While pondering the blisters on my hands from awkwardly pulling the hay fork as a vertical rake of sorts, I realized the true value of those old wooden hay rakes that Id seen in photographs. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You are the first person to fully explain what hay is in laymans terms. Claire C. (Ohio). | Bunnies So, what about herbs? Note: Just because Alfalfa Hay can no longer be there main source of hay doesn't mean you have to cut it out of their diet completely. Why is Timothy Hay the healthiest option for most rabbits? Whether youve got a patch of long grass which you think would make good hay or are planning to sow a patch of timothy grass or herb mix especially to make hay for the winter months, similar rules apply to those of growing a herb patch or rabbit lawn but with the added considerations of cutting, drying and storing. Tips for Transitioning to the Best Hay for Rabbits Based on Their Age, in terms of what they eat. I carried these pieces along with a 20-inch-long, 8-inch-diameter black walnut log, sourced from the same snag, back to my improvised woodworking shop in the barn and went to work. When alfalfa or timothy is used in a complete rabbit feed, the nutrients of the hay source . Some rabbits do not enjoy the coarser and healthier Coarse Timothy Hay. While we aren't talking about your small pet's biceps, a diet high in long strand crude fiber will help promote well-toned digestive muscles which help them effectively pass hair and food through their digestive system. The answer is Yes, timothy hay should be included in baby rabbit's diet. I love this site, learned a lot. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. As efficient as the fork is for loading and stacking, the rake is really necessary for gathering. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Clean out the food bowl and change the food daily. Go to source. 1st cutting is high in stem and low in leaf, meaning that it isn't quite as soft as 2nd cutting Timothy hay, but it's still delish. 2. For advice from our Veterinary reviewer on cleaning the cage and grooming your rabbit, read more! Is Timothy Hay good for Rabbits with Allergies? This can be stressful and overwhelming. By adding the herbs it is a nice change for your rabbits and a great healthy tonic. Any herb or wild plant you would feed fresh in season can be dried as herbal hay for winter use. All rights reserved. It should be low in weeds and, although color varies with the type of hay, it should be green to greenish-grey in color. My bun was never a fan of softer hays but luckily the Coarse Orchard Grass crunches like Timothy! Not all Timothy Hay is the same though, so were diving into the hay pile to learn all about Timothy hay for rabbits. Shipping and taxes calculated at checkout. The first three cuts are usually the options for rabbit feed, which we look at more in depth down below. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. What is Timothy Hay? Change soiled bedding daily. Before I became a repeating customer, I tried out their sample packs! Therefore this is the cutting that you'll get the most fiber out of . Hay is good for your rabbit because the long fibers of hayhelp the muscles of the rabbits gut stay good, strong and healthy. Your email address will not be published. My former manual-mowing experiences were limited to periodically whacking weeds in places where I couldnt maneuver the tractor and shredder, so I checked out some online videos to get a feel for the proper scythe swing. A way toensure freshnessis tobuy your hayregularly and in small amounts. This means that you can never give your small pet too much Timothy Hay. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Though it may seem like a simple task, one of thebiggest mistakesa rabbit owner can make is feeding their rabbit something that does not serve their particular nutritional needs. Your rabbit care, guinea pig care, or chinchillas care doesn't need to include fruit, nuts, seeds, etc. Orchard Grass- This hay has a similar appearance to timothy but has broken or open cattail tips, rather than solid. This means that the fiber content is the highest of all the cuts, with the protein and fat levels being the lowest. Also, pets are like human beings. The stem of the grass has the most fiber in it. The pictures are great. "They love it. Leading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty The difference here is much more significant. Furthermore, the high fiber content of western timothy hay is critical to maintaining good dental and intestinal health. You can also download our Hay is for Rabbits eBook to know all about the different types of hay, the best ones to feed your rabbit based on their health status, and more! from Small Pet Select! Nutritionally speaking, however, they are very different. Later cuts also have flower clusters that rabbits tend to love. This hay satisfies all of my picky eaters. The leaves are hairless, rolled rather than folded, and the lower sheaths turn dark brown. There really arent any substantial cons to feeding your rabbit Timothy hay. Claire C. (Ohio). I next cut a hackberry log about 30 inches long and 6 inches in diameter from a snag left by the dozers when they repaired one of the pond dams on my farm (my chainsaw came in handy for this work). It dose not take to long for this. . Sometimes they will also be given timothy hay and dried grass as well if there aren't enough fresh greens available. 