Reduce hay mess

[ajgisme]

Hi,

We’re trying to reduce the mess around our bunnies and one of the main causes is when feeding them their hay.

We’re currently using a hay feeder that clips onto the side of the cage.
E.g. https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81Ms9VZR5ML._SL1500_.jpg
(BTW, our cage is much bigger.)

But the problem is that when actually pulling out the hay to give to them it often goes everywhere.

I’m wondering if anyone knows of any kind of similar outside-of-cage hay feeder that is bigger or some kind of funnel system that catches all the hay so it doesn’t make a mess outside the cage?

Thanks

[Nutmeg]

I am posting on this so that I can also follow it… I have the EXACT Same hay feeder, and as well as finding that the hay goes everywhere when I pull it out of the bag, I also find it comes out the bottom of that thing. Especially the smaller “shake” off pieces. And with two bunnies in two different cages (until they can be bonded) it’s twice the mess!!

So you are not alone.
Hoping some of these experienced Bunny owners have some out of the box ideas

[Deleted User]

I have the same feeder, and I actually have it on the inside of the cage. My boys don’t really like trying to stick their noses through the bars to get just little strands of hay, so I have a giant mountain on top that they love to go to town on. It saves the mess too, because whatever falls, falls in their cage for them to eat.

[Nutmeg]

Posted By Asriel and Bombur on 3/12/2018 8:59 AM

I have the same feeder, and I actually have it on the inside of the cage. My boys don’t really like trying to stick their noses through the bars to get just little strands of hay, so I have a giant mountain on top that they love to go to town on. It saves the mess too, because whatever falls, falls in their cage for them to eat.

Hi A&B – I’m not sure if I’m just still really tired, but I’m having a hard time picturing how you use it/ attach it inside the cage. Do they just reach up and over to get it out of the top? but then it would fall to the outside of the cage bars onto the floor. 
I’m sure I’ve over thinking this hahaha

[Wick & Fable]

If your cage is bigger, can you just put the hay in a pile in the cage’s litter box, and put panels against the cage walls so none fall out? That’s my system with Wick’s litter boxes, and he doesn’t track that much hay out. http://www.instagram.com/p/BfR_tU4BDGf/?taken-by=wick_theboogeyman

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.

[GarfyTheLop]

I had issues with this too! I have finally settled on a storage box for a litter tray and a rug underneath which has a strange texture to it which catches the hay so it doesn’t tread into the rest of the house it works pretty well!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfqpnDBgqks/?taken-by=garfythelop

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf4MgV_A627/?taken-by=garfythelop

[Mikey]

I do what Wick does with all three of my buns. Hay racks always caused way too much of a mess for me, and hay in half of the litter box has never made a real mess (a few pieces might get thrown throughout the day, but I would hardly call that a mess).

[pinknfwuffy]

Good idea, Garfy!

I use a fabric hay bag that I think holds hay in better. They sell them on Etsy, possbily other places. The hay grabs the fabric and stays in tighter and there is a zipper top opening to hold everything inside. Also, when transferring hay from one place to another I also find it helps to reach into the bag (or whatever container you store the hay in), grab a big handful and use both hands to twirl it around itself like spaghetti. Don’t take it out to do this – keep your hands inside the bag until you’re done twirling. The hay will cling to itself so you can then move it to the rack. This twirled ball will also stay intact longer than loose hay, so it’s less likely to fall out as fast.

Hay mess is ultimately unavoidable but there are ways to make it easier. Good luck!

[Deleted User]

I put it about eye level in their cages and periscope up and put their little paws on it and do it that way. It’s right next to their litter boxes, so they don’t have a hard time. The solid side would be facing inside the cage, and the open side faces outside the cage. The hay is pretty hard to get out between the bars unless you really tug at it (or maybe that’s just the hay I use?)

[Wick & Fable]

You can actually make your own fabric hay rack too! I made one for Wick at the hay spot that’s not a litter box for him. I cut the leg of some old PJ pants and I cut flaps, rather than cutting holes (which fray). To keep the flaps open so they function as holes, I taped them to the inside of the bag with packing tape so no tape is exposed, but the holes are also not fray-able as well.

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]

I have a pretty basic solid plastic hayrack that I got at PetSmart last summer. I clip it to the side of the buns’ cage on the lower level, right above the litterbox and positioned so that they can get hay out of the rack from the upper level. Panda and Fernando don’t eat as much from it as they do from the hay pile in their litterbox, but I’ve often seen them nibbling from it, so I try to make sure that as much hay as possible sticks through the cage grid to make it easy for them to reach.

Overall, I have a LOT of hay mess. Much of it does come from stray strands from loading the box, but the rest of it is because P&F do like to fling hay around (I’ve noticed lately that they’ve taken up hauling small piles of hay out of the box to get at the tastiest pieces that way).

[Nutmeg]

Posted By Wick on 3/12/2018 10:37 AM

If your cage is bigger, can you just put the hay in a pile in the cage’s litter box, and put panels against the cage walls so none fall out? That’s my system with Wick’s litter boxes, and he doesn’t track that much hay out. http://www.instagram.com/p/BfR_tU4BDGf/?taken-by=wick_theboogeyman

Wick – what is that mesh thing at the bottom of the hay? Looks like white mesh? 

A&B – I think its more that I have bigger bars on my cage as they can get their mouth through it very easily and the hay works it’s way out when they are moving it around too. Or, as you said, it could be the hay you are using  

Garf – I may go that way too!! Right now I have an oversized corner unit. I don’t know why I never thought of just getting a plastic bin haha

ajgisme – Hope you found this post as helpful as I did! Great question!! 

[Wick & Fable]

@Nutmeg – It is plastic knitting mesh, that can be easily cut (without worrying about sharp edges) to fit a litter box.

http://www.instagram.com/p/BXsXo28FTcG/?taken-by=wick_theboogeyman
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DV68A9I/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
^ They’re reusable and I have a pack, so if one ever gets damaged or I feel I need to do a deep clean, I have replacements. So far, I’ve only had to replace the screens once, but not because they were dirty/damaged, but because Wick got ringworm and I wanted to make sure everything was fresh and new.

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.

[Nutmeg]

@Wick – Thanks so much for the links!!! May I ask why you use the screen? Is it to screen out the pee into the bottom? 
(*feels like this this is a silly question lol) 

[Wick & Fable]

@Nutmeg – Not a silly question. There are a couple reasons:

1) Wick’s litter is small granule litter, so it gets tracked everywhere and kicked whenever he hops in/out of his box. The litter screen separates him from the litter so it doesn’t get anywhere.

2) It makes cleaning a lot easier. I just pick it up and dump the poops/soiled-dusty hay bits in the trash, then spray/wupe it clean with water&vinegar.

3) It keeps him from sitting in soiled litter. So yes, the pee goes through the holes into the litter.

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.

[Nutmeg]

Thanks so much for the extra info Wick! I always appreciate the tips and tricks 

[Author]

Messages