Dead bird in hay bag…

[Deleted User]

As the title suggests, I was giving my boys a few handfuls of Oxbow botanical hay tonight, and as I fought with the bag to free the hay, out comes a dead bird. So what should I be concerned about? Signs to look for? Vet visits to be made? I have so so many questions. The boys have been munching on this bag for a week.

[Sirius&Luna]

This happened to me once as well, well a large wing of a bird. Not with Oxbow, with Readigrass. I was absolutely traumatised and horrified.

I emailed them, and they said it was most likely part of a bird left by a fox, and that their machines are designed to not pick up and crush small animals in the fields, and assured me that the bags were not usually full of small dead animals… But now I’ve heard it happen to someone else I’m not so convinced!

I wouldn’t be too concerned about the buns to be honest, I think they’ll probably be fine. Mine certainly were.

I did get sent four free bags from Readigrass too.

Edit: this is what they said to me about their hay cutting practice:

We routinely walk the fields to make sure any litter or unwanted items are removed.

Then we have a cutting practise, where the tractors move in a pattern that encourages wildlife to move out of their path. The blades are also set at a height that they are less likely to pick up any debris from the ground.

The most likely source of this wing, is that a fox or other small predator, has left it in the field; rather than a bird getting caught up in our machinery.

[Wick & Fable]

Let Oxbow know and I’m sure they’ll do something to compensate. They can also provide some information about potential precautionary measures!

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.

[joea64]

Never had anything like that happen to me yet, fortunately, though I did once find the remains of a dead bird in the grille of my car many years ago. Ick. I currently have a fresh bale of compressed timothy from Standlee, so I’ll be keeping an eye on it to see if anything is in there that shouldn’t be…

[Deleted User]

That’s good to know! S&L I totally get what you mean about being traumatized! At first I thought i was a hoof, so I threw the bag across the room. My hubs picked it up and was like oh it’s a dead bird. So I guess I touched it’s beak, which seriously still gives me the shutters. I dumped their hay racks out, swept the bottom of their cages, and washed everything. I was up until 1… I get up at 5.

[Deleted User]

Oh my !! I would die XD

[Sirius&Luna]

I am actually phobic of birds so I had a complete panic attack   My boyfriend had to do all the hay feeding for about a month afterwards I’ve managed to get over it now though haha, can’t really maintain a refusal to touch hay when you have rabbits 

I think a bird is slightly better than a hoof….  it’s a tough call. 

[Vienna Blue in France]

I recently found a looooong piece of wire in a bag of hay.

As with any claim, take a picture of the product and the foreign object, the batch number and any identifying features of the packaging.

Write (email) to customer services and ask for a refund and compensation.
They will usually apologise and send a goodie bag of freebies.

[Mikey]

…. This thread is really horrifying to read, lol   Very sorry to hear the both of you had to go through something like that! I could not imagine being in that situation and handling it very well.

Echoing that you should take a picture if still possible, then email it to them. Chances are, theyll compensate since you really shouldnt continue using that bag of hay. Good luck!

[Deleted User]

We’ve been affectionately calling him tweety all day. My husband wrapped the bag in 3 shopping bags and left it outside. So hopefully when I get home I can get a photo. I’m still really sceeved out though, and thinking about it makes me have like horrifying flashbacks. lol

[Deleted User]

LMFAO I thought you were saying you were calling one of the boys Tweety…. then I realized you’re talkin bout the damn bird XD XD

[DanaNM]

Oh jeeeez! That would be startling to the say the least….. or should I say, “starling”…eh? eh? …

I’ll see myself out…

Don’t really have much to add, just wanted to share that once I found a dead sparrow in my indoor cat’s basket of toys in our living room. It looked perfect, with its wings tucked in, almost like a museum specimen. I only noticed it because there was a bad smell coming from that area. This happened when we lived in a house, so our guess is that it got trapped in the garage, and was already dying or dead when my cat nabbed it. The odd part is that he decided to put it with all his other toys! So organized!

. . . 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.  

[Smokeyandthebandit]

This is my worst nightmare! I always buy a big bale of horse quality hay from a local farmer to use in the litter trays, its $5 for a huge bale and the boys do like to pick out some soft pieces. I would absolutely freak! We were keeping the bale in the barn and I would send hubby out to fill a rubbermaid bin as needed. well the last time we brought some he was harbouring a small furry fugitive. Took me 2 days to catch the bugger in the porch. Now we have a 189 L tub in the kitchen full of baled hay because im scared to death of mice!

[LittlePuffyTail]

I would just throw out the bag, e-mail Oxbow and try not to worry about it. I’ve found lots of feathers in a bag of Oxbow once. And the absolute worse thing I found was what looked like a big, hairy owl pellet….barf…… And I used to find huge, squished grasshoppers all the time but haven’t found anything gross in a while.