2nd Cut Timothy Hay. If you mow your lawn weekly, you might want to skip a week to let it grow out a bit. Medium and Soft Timothy Hay has only slightly less fiber and is much more fragrant and softer, which may appeal to your rabbit. This is very important to keep their mouths healthy. References Its best to leave new hay uncovered for a few weeks until it finishes curing, but then top it with tarps to preserve cleanliness and quality. A disruption to a rabbit's digestive cycle can cause gastrointestinal (GI) stasis, a condition in which the contents of the digestive tract become compact, and the rabbit has difficulty passing the mass through. They are used to get rid of pests and weeds. Exceptions to these diet guidelines would be rabbits who are pregnant, nursing, recovering from surgery, underweight or elderly. You'll want to feed your rabbit grass hays. To maintain dental health, you must supplement with chew toys or coarse hay. The primary difference between wild and domestic rabbits is diet. The Best Hay For Rabbits. Wild rabbits dont succumb to hairballs or most GI problems so why should domestic rabbits? Your article is very informative and easily read. In less than two weeks it will smell and looked like tasty hay. "They love it. I'm getting a bunny soon, and none of my family members have raised bunnies before, so. This means the perfect Timothy Hay wont be found in the same fields every year. This fiber helps to keep their digestive system working properly and also keeps them constantly chewing which helps to wear down their teeth -- so it is important to feed high quality hay to avoid health problems. Like all pets, rabbits need a clean, healthy environment and the right kind of food in order to thrive. How do I know when my rabbit is mature enough to mate? Learn all you need to know about Timothy Hay and which kind and cut is the best for your rabbit! Timothy hay is often given to herbivores such as horses, rabbits, guinea pigs, goats, cows, and deer. Pens should be large enough for your rabbits to stand upright, lie down, and run around freely. So What do you feed a baby rabbit versus an adult rabbit? So the perfect spring goes to waste. Estimations of the digestible energy content range from 5.8 to 6.2 MJ/kg. I quit cutting that first day a much more efficient mower than when I started, and I managed to knock down about a quarter of an acre in the process. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Timothy Hay is the best hay for rabbits so it's important to remain patient with your rabbit, knowing that he will eventually enjoy his new diet and so will his body. Straw makes an excellent bedding material and is easy to change every day. We may receive a small commission for purchases made using the links provided. Second cut Timothy hay is the most popular type of Timothy hay to feed rabbits, because of its ideal nutritional proportions and tastiness. Thank you ahead for any helpful advice. If temperatures dip below freezing, consider moving the rabbit hutch to a more protected environment, like a garage or shed. Any of these hays will provide a good source of fiber for your rabbits diet, but you dont need to pick just one type. First cut has more body and fills their stomachs up quicker. It's recommended that you switch your rabbit to timothy hay before it reaches one year old. Thank you for all of the information. Just like a human, a baby rabbits diet should look different from that of an adult. Rabbits can also catch diseases if they're housed outside. If you have a very picky rabbit, 3rd cutting might be a good option. Its important the air gets to it so I made a shelf out of some wire mesh. Give it a cage that is large enough to move around in, and build it a run so it can get daily exercise without going anywhere it might get hurt. Always having plenty of Timothy Hay available to your rabbit is an important part of their health and diet. Rabbits don't need baths, and they often find them stressful. And fiber is what keeps their whole system running. Slowly moisten the soil and keep it moist until the seeds germinate. Learn the basics of small-scale hay production and find the best hay baling equipment for your farm. Many people recommend orchard grass hay as a good alternative. When you clean out your rabbit's water bottle, make sure to clean the nozzle well with warm water to prevent anything from growing in it. A good quality hay should not be too expensive, and is really essential for your rabbits health and well being. Rabbits have specific needs when it comes to just about everything, butespeciallyin terms of what they eat. I can report that the rake works beautifully (see A Wooden Hay Rake You Can Make: Making Hay the Old Fashioned Way). While many folks rush off to the pet store to source miniature hay bales for big bucks, others source it more reasonably in 70-pound bales right from the farm. 1st cutting Timothy hay is full of fiber and is the perfect pick for buns that may have GI issues or who need to lose a little weight. Subscribe to the Bunny Lady e-Newsletter and receive a FREE pdf guidebook going over all the basics of rabbit care. Your hay is always hand-processed, never machine-cut, creating nice long strands and less small pieces. THE BENIFITS OF FEEDING AND GROWING HAY FOR RABBITS. Do not allow your rabbit to be free around your cat or dog. The most commonly fed and veterinary recommended hay is a good quality, 2nd cutting grass hay, like timothy hay. This image is
not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Consider the size of the space, so your pets have enough room. A later cutting will include more fat for senior rabbits who cant spend all day chewing. Take a selfie with our product and your pet and email it to Selfie@RabbitHoleHay.com to win! Its perfect for daily feeding. Then the leaves have more fat and protein. Without fiber, their digestive system cannot move food through the gut. It took about an hour to find my rhythm and to learn when to give the blade a lick with the whetstone. % of people told us that this article helped them. To make the rakes teeth, I used the splitting maul and froe to rive out black walnut billets that were about 5/8-inch-square in cross section and 20 inches long. Timothy hay should be a free choice food which means it should be available all day every day. As mentioned earlier, a rabbit should have an all-access pass to Timothy hay. If your rabbit is in its run, it is safe for your pet to eat dandelions (if they do not have pesticides on them). When cleaning out the litter box, remove hard, dry fecal pellets, but be sure to leave cecotropes behind. Safe herbs, fruits, and veggies can been good for giving them antioxidants and other minerals to help aid in good health. Most rabbit owners know that hay is important for. Its very important for