Tractor Supply Hay?

[rach.doris]

Hey everybun!

I am going to be a new bunny mom soon, so naturally I am super stressed out about everything to get. I heard that small pet select hay was fantastic so I was about to order it, but I heard StormyRabbits talk about Tractor Supply Hay. I want to get my bun the best hay I can find. However, Small Pet Select Hay is almost four times the price! Small Pet Select Hay for 60lb is $80 and Tractor Supply Hay is around the same amount only at $17. Will I be doing my bunny a disfavor if I get him the cheaper hay? Has anyone used Tractor Supply Hay? Should I start off with that and then if he disapproves move to Small Pet Select? Is there any nutritional benefit that Small Pet Select has over Tractor Supply? I am okay with spending more money for Small Pet Select if it is clearly better for him, but I don’t know if it really is. 

[Rain]

I think both have equally great quality hays, but Tractor Supply sells TONS of hay for a MUCH cheaper price. The hay they sell there has to be high quality because many people use it for horses. But, it turns out to be great for buns too!

[Dasher]

I have never tried small pet select but I use Tractor Supply hay and my bunny likes it. There isn’t any nutritional benefit so I would just go with the Tractor Supply hay since it is so much cheaper. If your bunny doesn’t like it you can switch to SPS.

[sarahthegemini]

If it’s a good quality hay, it doesn’t matter that it’s cheaper. It’ll be fine! So long as he eats it of course.

[Peacester]

Posted By rach.doris on 3/05/2018 5:16 PM

Hey everybun!

I am going to be a new bunny mom soon, so naturally I am super stressed out about everything to get. I heard that small pet select hay was fantastic so I was about to order it, but I heard StormyRabbits talk about Tractor Supply Hay. I want to get my bun the best hay I can find. However, Small Pet Select Hay is almost four times the price! Small Pet Select Hay for 60lb is $80 and Tractor Supply Hay is around the same amount only at $17. Will I be doing my bunny a disfavor if I get him the cheaper hay? Has anyone used Tractor Supply Hay? Should I start off with that and then if he disapproves move to Small Pet Select? Is there any nutritional benefit that Small Pet Select has over Tractor Supply? I am okay with spending more money for Small Pet Select if it is clearly better for him, but I don’t know if it really is. 

I have been doing a lot of reading up on this as I am now at 3 buns and am looking to save money. Here’s the money saving tips when it comes to hay. Local Compressed Hay Bales are the cheapest and last the longest, Online Hay Bales are decent quality and a few dollars more than local + Shipping. Pet Store hay is pricey and no different than local or online bales. 

If you have a local Tractor Supply, Murdocs, Big R, or other farm/horse store near you it would be cheaper to buy from them directly ($15 for 50lbs here in CO), if you don’t have any of those store locally check craigslist for any local farms selling hay bales.

Tips for hay bales: Do NOT store on the floor, If it gets wet or is in a insect area your hay can turn bad real fast. DO store in a Tupperware with air holes or in a hay storage bag. Certified No Noxious Weed Forage is hay that doesn’t have any environmentally dangerous weeds, some states require you to have this kind of hay to keep weeds with no “predators” away. However do not be confused in thinking you have to get this hay or your bun will ingest poisonous hay, that is not what the label is for. I do get certified hay when able as it is usually the same price and figure the added protection couldn’t hurt.

Last side notes: Timothy hay is liked my most bunnies and is easily accessible year round in Bales; Orchard Grass/Hay is the second best and most picky bunnies like this as it is softer and sweeter than timothy, however its isn’t always available year round like timothy, which just means you’ll need to buy another bale or two and keep it stored for the off season.

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