Green oat hay.

Does anyone feed green oat hay as a main hay for their buns? Is it ok to do this?

I've always given it as a treat, not sure why

I'm getting fed up of the Alfalfa King Timothy hay as the last third of each bag is just mush and they don't eat it.

They always get half Alfalfa King and half excel Herbage, and tbh, they always eat the excel Herbage first anyway. There's always some Alfalfa king left in the tray, with the Herbage completely gone.

Thanks for any thoughts, I still struggle with the hay decisions because Thumper never liked anything I bought. (Except for the 10 or so bits of oat hay she did eat )

Is the green oat hay something that's sold on its own?

Sometimes Daisy's meadow hay is green he loves it!

I don't see that it is a problem. Oat hay is slightly higher in protein and slightly lower in fibre than timothy but not enough to make a huge difference. However it is expensive. As a main hay I would be looking for a good quality meadow hay and then add in the specialist hay. The Herbage is timothy based as well. I use ings as my main hay and then add a handful each of the alfalfaking timothy or green oat hay, herbage and readigrass. But using a meadow type hay is a good idea as a base as it has a mix of different stuff in it and so will wear the teeth slightly differently.

Katieb wrote:Is the green oat hay something that's sold on its own?

Sometimes Daisy's meadow hay is green he loves it!

This is the stuff I mean Katie
https://www.thehayexperts.co.uk/Hays%2C+Grasses+%252526+Herbs.4/Select+by+Hay+Type.130/Oat+Hay.18/

Molly and Junior love it, and even Thumper ate a little bit of it

cheryl'n'bruce'flo wrote:I don't see that it is a problem. Oat hay is slightly higher in protein and slightly lower in fibre than timothy but not enough to make a huge difference. However it is expensive. As a main hay I would be looking for a good quality meadow hay and then add in the specialist hay. The Herbage is timothy based as well. I use ings as my main hay and then add a handful each of the alfalfaking timothy or green oat hay, herbage and readigrass. But using a meadow type hay is a good idea as a base as it has a mix of different stuff in it and so will wear the teeth slightly differently.

Thanks Cheryl

Where do you buy Ings? Online or in a shop?

Going by weight, the oat hay I've posted above works out cheaper than the Alfalfa King stuff. I think I can't remember exactly how much I pay for the Alfalfa King stuff because I buy a few at a time, so haven't picked any up for a while!

online, but it is sld out until september.

From the reading I have done, there is a lot of rumbling about oat hay being too rich for rabbits and causing stasis and several other disorders. But it seems that the negative talk about oat hay is totally unfounded. Most rabbits love oat hay and usually prefer it over others. In the USA Timothy hay is the norm for most bunnies but that isn't the case world-wide. Last I checked Timothy hay cannot be imported to Australia and they use oat hay as the staple for their bunnies diet.

For oat hay to be safe for rabbits it should be cut before the oat kernels mature. Once the oat kernels mature the hay is too rich in protein for rabbits and they put on weight and are more prone to renal disease. Most farmers grow oats for feed and not hay. Because of this you need to know what you are purchasing. Once the kernels have set it is considered 'whole oats'.

Most pet store offer oat hay that has been cut at the right time for rabbits and piggies to eat and enjoy. The hay should be properly dried and still be green. I found several sources say that oat hay seems to be a bit more prone to mold or mildew than Timothy hay. But my opinion is that it may not have been dried adequately. So as with any hay we give our bunnies we should check it to make sure it smells fresh and never of mold/mildew.

Buying oat hay from a farmer may be much cheaper, especially for those with multiple bunnies. Just make sure it was cut before the kernels set and not cut as 'whole oats' that is fed to livestock.

It is important to store hay properly in a cool, dry, and well-vented area. Never store directly on concrete because it will draw in moisture and sour. Never store on or in anything made of treated wood as the chemicals will leach into the hay. Never store the hay in plastic unless there are adequate holes in the top and sides for ventilation.

I hope this helps. Please forgive this being so sloppily written but it is 0030 here and bedtime!

cheryl'n'bruce'flo wrote:online, but it is sld out until september.

my last bag is not gonna last till sept but that will explain why the last bag i got didnt smell as sweet as the rest ive bought,if it was the last bit of it