Timothy hay

Re: Timothy hay

Rachel Jayne — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 18:42:51 GMT

I've had rabbits for the best part of 22years now & have always fed lettuce with no problems what so ever

Rumour has it, it can cause colic like in horses, and can also have a soporific effect.

Re: Timothy hay

Vicky RVN — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 16:02:58 GMT

My guineas pretty much live on herbage, which it made of timothy hay and they do great on it! With any veg i would always adv not to give loads of anything...give a selection of diff veg rather than loads of one. Again, that tends to be what i do with my pigs (although they've got fussy and tend to leave stuff that isn't broccoli, carrot or kale, whereas they used to also love baby sweetcorn, beans and other stuff!).

Re: Timothy hay

Caroline Dawson — Sun, 30 May 2010 21:41:59 GMT

Agree with Doolally, prefer Timothy for my horses if I can get hold of enough! Don`t know much about bunnies though!

Re: Timothy hay

Doolally — Sun, 30 May 2010 21:16:45 GMT

Timothy grass is higher in fibre and lower in protein than other grasses - its recommended for feeding to laminitic horses/ponies so i dont see why it should be any different for rabbits

Re: Timothy hay

SmegSlayer — Sun, 30 May 2010 21:00:43 GMT

don't rabbits get poorly from eating too many brasica's as well?

Re: Timothy hay

Maisy — Sun, 30 May 2010 15:00:33 GMT

Rabbits can have the darker leaved lettuce like Romaine, but you wouldn't give them iceberg as this will cause diarrhoea. Broccoli/cabbage are quite gassy and should be offered in small amounts but hay should be unlimited and form the bulk of their diet. Alfalfa hay on the other hand is high in calories and calcium and shouldn't be offered as freely to adult rabbits.

Re: Timothy hay

Nick Shackleton — Sun, 30 May 2010 14:42:23 GMT

[quote user="Stuart McQueen RVN MBVNA"]

[quote user="Kim Blowing RVN"]

I thought you didn't feed rabbits lettuce because of it's high water content and it can give them diarrhoea?

[/quote]

ditto... i thought it was a D+ problem...

[/quote]

not being up on my rabbit husbandry! but I would think it would cause Di+

Give me a challenging list of rads or a difficult anaesthetic any day

Re: Timothy hay

Stuart McQueen RVN MBVNA — Sun, 30 May 2010 14:32:50 GMT

[quote user="Kim Blowing RVN"]

I thought you didn't feed rabbits lettuce because of it's high water content and it can give them diarrhoea?

[/quote]

ditto... i thought it was a D+ problem...

Re: Timothy hay

Kim Buckley — Sun, 30 May 2010 14:21:18 GMT

I thought you didn't feed rabbits lettuce because of it's high water content and it can give them diarrhoea?

Re: Timothy hay

Stella Skelton RVN — Sun, 30 May 2010 14:18:49 GMT

Is this the same for lettuce? I was told by someone in work yesterday that she's been taught not to feed lettuce because it causes gas build up. I don't know so wondered if any of you guys did. Thanks.

Re: Timothy hay

Katie Hartnoll — Sun, 30 May 2010 07:35:59 GMT

Apparently it causes gas if fed in large amounts

Re: Timothy hay

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Sun, 30 May 2010 02:01:28 GMT

Never heard of too much hay.... but have heard that too much brocolli is def a no no for Rabbits! a small amount in- frequently is ok, but any more than that is not good... for the life of me cant exactly remember why it's not good, I just know that you should not feed too much..... something to do with their urinary tract if memory serves me!

Re: Timothy hay

Ashleigh Parker — Sat, 29 May 2010 13:46:39 GMT

To say that hay is not important and that pellets should only be fed is absurd. Hay is a vital componant of the rabbits' diet to aid gut motility and dental wear, as you know. The practices I've worked in have always pushed hay as the main componant of the diet. As for Timothy Hay being fattening, well I haven't heard/read anything on that, but it may be worth looking into that a bit further.

Re: Timothy hay

bongo — Sat, 29 May 2010 13:38:58 GMT

my guineas have had timothy hay from day one and they arent fat, they eat as much of it as they possibly can !

Re: Timothy hay

tinydancer — Sat, 29 May 2010 13:34:42 GMT

Hmm wierd, i havent heard anything, but i feed my gunieas both of those and they are perfectly healthy and arent over weight.