Word of warning – don’t use trixie hanging ball dispenser for hay!!!

[Boston's Mama]

Oakley’s head got stuck for ten minutes!! Scary and horrific and could have ended horribly – lucky we were with him when it happened and worked to free him for 10minutes
Will be complaining big time to supplier tomorrow

[Luna]

That’s horrible! Is he okay?? Poor lil guy. I can’t imagine – I don’t know if I’d be able to restrain myself if I contacted the supplier! In the meantime, if you have a small cardboard box, you could trim down the size and put hay in there until you go to the store for a new feeder.

[Luna's Mom]

I also think they come in different sizes because the one I ordered off the internet is tiny compared to the one I seen in the pet store yesterday. That must have been terribly nerve-wracking, so glad you were there.

[Q8bunny]

So scary, OM! Poor wee mite Glad you were there and he’s ok.

[Azerane]

I have heard of that happening before, I’m sorry that it happened to poor little Oakley.

I have also seen different sizes, and I was always told if I used one to make sure it was always stuffed absolutely full with hay so that there was no room for heads inside (although obviously they eat the hay out).

I am glad Oakley is ok though, it must have been very scary.

[Boston's Mama]

The problem with them is in the ones where the spaces size is different at one point than the other – so wider in the middle but narrows as you go up or down – then head fits in middle but if they raise or lower head it’s stuck !!!
The kaytee spinning hay ball is fine as the bar spacing stays the same – the half wire balls or ones that are all around wire are the problems

He is sulking
It’s my 15th attempt at a hay holder!!! If it’s in his tray he spreads it – pees in it – then gets urine all over his legs and underside which isn’t good at all

If it’s a holder he has to work at he won’t use it

I’m really struggling for a hay holder for him

Boston on the other hand – a bowl of hay and he just eats it. No issue no drama

Oakley is just very unusual with it – and if he gets slightly less hay while experimenting with feeders he ends up with serious tummy issues as he has tummy problems

[Sara]

We use something like this zip-tied to the side of the cage. I found it for less than $15 at our local home goods store. http://www.metal-baskets.com/img/wire-storage-basket-wsb-9.jpg

[Boston's Mama]

Sara I think Oakley would get in it – and possibly get stuck??

He did it the hangin wire hay racks and leg slipped through the bars once in there and he panicked

[Sara]

We have ours hung a bit high, so that when he stretches BunBun can reach into the top, otherwise he pulls hay through the grids. They are small enough to keep hay in, but not so small that it takes a lot of work to get the hay.

[Q8bunny]

Have you tried something like this? http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-df1gbPEPjOI/TmzdDwhDSVI/AAAAAAAAAKE/Rq_F-_xaWls/s1600/Internal+Hay+Rack.jpg

Or this https://binkybunny.com/wp-content/uploads/converted_files/Portals/0/activeforums_Attach/003_002_001_haybox.jpg

Or an IKEA dish drainer LOL http://www.thisnext.com/item/738161A6/IKEA-MAGASIN-Dish-drainer

Or a pair of baby shorts filled with hay http://www.tinyundies.com/our-shop/tiny-undies-new/?invite=35

[Boston's Mama]

The 1st and 2nd aren’t available here and we can’t import wooden items but my neighbour made me one the same as first one and he wouldn’t use it at all
I also had a metal version of it made my trixie which worked till he jumped in and got his leg stuck ! The IKEA link won’t show me a image? I’ll try google it

[Luna's Mom]

I have the same problem with Luna. If it’s in a pile she eats tons of it, but poops all over. She was eating it great from a tissue box and then she decided she didn’t like it anymore. I made her a wood box , worked great til she jumped in and peed and pooped all over it. She doesn’t like to have to put any effort in it. The one Sarah has I bought the same one at Lowes for $10. Didn’t work for us. The next thing I think I may try is the wood litter box and hay feeder together from etsy. I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure something out that she will eat enough hay from. I was also thinking about the bags they use for piggies from etsy.

[Luna]

I had a similar problem with finding a good hay feeder for Luna. Eventually I gave up looking and just made a wooden one myself. I think “Prototype 7” is the one we kept.

[Limit]

If anyone is in the uk and looking for a hay rack and litter tray combo then I’d suggest taking a look at ManorPetHousing. Or if you’re good at DIY you can look at their products for designs

[Boston's Mama]

Lunas mom I made one of those bags and it was a waste of time – if the holes big enough for head then they can pull and ruck it all out anyway ( which Oakley did) , if holes not big enough for head then its ” too much work” so he wouldn’t even try
Your bun sounds like Oakley so I’m guessing you’ll have same issue

[LittlePuffyTail]

Scary!!!!!

I use a type of metal hay ball for both my boys. Not sure the brand but the largest hole where you stuff the hay in is not big enough for their heads, thankfully.

[Luna's Mom]

Yes, she does indeed sound a lot like Oakley! She does’t like to have to work for her hay at all. The metal ball I have would not be big enough to fit heads through either, unfortunately Luna has no interest in taking the time to pull the hay out to eat it. She is about 2 1/2 to 3 pounds. She was 2 1/2 when she was spayed, but I think she has gained a little since. (Luna) Do you have a picture of your prototype? I built Luna 2 of the standing ones with the dowels, but she just doesn’t eat enough from them. I was thinking she may do better with the one with the circles cut out. I would have to get the right size hole so she couldn’t get in it. I will scratch the bag idea because I think she would do the same think Oakley did!

[princessbookworm]

Poor oakley! I hope he’s doing okay now.

