Which hay?

[cynthia]

Hi guys I need help

Today I am going out to get hay, but was not sure what I should buy 

Regular store hay or the one they sell fresh in a bails? 

I heard of rabbits “choking” on the fresh stuff so I buy regular Timothy hay from the pet store. 

What should I get for my bunnies? 

Thanks

[Bam]

It doesn’t matter as long as the hay is kept dry and smells fresh, without any trace of mould. All grass hays are good for adult buns, baby rabbits can have alfalfa as well, but adults should only have have grass hay. Timothy is great, but there is also orchard and oat hay and rye grass and various types of meadow hays. Some humans with pollen-allegies react to timothy, if that’s the case orchard is generally a better choice. I buy some pet-store hay, some Oxbow hay and when I can get it, good quality locally produced hay for milk-cows or horses. Bunnies can be particular about hay, so you might have to try different varieties before you find one that your bun likes.

As for choking, the biggest risk is with pellets. For that reason it can be a good idea to scatter the pellets so the bun is slowed down by having to search for the food, or to serve pellets in a food-ball, again to slow the bun’s eating down.

[cynthia]

Thank you
This really helps!
If I were to buy bales of hay how should store them so they don’t get moldy?
I am going to try other hays and see if he eats more hay. Hes not eating as much as I think he should.
Again thank you very much!

[Bam]

Hay needs to be stored dry. I don’t know how farmers do it,-they obviously don’t store hay in the house but in barns, but how they keep it fresh and free from mold, I don’t know. Mold will grow in a damp environment because there are always spores around.
I have never bought more than half a small bale, but that amount I’ve room for inside, in an open plastic sack.

[cynthia]

Ok I will look for smaller quantitys
Thanks for all your help I appreciate it!

[Author]

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