Hay rack?

[caudex]

I tried introducing a hay rack last week, cos I waste so much putting in straight in the litterbox. Liam is still getting used to hay, he wasn’t given any at the shelter, and Sophie feels the need to jump directly onto it and smash it flat, eat what’s in front of her face, then the rest is “no good” to either of them. So, a hay rack, one of those simple wire ones from the tractor supply store, over the litterbox, with some hay hanging down to get their attention. I SAW them nibble, I know they know what it is.

They won’t touch it. No matter how loosely I pack it, how much I pull out to coax them. I even tried tucking a raisin inside. It was expertly extracted by my Mission: Impossible bunnies. One night, I stocked it thoroughly and skipped out on their nightly grain, figuring there was plenty of clean hay if they wanted it, no one would starve. It was untouched in the morning, and they circled around me thumping until I gave in and put loose hay and grain down, then they attacked it, making it clear that Mom was such a jerk for letting them go without.

Stubborn little wretches! Did your buns prefer a certain design, or did they just need a lot of persuasion that it was a good idea?

[Stickerbunny]

My buns won’t eat hay out of a hay rack, nor out of a litter box (well, they’ll it when it’s JUST put in, but after the litter box is soiled… no way!), what I ended up doing was getting a HUGE cardboard box big enough for both of them and putting hay in that, with the front side cut off to give them access. I also have a playbox I make up for them sometimes, with shredded paper and I sprinkle hay on top of it and they will jump in and forage in it for treats.

[Mandyyy]

Nava doesn’t like the hanging hay rack, but she likes her hay basket. It’s just a small basket that is safe if she chews it, and I fill it with hay.

[Yuki Kathleen]

My bunnies have used many different kinds of hay racks and i didnt like any because they all made a mess and it was annoying to refill them so i just put the hay in their litter box and they seem to like it..

[kinggoblin]

Mine liked a eating out of a rack but it was messy, and I put a big handful of hay in his litter box daily that he eats up, but I also have a hay box I bought off etsy that he eats out of too, but eating has never been a problem with my bunny, he devours everything, I’m surprised he is still so lean.

Also, have you tried mixing up the hays? Mine goes crazy for botanical or herbal blends, but he also likes all the different compact bales binkybunny sells.

[caudex]

Unfortunately, it’s a two-fold problem that started when I got Liam. Sophie used to ALWAYS eat her hay. I’d put a big bunch in her litterbox twice a day, and she ate all but what was soiled.

Liam didn’t have hay at the shelter, so he doesn’t eat much more than a few bites when it’s fresh. He steps on it, and tosses it, both of which render it incompatible with the tastes of Her Highness. Now she steps on it first so that it’s “hers.” I also would want a mounted rack rather than a box cos Liam plays by throwing things. He’s strong. He picked up and tossed my heavy ceramic teacup yesterday– while it was full. I give him toys and encourage him to play how he wants, but a flipped over box every day doesn’t help the waste or the neatness.

The secondary problem is that now that Liam has taught Sophie she doesn’t “have” to eat her hay, they’re both major pellet fiends. My routine hasn’t changed– a quarter cup, twice a day, at the time they go back in their pen. But now they’re begging and attack it like they’re starving, cos they won’t eat the hay. I changed brands and kinds, they have orchard grass right now. Nope. They would rather not eat it and be hungry for pellets. They’re snubbing greens too.

[kinggoblin]

This is the hay rack I was using but it was messy, he liked to stand under it from the outside and pull hay out or knock it off the cage and it was hard to fill without getting lots on the floor. http://www.petco.com/product/115964/Petco-Hay-Rack.aspx

This is what I am using now, and my rabbit likes to pick up and throw/slam things ( he has broken 3 heavy crocks of his and is now working on the dog’s that are his size ) and push things and he hasn’t been able to move this, the only thing he has done is taken off the lid so he can eat the hay through the top. http://www.etsy.com/listing/89490156/rabbit-hay-box

[Sam and Lady's Human]

A 1/2 a cup is a lot, I’d cut back to 1/4 cup daily.

Try buying botanical and mixing it it/burying it in the orchard pile. That will get my buns to eat like, a huuugge pile in no time. I also put the hay in a separate cardboard box and fluff it daily, and then switch it out every couple of days.

[Eepster]

 I use a “bygel” wire basket from Ikea for Porky’s hay.  

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90072648/

Though it keeps the hay up and out of his litter pan, the top is open so he doesn’t have to pull the hay out from between the wires. I put a dowel in the grids to hang it from.  The tray in the bottom of it come out.

Porky does get fussy about his hay sometimes.  It seems that some bags just taste better than other bags of the exact same variety.  Sometimes I buy a new bag of hay and even though it’s the same brand (oxbow) and the same variety (orchard grass) each time it’s a crap shoot if he’s going to start chomping down on it happily or turn his nose up at it till I get a new different bag. 

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