quality online hay source?

[prince dorian the bun]

I have been buying online from a hay provider on amazon (not sure it’s with in forum rules to give name) and the last few boxes have been great… this last one however not great, though not technically bad as it smells fresh, it is just very very stemmy, I think it might be what is called 3rd cutting. On the plus it looks like it be very high fiber. Dorian seems to be eating it okay, but not with the same gusto as before, so I wanted to get a small container of some softer hay to mix in with this one to make sure he is eating enough hay.

Hoping someone is able to give some recommendation. I have had very mixed results with when I have tried small pet select, so hoping for something a little more reliable on the freshness scale. Though maybe that’s my best hope right now.

Also maybe I am worrying for no reason if he is still munching down?

[Wick & Fable]

Every hay provider will naturally have fluctuation in quality. If you know your rabbit enjoys/does not enjoy certain cuts of timothy hay, going with a provider that “locks in” the cut you get is beneficial, like SPS, so you know at least you’re always getting soft leaves or hard stems, depending on the cut you choose. 1st cut is actually the cut with more fiber, stems, and seed heads. 3rd cut is the softest variety I believe.

With online, I think it’s tricky. The only way to truly know you’ll get really fresh hay each time is for you to physically see the hay in store or at a farm before purchasing. Obviously this isn’t something every owner has access to, especially during COVID-19 restrictions. I personally have been generally satisfied with SPS. When my order was not fulfilled or in satisfactory condition, customer service always got back to me with a reasonable compensatory action. Outside SPS, I only have tried Oxbow, which my rabbits enjoyed (slightly less than SPS I think), but going to the store to get them was a hassle, haha.

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.

[prince dorian the bun]

Thanks Wick, looks like I got the numbering backward, sorry!  1st cut of your description fits perfectly. I have been pretty happy with standlee hay that I have gotten as it is always fresher than the times I tried SPS (and a lot cheaper), but they don’t specify cuts. Maybe since all I want is a little extra of the softer grasses to mix in, I’ll just risk SPS again for a small box since they do specify cuts.

[kanin]

I’ve used Rabbit Hole Hay a bunch of times and have never been disappointed by the quality and it’s about the same price as SPS. I’m currently using their mountain grass hay which is soft and the buns love it. I’m also using timothy hay I got from a brand called Brytin on Chewy that’s good quality, and reasonably priced as far as bulk hay online goes.

[DanaNM]

I used to order the big 50 lb boxes of Oxbow from Dr. Fosters and Smith, and was pretty happy with it. Not the best, but better and cheaper than the pet store’s stock. I think they have been absorbed into another company but not sure which.

My fav online hay was Sierra Valley Hay, but unfortunately they are no longer in business. Too bad because the quality was amazing (although a bit pricey).

That said, I’ve always been the happiest with getting hay locally (usually HRS chapters and rescues will sell hay)! I got a hot tip that if you find a place that sells bales you can often ask them if they sell flakes from broken bales. If not, you can ask if you can just collect some from the loose piles around the bales. Often that’s enough to get them to start selling hay by the flake, and you’re in business. Or you can bring in a 55 gal garbage can and ask them in you can load up a bale into that.

I will also get the mini-bales from the BB store when they are in stock. My bunnies love the young oat hay sprinkled on top of their timothy. 🙂

. . . 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.  

[prince dorian the bun]

I don’t have a car, so that makes local a little harder… I may try and look into it though and rent one for the day in the future, being able to see the hay when I buy it would make a huge difference. I ended up getting a smaller order of SPS, hoping I can then just mix it in and with the batch I have.  But Thank you everyone for recommendations!! I will check them out.

[NalaBunny]

For the last year, I have been buying Standlee hay. Their hay always is fresh, green, and smelt amazing. They are pretty decently priced and the only issue I’ve ever had is a tiny bit of dust but shaking the hay outside works to get rid of this. My rabbit always goes crazy for this hay, I recommend this brand.

[tobyluv]

My bunnies really like American Pet Timothy Gold Hay.  It’s a second cutting of Timothy and has always been fresh and fragrant.  It’s sold at Petco, online and in the stores.  They have a 24 ounce bag, which is the size I buy.  They also sell it online in a larger size.  Oxbow orchard grass hay is a good, softer hay too.  It’s sold online at Petco, Petsmart, Chewy, and other sites.

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