I’m sure Oxbow will replace the bag.

[Deleted User]

A&B what became of Tweety? XD

[Deleted User]

LMAO I love you. The hubs took him to the dump and he had a nice little burial. Petco offered to give us another bag of the botanical hay in exchange, but I was like nahhh I think I’ll just stick to the timothy+orchard combo thanks. XD

[Deleted User]

hahahaha how respectful to hold a little ceremony Probably a good idea to go with a different batch….You should have told the lady, “No thanks, I’m not interested in meeting any of Tweety’s family!” I would have probably burned my hand off if I grabbed a dead bird.

[Deleted User]

Hahahaha I keep telling John (hubs) that I have PTSD flashbacks to touching it. Seriously though, every time I’ve reached in a hay bag since I just keep replaying over in my mind. I guess it would make a horror sketch on a comedy show.

[Luna]

I would be horrified! And I thought grasshoppers were gross but yikes. Oxbow has great customer service. I would email them and tell them what happened and send them 1) a pic of Tweety 2) the Lot number 3) best by date 4) Place of purchase 5) Date of purchase and 6) Size and type of hay. 

[Bam]

Poor Tweety ?

I’m actually surprised there aren’t more gross findings in hay. Fields must be full of wildlife.

[Deleted User]

Tweety is now a local celebrity in my household XD You’re my hero A&B

[Deleted User]

LOL I’m glad to be of assistance! We all need a little spice in our lives.
PS… I keep hoping you’ll get an instagram for Ophelia so I can like ALL the photos and be a creep.

[Deleted User]

lmao I thought about making her one but I am SO terrible at social media! Like, I have my own Instagram and I have literally made 0 posts and I have 5 followers… 3 are family members, 1 is a doctor that I work with and the other is someone totally random XD

What’s your insta? I’m just there for the memes and the bunnehs!

[Deleted User]

I totally feel you on both of those! plus hubs is addicted to memes and I’m addicted to buns. He always asks if I get bored of looking at bunnies when I have my own… silly man! of course not. You can’t ever have too many cute bunnies… am I right?

its Asriel_and_Bombur

[Sirius&Luna]

Haha A&B you’ve actually given me flashbacks too! Make hubs do the hay for a bit!

And yes, seconding Ophelia Instagram please! Plus, there’s loads of people on Instagram you can tell off for doing things like bathing their rabbits BunNoob

[Deleted User]

hahahaha S&L! I feel like it’s slightly ok to say stuff on Instagram you can’t here… in the way of correcting people.

Also BN: SO funny… you’re name is literally the name of one of my college best friends. I’m laughing so hard right now.

[Deleted User]

bahaha “too many bunnies” what the hell is that ? I found you! Now I’m just gonna creep on everything for the next hour of work hahah. I haven’t liked a single post yet, so tell the boys they should feel special cause they’re my first like <3

also my name is Rebecca. so don’t be alarmed at some total weirdo stranger that just started following you and hasn’t used the account they’ve had for years XD

[Deleted User]

Oh man, S&L I must have such a reputation as a b!tch XD

[Deleted User]

At first I thought you were one of my other friends, with the exact same name. I was like that’s odd she already followed me a day ago when she got insta, and then I saw your picture and was like this is so weird!

[Deleted User]

WHAT
THE
HELL

LOL between our telepathy of posting the same responses at the same time and all the similarities in our lives…this is definitely weird! I’m also gonna creep through your followers and find the other bunny folks from BB!

[Deleted User]

HAHAHA I feel like we need to be pen pals or something. Kick it a little old school. And YES!! find them!

[Deleted User]

I dig old school, this new crap sucks. I barely even know how to work Instagram and that’s saying something about my lack of ability to communicate via social platforms XD

I love the hubs crazy curly hair! Corbin used to have long curly hair like that, but now he thinks he’s too grown up for that and keeps it short. BOO!!

[Deleted User]

A&B I’ll make you a deal. . . I’ll make Ophelia an insta if you make Tweety one XD

[Deleted User]

??? I tell him I’ll divorce him if he ever cuts them.

As for Tweety, that poor ship has sailed ?

[Azerane]

If you’re still having trouble with reaching into the hay bag, get yourself a pair of gloves to use when getting out hay I use a pair of gloves, but only because hay pokes cause me to break out in eczema.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Agreed, Bam. I’ve been a horse girl for like 25 years and in all those years, never once found anything gross. I would have been pretty horrified to split a bale and find a big ol dead animal in it. And I’ve done haying and it’s insane how super fast the tractor rakes and bales it. If there was anything in that field, it would end up in the hay. So def weird. But thankful.

