What is this plant in their hay?

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LionheadLuver

Warren Veteran

• Feb 19, 2008

• #1

hiya

I found this plant in my bunnies' hay. It has thorns on it and it's really sharp. As soon as Milly picked it up, she dropped it again. What is it? Is it safe? I got the hay from The Hay Experts, but found the same plant in hay from my local pet shop, the whole reason why I changed my hay from pet shop to HE.

 

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amber26

Warren Scout

• Feb 19, 2008

• #2

I found the same thing in bestpets bag of hay i would love to know what it is .i get a big bale of hay from a farm now

 

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davies67

Warren Scout

• Feb 19, 2008

• #3

is it not just dry brackheny stuff, my mum farms organic hay and theres always odd bits like this, just weeds and thistley things that grown in grass i say

 

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elve

Banned

• Feb 19, 2008

• #4

Thistles come in several varieties, and some of them are notifiable to the min of agriculture as they cause harm to livestock - that would be bunnies too! I would complain to the company and ask for a replacement bale - that's what I do when I find thistles in mine - and OUCH!!! the pain of finding them! :shock:

 

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Thea & Bobbin

Warren Veteran

• Feb 19, 2008

• #5

Yes, looks like a nasty dried up old thistle! :shock:

 

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maisydaisystar

Alpha Buck

• Feb 19, 2008

• #6

i sometimes get hay from qd they sell bags of lovely long hay and it's often green and yummy, but the bag i had last week, was full of those thistles too, hurt my hand getting them out, threw it away in the end, got another bag this week, and it was fine.
not nice at all for the buns and guinea pigs

 

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LionheadLuver

Warren Veteran

• Feb 19, 2008

• #7

Thanks for the replies. I'll keep an eye out for any more thistles, and if there is many more, I'll complain to HE.

 

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RusselRocky

Mama Doe

• Feb 19, 2008

• #8

Thistle me thinks, man I have to start buying that stuff for my horse... He loves thistles, though bit thorny for poor little buns delicate mouths!! :roll:

 

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parsnipbun

Wise Old Thumper

• Feb 19, 2008

• #9

definitely a 'thistle' though so dried difficult to tell which type. In fact buns hapilly chomp away at thistles (only a very very few varieties contain chemicals that are not good for them). They also love huge old blackberry stems and rose stems, and all sorts of thorny things. They seem to cope with the thorns. Sow thistle (which isn't actually at all thorny) is another treat.