Good quality hay

Re: Good quality hay

Vicky RVN — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:16:19 GMT

Hmm funny you should say that Sal, i told vet about it cos she reg goes there and she knew nothing about it. Makes me wonder if it's just the one i use? Don't see why though, surely it should apply to all stores?!

Re: Good quality hay

Sal the 1st — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:59:07 GMT

wish i had known about the loyalty card at pah - they had £140 out of me in a single transaction 2 weeks ago! - and nobody in the shop mentioned it

Re: Good quality hay

Anonymous — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:35:41 GMT

Thanks everyone! I've got my bunnies some new hay and they loooooooooove it! It's like me with chocolate!

Bless 'em. It's green and smells sooooo nice. Feel so bad that I've been giving them horrible hay all this time

Re: Good quality hay

Kate Claxton DipAVN(Med)VN — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:11:50 GMT

Oooo, apologies in that case! Did think as I typed the original post that someone might think I was advocating feeding the little squeaky darlings alfalfa so was a bit paranoid already ;) xx

Re: Good quality hay

Jo Hinde — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:59:40 GMT

I read your post correctly and know the brand you mean. I was just also mentioning the bit about alfalfa hay itself whilst we were on the topic of hay :o)

Re: Good quality hay

Vicky RVN — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:42:32 GMT

Thanks! I don't recognise the packet so not sure they do it in my local branch, but will have a look!

Re: Good quality hay

Kate Claxton DipAVN(Med)VN — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:49:57 GMT

https://www.thehayexperts.co.uk/Hays,+Grasses+%252526+Herbs.4/Select+by+Hay+Type.130/Timothy+Hay.21/Alfalfa+King+Timothy+Hay+:+454g.270.html

gives you an example of the packet you're looking for :) x

Re: Good quality hay

Vicky RVN — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:56:52 GMT

Damn i went to Pets at Home this weekend and forgot to look for the Alfalfa King hay, will look next time!

Re: Good quality hay

Kate Claxton DipAVN(Med)VN — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:38:46 GMT

Alfalfa King is just the brand....I was not recommending alfalfa hay, if you reread my original post.

The hay I mentioned from Pets At Home is a Timothy Hay in the Alfalfa King range, called Alfalfa King Timothy Hay, and the quality IMHO is just as good as Oxbow, but more accessible for me as I don't have to order online. Was originally recommended to me by an exotic specialist who also rates it just as much as Oxbow. :)

Re: Good quality hay

Jo Hinde — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:16:23 GMT

Def choose a Timothy based hay. Avoid Alfalfa as this is fattening and high in calcium. Oxbow is the market leader (and what I feed my bunnies). I also buy mine from The Hay Experts (who are fantastic).

However, I also feed a wide range of other hays and dried herbs (mainly herbs from Burns). I use the Oxbow as their main hay and then top up with extra hay treats. The Hay Experts offer a sample pack of 6 different types of hays / dried grasses for your bunny to try.

In my opinion, the MOST important things about hay is that it should be a nice green colour (not brown), sweet smelling and not dusty. Oxbow usually ticks all these boxes, but there are other brands out there that are also good (and cheaper).

Re: Good quality hay

Vicky RVN — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 10:45:26 GMT

I practically live in pets at home! I should have a direct debit going there...

Haven't seen the alfalfa king hay, will look next time i'm there. Actually, that will prob be this weekend! If anyone goes in ask about their loyalty card, for every £10 you spend you get a stamp, after 10 stamps you get 10% off your next shop. My shop there this weekend is my 10% off one so will buy lots!

Re: Good quality hay

Kate Claxton DipAVN(Med)VN — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 10:33:11 GMT

I normally feed my piggies Oxbow Timothy from the Hay Experts too, but have recently discovered one of similar quality (and price unfortunately) in Pets At Home - Alfalfa King Timothy Hay. They do get fresh farm hay for bedding and general munching but they do have expensive taste regarding what goes in the hayrack! x

Re: Good quality hay

Vicky RVN — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:05:09 GMT

My guineas love the naturals range, they've always got a bowl of the mixed herbs. I use excel herbage for them, they love munching on it! And use a cheaper hay for their bed.

Re: Good quality hay

Nicola Smith — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:25:08 GMT

I order mine a selection from bunnybazaar.co.uk, they do oxbow timothy, orchard grass and readigrass and others. It is expensive but I bed mine on cheaper stuff and give this as food only in a bowl or hay rack to avoid it being wasted. They also love the excel herbage. I did have some good stuff from dustfreehay.co.uk a while ago but they stopped delivering smaller quantities.

Have you tried getting some maturals herbs to mix in with the hay, really adds palatability. They do loads, mixed ones, jerusalem artichoke, coneflower, dandelion etc. Quite pricey but you only need a sprinkle.

Good luck

Re: Good quality hay

Louise B — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:34:02 GMT

If you want really nice hay really cheaply and have some space pop into your local shop selling horse feed, etc. They will sometimes sell you a small bale (£4-5) or fill up a 15kg feed sack with some £1-2. I used to just go and pick black bag fulls from anywhere I could find long lush grass.

Re: Good quality hay

Kathryn Welsh — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:52:23 GMT

Just handful in a bag but if you get in touch with 'The Willow Warren' in wales they sent us a box of gorgeous hay and bags to put it in. Give it out at bunny vaccs or neuturing

Re: Good quality hay

Sally Howe — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:50:19 GMT

Thats a good idea, do you just give them a handful from the bag or can you get samples from Oxbow?

Re: Good quality hay

Kathryn Welsh — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:40:56 GMT

Yeah we use it for all our patients and even send them home with samples and often people will come back for a bag!

Re: Good quality hay

Sally Howe — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:38:58 GMT

I'm sure NVS stock it too.

It is expensive but it's the best. I've even pursuaded work to use it on the inpatients too.

Re: Good quality hay

Maisy — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:38:08 GMT

http://www.thehayexperts.com this is where I buy hay for my bunnies. It's all fresh stuff and they will replace if you happen to get an 'older' batch where it doesn't seem as fresh and nice smelling.

Re: Good quality hay

Anonymous — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:35:26 GMT

Thanks guys - oxbow it is then I reckon! He definitely said ox-something and I'd read before that timothy hay was the best.

Just been looking on line though and it looks really expensive. I will definitely get it for them - just need to check for the cheapest option..... we order from NVS so maybe I would be allowed to buy it from them through work? Hmm.....

Re: Good quality hay

Sally Howe — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:17:00 GMT

I use Oxbow Timothy Hay

Re: Good quality hay

Faye Sewell — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:09:53 GMT

Oxbow or Excel forage or excel herbage mine have can get it from dunlops and pet shops!

Re: Good quality hay

Kathryn Welsh — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:00:42 GMT

We suggest Timothy Oxbow hay - we can get it from NVS so guessing most vets stock it or can get it!! Otherwise try West Willows or something like that... will check and get back to you. But Timothy is the best!!