? Or did it have a musty smell? I recently tried some hay from my mom’s supply for her horses, and my bunnies turned their noses up at it, but I think it had absorbed the barn smells and just didn’t smell fresh anymore.

I’m not sure about the pesticide thing, but I doubt it…. I imagine if there was a difference like that the “small animal” hay companies would be advertising it as such.

How are your other bunnies doing? Pooping and eating OK?

. . . 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.  

[Bam]

Dry pale hay has fewer nutrients than green hay. It still has the fiber the buns need though, and if it’s pale due to sunlight exposure, it can have good amounts of vitamin D.

As Dana says, smell is important. never feed hay that doesn’t smell good. Some pathogens generate no smell though. In general, hay for horses is good for buns, but hay is variable and proper storage is key.

I don’t know about pesticides in hay.

[Boymom4]

Everyone else is right about mold and aging being a potential issue.
To answer your question about pesticides, no, farmers don’t spray hay fields because grass is naturally pest resistant and the cost would destroy any hope of a profit.
The only way it would have likely had any pesticide exposure would be if a cross wind carried it from another field of some other kind of crop, however it would be a very small amount and rain and weather would probably have long since washed it away. Hay is generally harvested twice a year and not during the most likely season for spraying other fields.
Sorry to hear about your loss.

[Boymom4]

I feel I should add, if the hay was dry and pale without kicking up plumes of dust (which would be mold), it was probably not toxic, just old and less nutritious. I highly doubt what you describe as being the cause of your bunny’s death, however picking brighter green looking, sweet smelling, bales as much as possible will be best in the future.
You shouldn’t worry about buying bales rather than the expensive pet store hay. It’s just fine so long as it’s fresh and your rabbit will eat it.

[Bam]

Thank you, Boymom! It’s so great to have someone here who really knows about hay!

[Author]

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