Ordering the BIG box of Oxbow hay?

[Beka27]

Has anyone done this?  We went to the store yesterday for more hay and the woman there said that they just ordered a 50lb box of Timothy for another customer.  I was thinking about it and the price she gave me (70 bucks) could save us (I believe) about 130 dollars…  I have a request in for more info… I want to know if they can order it in the 25lb box, and if they can order it in orchard.  I saw that they offer the same on the Foster/Smith website for $60, but this doesn’t include shipping.  I know some people go to local farms for bales, but my only issues with that is: 1) what might be in the hay, 2) storage, 3) finding someplace reputable with good quality hay.  Knowing my luck, I would buy a bale and it would get snubbed.

My hsband is so terrified of creepy crawlies that I think if I even suggested getting a bale from a farm he’d freak out.  We’d have to store the hay in our house, so I don’t think that would work.

If someone has done the 50lb box:  what are the approximate dimensions of the box it came in?  Were you able to just keep it in the box for storage?  I currently store hay in a cardboard box, loosely closed.  Ideally, I could do the same with the big box.  Is it the EXACT SAME hay that’s sold in the little bags?

When I first started considering this my husband was like, “NO!  We are NOT buying a 50lb box of hay!”  Once I started crunching numbers he changed his tune…   Admit it, honey!  Our house belongs to buns!

Each 40oz bag is 2.5lbs.  I am paying approximately $10 a bag.  There are 20 “bags” (WOW!) in the big box.  20 bags x 10 bucks = $200.  My buns eat 2-3 bags a month, so the box could potentially last between 7-10 months…  Has anyone ever stored hay that long and it stayed good?

[Sarita]

It’s really a much better deal. I don’t remember the size of the box but it’s built differently (not as wide as the 25lb boxes)…I don’t think you will find it more difficult to store – I have a two 25lb boxes and another larger size box (which may have been from a 50lb box of hay from another company) in my rabbit room closet. I keep all my hay in the cardboard boxes for storage…is it the exact same hay, I imagine that it is, why would it not be…it actually might have longer stalks of hay than those crummy little bags too. I think you should do this.

[Sarita]

Also the box for their orchard grass is different too than their box for their 25lb box of timothy.

[bunnytowne]

I ordered a 30 lb mountain hay and it came in a 3 ft by 1 ft box fitted inside in a big plastic bag.  I put it under the bed due to inspections. My other hay containers are filled.

It lasts a good while is worth it.  Though with Leith petworks the S&H is the same for 3 oz to 30 lbs The S&H is pretty high for the 3 oz. 

I think it is a good deal if you can get that much from the pet store directly

[KatnipCrzy]

When I ordered the larger Zupreem amount it was obviously the end of a bale of hay- and the hay was stalkier- as though it was first cut.  Then buns did not seem to mind- but when I thought about paying X amount for the END of a bale of hay- that got me thinking.  The stuff in the bags (Zupreem) was softer because I think this stalkier (most likely first cut) hay would have poked thru the bags.

Good quality bale hay is not too scary at all- I was very hesitant to fill my hay bins at first and made hubby help me.  I had psyched myself out so much that I was convinced I heard a squeak when grabbing a handful- hubby patiently showed me there was nothing hiding in the hay and I have been much more relaxed about it since then.  If the hay is stored properly- then bulk amounts of hay are fine and clean and have no “critters”.

It makes sense to order the larger amount of hay and save money- then eventually maybe you can convince hubby that a bale of hay at $4-6 a bale is a steal.    But if you do not have anywhere to store it- that would be a problem.  I keep my bale in the garage wrapped in a old cotton blanket in our wheelbarrow (to keep it off the ground and keep it clean).  A bale lasts me about 6 months or so- and i waste more since I am not as worried about cost.

[Beka27]

Thanks everyone! I definitely want to do this! It sounds like such an enormous amount, but I’m glad it is “storable”… This same thing happened with the woodstove pellets. By the time I switched, I was kicking myself for not using it all along. All the money I could have saved.

I would probably try a bale if I had an outdoor area for storage, but I don’t… no garage, no shed… Maybe in the future if/when we buy a house, I can give a real bale a try. ;o)

I’m mildly annoyed b/c I’ve been buying my hay there for the past several months (once a month, 2-3 bags at a time!) and NO ONE working there told me they could order it in bulk… and I didn’t even think to ask! I’m so glad this woman told me this so at least now I know they can do it! I knew you could buy bulk online but it never crossed my mind to ask the petstore!

[Beka27]

Do you guys buy the bigger bulk bags of pellets?!

[Sarita]

I used to buy the bigger boxes well because I have 9 rabbits however I found that number one – it was HEAVY, heavier to me than the hay and number honestly I don’t feed my rabbits that much pellets that it wasn’t worth it just because of that. Also it’s a pain to repackage (take from the huge bag to my containers) so while it’s a better value, it’s did not work for me and since you only have 2 rabbits on limited pellets, I honestly don’t think it makes alot of sense to do this for you.

[KytKattin]

They accidentally gave me a box of this instead of my $50 bag of pellets. I don’t think it was 50lbs though as it didn’t seem that heavy to me. It looked good enough quality, but I was kind of in shock because $50 is a lot to pay for a rather small box of hay. The only reason I ordered the giant bag anyways is because Hubble is on unlimited pellets via 2 vets suggestions. Sure, he’s not a big rabbit, but it was worth it for me (plus I can’t drive right now so getting them more frequently is difficult).

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