rabbits to be eating right. To date, Ive used the homemade hay rake to help gather about six tons of hay that Ive cut by hand over two seasons. Never, I repeat NEVER feed moldy hay, because it can make your rabbit seriously ill. Moldy hay may contain white dust, or black and/or white spots on the bale. Making The Switch. Stay strong and follow through with making the switch. So why not grow grass indoors for your rabbit? Especially because they cant throw up. Timothy. Timothy hay- Resembles flat, dried blades of grass. Learn about other grass hays that you can feed your rabbit by downloading our Hay is for Rabbits eBook below. If you leave it out in the sun it will loose the hint of green and go golden brown (still edible but less nutrients). My rabbits would not eat any hay. Rabbits love to forage, so if you can't provide forage opportunities, then herbal hay is a good choice. You may be offered a choice between first and second cut hay. For example, you should not provide an unlimited supply of alfalfa hay to your adult rabbits, for it could cause digestive issues. Alfalfa Hay containshigh protein, fiber and calcium. Our hay is hand-selected, inspected, and packaged thoroughly to ensure the very best food for your pet. I've been buying this hay for exactly a year last week, and I'll never go back." I tend to disagree, provided it is of good quality and was cut when relatively immature (pre-bloom stage), before the plant is allowed to mature to the point where the stem becomes larger and coarser. First Cutting: The first growth off of a field for the year is the first cutting. Many people feel that first cut hay is not to be considered as good feed. Hay fiber is the number one defense against intestinal blockages. We believe in real, healthy, genuine products. Do you have any chickens in your flock with missing feathers? It has high fiber content and low calories and fat. Its fresh and long strains instead of all chopped up like most hay you purchase in a store. Some animals who are underweight may also benefit from hay higher in protein (and calories). The growth was a lush mix of cool-season grasses, warm-season grasses, sweet clover and black medic. Luckily Small Pet Select is up for the challenge and they have organic Timothy hay for rabbits available. Excessive dust or hay that does not smell sweet may indicate mould. Alfalfa hay has twice as much protein as 1st cutting Timothy hay (A little less difference when comparing 2nd cutting). Feeding your rabbit the wrong type of food could result in long term issues or even life-threatening consequences. A pen that is 3x4 feet or larger is good, but if it is possible bunny proofing a space for free-roaming is best. unlocking this expert answer. Here's a quick, easy recipe for Homemade Electrolytes that help your flock replenish the nutrients lost in extreme heat. Will definitely be reordering once our 5lbs is eaten through!" I bought this hay while looking for an alternative to Timothy Hay. 6. === SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/thebunniesbrigade?sub_confirmation=1 FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAMWally \u0026 Pepper: https://instagram.com/thebunniesbrigade/Lianna: https://instagram.com/liannaliew/DISCLOSURE: Links contained in this description may be affiliate links. Herbal Hay Image Credit: sirampuch eamumpai, Shutterstock. You should have a constant supply of Timothy hay available for your rabbit. Timothy hay is a perennial grass which means it comes back every year. Overgrown teeth result in less and painful eating which leads to other health problems. Fiber is essential in keeping their teeth at optimum size and strength, as it helps whittle them down. "The step by step tips helped me to understand how to raise my rabbits properly and how much attention they need. 3rd cutting Timothy hay is the softest and leafiest cut. Timothy hay is high in fiber and low in protein and calcium. For growing timothy hay, sow seeds in spring or late summer, you can also plant seeds in early fall. There are all kinds of straw products out there for gardens and pets. It can grow high, up to around 6 feet tall. You may want to scoop out urine-soaked litter on a daily basis to keep your rabbit clean and keep the litter box smelling fresh. Timothy Hay is a popular choice among rabbits because of its tasty leafy elements. Young rabbits can be given alfalfa hay, but alfalfa is not a healthy option for adults. I didn't know there could be soft and coarse orchard grass! Copyright Rabbit Hole Hay. I am sure if you offer to cut their grass in exchange for keeping the clippings. I am a lifelong rabbit lover and have been specializing with rabbits at my local animal shelter. Rabbits under four pounds can be given 1/4 cup of pellets. Dont just think of it as a meal, but as a healthy hobby. [1] More non-structural carbohydrates (starches and sugars) and protein are in the leaves than in the stems. retired, I have the time. Either way, between the eating and the pulling of hay from the feeders for bedding, at the end of the year, you could be looking at up to 100 pounds of hay per rabbit (enthusiasts heatedly disagree on just how much hay an individual rabbit will need). After the first cutting is baled up and stored, the field begins to grow again throughout the mid-summer. Dental Health The longer hay is allowed to grow before being harvested, the more fibre and less protein it will have. It grows best in high altitudes and places where the weather is more extreme: cold winters and springs, and warm dry summers. Pack it down and pile it high. Timothy hay has a high content in fiber but also provides the tasty nutritional effects of protein. With more stems comes more chewing. Later cuts also have flower clusters . Most rabbit owners know that hay is important for their rabbits, but many may not understand how important quality is when it comes to hay. You can also choose the frequency of purchase if you would like a consistent supply. DIY Principles for a Passive Solar Greenhouse. "A lot of beneficial ideas, such as grooming, giving the rabbit a run, etc.
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