Have you tried a large cardboard box with a smaller cardboard box inside and rocks inside to weigh it down? I put something like that on the bottom bunk of Jakes American girl doll bed and he LOVES it. Digs and chews cardboard and eats hay and relaxes there. Sits there all the time but thankfully doesn’t treat it like a litter tray. Maybe oakley would like something like that?

[DanaNM]

I use something that I think is intended to be a toilet paper roll holder for hay racks, they work great and hold a lot of hay! I got them at Ross for about $5 and clipped them to the side of the condo.

Similar to this one: http://www.lulusoso.com/upload/20120314/Toilet_Paper_Roll_Holder.jpg

. . . 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.  

[Boston's Mama]

Princess bookworm – that’s what I did as a interm thing yesterday after the accident but he is pulling it all out and spreading it around then peeing on it

I think I may try a container with a lid on it with two holes big enough for head to fit in on the top like this one
https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/128699/Default.aspx

[Boston's Mama]

have any of you tried this? or know the bar spacing size?

[Luna]

I’ve seen it in the store I go to for Luna’s supplies and considered purchasing it in the past, but it was too small for my little hay monster. I don’t know the exact spacing size of the bars, but I want to say it was between 1.25-1.75″ up and down from bar to bar (no idea how far left to right). How big was the opening in the wire ball?

[Boston's Mama]

About 1.7″ at the part his head went on and then goes down to no space at the bottom of ball

[Luna]

Tiny little head! (so cute)
The spacing might actually be smaller. I found a video of it on youtube and it shows a guinea pig eating out of it (good way to scale the size of it). It also seems like the bars as a unit are removable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftbpYtObkqw

[Luna's Mom]

I have that hay rack, it was like the 2nd one I tried for Luna. The spacing between the bars is 1 1/4″ and the spacing at the top where you would stuff the hay in is 2″. It is bulky and just didn’t sit right on her cage to be comfortable for her to sit and eat her hay out of it.

[Boston's Mama]

Thanks Luna I appreciate your help ! I tried to find a video or image next to a bun or guinea and I couldn’t so I really appreciate it

Lunas mom : thank you for the measurements ! The measurements should be fine with that spacing ( I would hope !) however if it’s ackward to eat it Oakley will turn his nose up …

I’m going in the morning to look at tissue box options and containers I can cut holes out of the lid of – if I do the holes to give plenty of room for head to fit right it then I will eliminate the risk of it becoming stuck…

[Boston's Mama]

But hopefully not so open that it’s easy to pull too much at once into litter tray

[GeorgieTheBunny]

Hay feeder; I use an ikea plastic bag holder:
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/80010222
The product “name” ikea gives is VARIERA, it’s only $2.99CAD and never had an issue
I mount it just above the litter box and lil’ Georgie loves it.

[princessbookworm]

Have you tried a shower caddy, maybe? Like a wired one you hang on the nozzle?

[princessbookworm]

I’m sure you’ve seen these but just in case  

[Luna's Mom]

Princessbookworm, is that what your hay rack is, a shower caddie? I think Luna would like that because she wouldn’t have to work very hard to get her hay out!

[Boston's Mama]

Princess bookworm I have tried all of those and no luck for varying reasons – usually he pulls it out in tray and he gets on off true diarreah due to tummy issues and you can imagine the mess…
or he flat out refused to eat.

I just brought a metal shower caddy – I’m going to alter it to have a lid – not sure how it will go … wish me luck!

[Boston's Mama]

The company who supplies in my country the hay ball was really really good. They are contacting the oversea supplier and letting them know what happened and taking it seriously. They have apologised and we’re very considerate of how I was feeling after it.
They offered me a different brand of hay balls but understand why I said I don’t want to risk hay balls again and are sending my boys a toy basket – fiddlesticks , trixie toys and kaytee toys each

[Luna]

That’s great that you contacted them and got them to take a look at the problem so that hopefully this never happens to other buns. And nice on their part to send Oak an apology basket.

[Boston's Mama]

Yeah me too as it is a big deal. I get Oakley is tiny – even for a holland lop , he’s early 5 months old and yet very very small but the ball doesn’t say not to use under certain size or age or anything – at the least it should say not to use for baby bunnies … I don’t get why they made the top so wide apart when it goes down to no gap at the bottom… the top should meet the standards for cage spacing then for bunnies to prevent heads getting stuck

[princessbookworm]

I don’t, but I’ve thought of it! Jake has a big old hay box on the bottom bunk of his American girl doll bed, an under the shelf rack ziptied near his litter box, and a “Store bought” hay rack. He uses all of them I’ve thought about the shower caddy thing, though! Maybe when I get Jake a girlfriend

[princessbookworm]

Good luck, Oakley and Boston’s Mama! I’m so happy Oakley has such an observant mama to make sure he’s safe. 

[Boston's Mama]

[princessbookworm]

That looks fabulous, oh my gosh! and it looks like bun is enjoying it too.

[Boston's Mama]

Thanks so far it’s working perfect! I like that it has the openness all around and underneath ( as the hay falls to the bottom and he can pull it from underneath too )
So far he is eating plenty , it’s reduced the amount being dumped in tray by 99% so more hygienic , and he loves it!

[muffinandmunchbunny]

Just an idea-the breeder for my baby girls gave us a bird feeder as a hay rack. Its one which has enough room to pull hay out, but not for little heads getting stuck! Oakley looks adorable eating his hay, but if you need any more ideas, a bird feeder works well as a hay rack! Xx

[Author]

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