[1and2bunns]

Wow if I found a dead bird in my hay I would totally freak out… Although when I used to order Oxbow I used to find a bunch of dead lady bugs… Which was annoying and was part of the reason I switched hay brands.

[Bam]

If there’d been a bird’s wing in my hay, Bam would probably eat it. There was an episode once with a pork rind, and yesterday when I was making stew for Effi (GSD dog), Bam came hopping into the kitchen and sat there, looking up at me, eyes full of hope. No sweetheart, buns can’t eat liver. It’s not good for them.

[Deleted User]

Hahahaha little eating and pooping machines.

[DanaNM]

eyes full of hope. No sweetheart, buns can’t eat liver. It’s not good for them.

“eyes full of hope” 

. . . 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.  

[Rain]

Yikes! I didn’t know whether to burst out laughing or wince for the bird when I read this. Mostly laughing! Poor tweety! Although it’s funny, it’s also horrible and I can’t imagine pulling a dead bird out of your rabbit’s hay. This scares me because I just went out and switched from Kaytee Hay to Oxbow, and I got him the Botanical hay! I hope it’s not something common to find dead birds and bugs in there! It sucks cause the hay is SOO good. Like, I’m not a rabbit, and I don’t eat the hay, but when you feel it and see how green and long and fresh it feels (I don’t know how I can describe dead grass as fresh.) compared to other brands like Kaytee it’s amazing! Man, Oxbow should get me to advertise for them or something. I could be standing there on TV ranting about how great Oxbow is. (except for the dead things)
My mom must have been cleaning the area around Rain’s cage or something, and must have found this tiny toy duck thing that was with one of Rain’s toys, and put it in his hay bag by accident. When I reached in and grabbed it I flipped. What a coincedence!
I feel bad for you A&B! And anyone else who dealt with that! Ack!

[Q8bunny]

Am I the only one here who thinks that would be cool? Kind of like, wildlife CSI? Plus: if you find tiny corpses in bags of hay, imagine finding a bundle of cash or jewelery!

[Deleted User]

Omg you guys! Stop it xD seriously so traumatic! I have to get them some hay to tide them over until their normal hay gets in, and I do have another bag of the botanical… but now I kinda would rather get them another bag instead.

[Q8bunny]

Try gloves or using the tiny rakes kids get for the beach – that way you can use the hay you have, but eliminate the traumatic sensation memory of touching non-hay

[Luna]

I once grabbed a yellow piece of paper out of Luna’s bale. I got really excited thinking it was like a Willy Wonka golden ticket and I won a free tour of the Oxbow facilities or free hay for a year! But it was just a piece of paper with the bag’s Lot number printed on it .

[Rain]

I found this weird brown fuzzy thing in Rain’s Orchard Grass right now!!! I wonder what it is. I don’t think it’s a dead animal. It could be an owl pellet, I’m not sure.

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

Yuck, those are awful findings

After several “surprises” I also started to pour the bags into a large plastic one to check for foreign objects. Nothing as bad as your surprises though, just things like unknown plant material, seed pods, and occasionally a piece of a plastic bag. We’ve tried several brands over the last years. We had Vitakraft Alp Meadow hay for some time, but I skipped it when we found another brand which suited us better. When I bought Vitakraft at the pet shop I often found unknown plant material in it, and I hesitate to give a rabbit an unknown plant because they’re so sensitive to poisoning.
Lately I’ve switched to a local brand “Best for your friend”, which I’m quite happy with. I still check vigorously, but it’s relatively clean compared to other brands. Breintje doesn’t care that it’s a bit more coarse and it’s dirt cheap too…

[MountainBuns]

Gross, I use horse hay and haven’t found anything so far but who knows maybe I will one day have my own weird hay encounter.

[MountainBuns]

Yup after reading all this I an NEVER buying Oxbow hay…

[OverthinkingBun]

Oh, wow. You all are cracking me up. Poor Tweety. You didn’t say what kind he was, but I feel so bad for ground-nesting birds in hay country. I’m the tiniest bit skeptical of the “it was killed by an adorable fox who did not eat it, not a giant baling machine” story.

I once opened a bag of hay that smelled like DEATH. I didn’t do a thorough investigation, but it smelled bad enough that I threw it outside until I could take it back to the store. The cashier tried to tell me all hay smelled like that, lol. Yah, ok, then I’m giving it to you as a present.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I once grabbed a yellow piece of paper out of Luna’s bale. I got really excited thinking it was like a Willy Wonka golden ticket and I won a free tour of the Oxbow facilities or free hay for a year!

Lol

[MountainBuns]

When I go to the farm to get some orchard grass, I hope I do not stumble upon any dead animals. Gross!

[Author]

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