Oxbow Oat Hay – Have you tried it?

[BinkyBunny]

 Today I found out that the Oat hay sources here locally are not able to deliver the kind of quality we want this year. (It’s been a hard year for grain hay here). 

But I know we have alot of Oat hay lovers and so I would like to offer at least another option like Oxbow Oat Hay. Has anyone tried it? And if so, what are your thoughts on it.   This year’s Timothy and Orchard seem to be excellent  (we sell the smaller 40oz/3lb bags so I can only speak for that size currently) and I am hoping that they are having better luck with Oat than some of the Northern California/West Nevada farms have been having. 

 

[luvmyhunybuny]

We have tried it but it was our first time trying the Oxbow Oat. My buns did not like it But they seem to prefer a softer, sweeter hay.

[LoveChaCha]

Miss Chacha loves the shiny golden oat hay

She wasn’t fond of the Oxbow brand.. but yet again – you are getting advice from someone whose bunny is fussy pants over her hay

[misdh]

I have never seen the oat for sale around where I live-but they have all the other types. Alfalfa king has a great mix of oat, wheat, and barley that my buns love. I just ordered some oat hay from the BB site. Will I still get it?

[Stickerbunny]

Powder was a fan of oxbow oat – it was thick and crunchy like the fresh grass he favors, so was a hit. Stickers wasn’t as fond of it, but it went through her “I like this hay this day” cycle and she ate a little. I don’t buy it too often though since it’s pretty much just a variety option for him.

[Malp_15]

Tait likes it, but it isn’t his favourite. I use it more as a treat hay

[MimzMum]

Oh dear. I just opened my last bale of BB.com mature oat and was going to order more, but….a bad batch this year? Say it ain’t so!

I do have a storage box full of the Oxbow and find it to be very different from the oat you sell, BB. It is greener for one thing, and contains many seedheads, but it is a nice quality and keeps pretty well, hardly any dust. Now for Pip this is okay, and she will eat it, but Mimz and Fiver give it a paws down. (technically, Fiver can’t have any hay that is too dry, it causes his gut to slow down, which means ANY oat is out…Mimzy will nibble at it, but he prefers softer hays)

I’d say it’s nice quality overall, I don’t doubt it will make some bunnies happy. I’m glad Pip is the only one who eats the BB.com mature oat though, or it would be hard to replace. It’s my hay of choice especially for moulting season.

I have to second that previous question…is there any more of the BB.com stock to be had? I should probably get a few more bales. (Dibs! lolz…)

[TriBun]

 I’m guessing this is the quality issue you’re talking about BB:

 

They’re all over in my oat hay.  I’m glad you’re looking for other options

[RabbitPam]

Oh no! Sammy’s favorite is the Mature Oat Hay also, and yours is always the best. It’s nice of you to be honest with us about not living up to your standards this year. It’s such an unlucky year for so many people and things lately.

I will try the Oxbow once mine runs out, but I agree with MM about totally depleting your stock before I do.

[BinkyBunny]

Posted By TriBun on 08/31/2011 10:13 AM

 I’m guessing this is the quality issue you’re talking about BB:

 

 

They’re all over in my oat hay.  I’m glad you’re looking for other options

Yes, did you you see this thread?  https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/5…fault.aspx   Please email me about this — I’ll need your order number. 

[KatnipCrzy]

I know I bought Oxbow Oat before- and I am sure my bunnies ate it- but the wonderful BB oat mini bale erased the memory of Oxbow oat from both me and my bunnies- I just remember that they prefered the BB. Darn Mother Nature messing with our bunnies supply of Oat hay!!!

[Dee]

BB, sorry to hear about the oat hay this year- mother nature has not been very kind lately! I’ve never ordered oat hay from you, although I’ve gotten other hay and my bunnies loved it .

I’m scared of oat hay ever since BunBun’s GI stasis. I bought Oxbow Oat Hay and I really think it was caused by him ONLY eating the top- the “grain” part that I think is called the seedhead- of the oat hay and not the actual hay. I remember worrying that maybe I should take the oat hay away from him, because he was so crazy about those oat seedheads that he was ignoring his regular hay. BunBun had never had any belly troubles except poopy butt, but in the 2 weeks that I fed the oat hay to him, he got one bout of gas and one bout of GI stasis that he nearly didn’t recover from. I stopped the oat hay, and he hasn’t had a bellyache since- knock on wood.

So everyone please be sure your bunnies aren’t only eating the seedhead of Oxbow Oat Hay like BunBun did. It might sound crazy but I really think that was the cause of Bun’s tummy troubles.

[BinkyBunny]

 That is interesting about the seed heads as Oxbow does say that they harvest the oat early so that you get the husks without fully developed seeds heads (they look like seeds and have a nutty flavor). So that should prevent too much seed head consumption.   I literally JUST got in Oxbow Oat a few days ago, and it is the first time I have been able to really check it out, so I will look closely. 

With the BB oat — they definitely had seed heads, but we sold two kinds of Oat, Young and Mature — Younger seed heads are harder to digest and so even within our own description we say the “Young” Oat is for bunnies over a year.    So early harvest Oat could be a problem for some bunnies who have sensitive tummies, while mature Oat seed heads are softer and easier to digest.    

 For some people Oat has been a life-saver as it is high in fiber for a picky bunny.   But it may not be for everybunny!  I’m sorry to hear about your bunnies trouble with Oat Hay. 

 

[Lani]

I only feed Oxbow Oat and Oreo absolutely loves it. I just get the small bags from the pet store near me. Unfortunately, I’ve noticed that it’s been dustier than usual and since the dusty pieces bother my allergies and Oreo won’t eat them, I’ve ended up wasting more than I’d like. I had been thinking about trying the BB oat for this reason so I’m saddened to hear that you’re concerned about the quality (though I’m glad you are letting us know!). I guess it hasn’t been a great year for hay for anyone.

[Huckleberry]

I was sad to see that the oat was no longer available. I am very happy that BB is picky enough about the hay that if it isnt a good quality, you wont sell it. It is very helpful and I love that I dont have to worry about buying a mini bale that Huckleberry wont/cant eat.
She is so picky about hay. For the longest time, she refused to eat it. I thought she hated hay but it was because I was feeding her a store brand. I started trying oxbow but then decided to buy BB. BB was the hit! Huck turned her nose up to everything else but now she attacks the box of mini bales. I cant keep the oat in her hay diggy box, she eats it first.

[Hoppy Valentine]

It is the only Hay Hoppy will eat, I have tried everything. I ordered from BB store online here and from the little old lady (ma and pa store) in my neighborhood, he just loved it, he goes crazy over the Oat Hay and won’t eat anything else. He likes the crunchy hay better than the grass based hay. He is just my picky baby and I say only the best for my bunny. I am actually going to have the little old lady order Oxbow Oat Hay pellets cause he likes those so much.

[LBJ10]

My buns like the Oxbow Oat the best, actually. Although I have bought other kinds.

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