• Forum/Server Upgrade If you are reading this you have made it to the upgraded forum. Posts made on the old forum after 26th October 2023 have not been transfered. Everything else should be here. If you find any issues please let us know.

TRUTH about Readigrass?

chloemurray

chloemurray

Warren Veteran
Benji is in one of his phases where he has gone off hay:roll:
(and before anyone pounces on me, no it is not his teeth and no he does not need to go to the vet:))
BUT he likes readigrass a lot, and they normally get a handful each a week... but can I give more than this to Benji? Is it a good source of fibre?:wave:
 
Some people query the calcium content. If he's a young fit bunny I wouldn't see this as a problem. Hopefully it will give you time to find some hay he does like.

Helen xx
 
Hmmm.... I think you may find it has an effect on his tummy - now, is it too high protein? Not sure but a bit "rich" if you know what I mean. Maybe try mixing some in with his hay to encourage him to eat his hay.
 
It always crops up when the subject of readigrass is discussed that there is too much calcium in it, but i remember a post where someone put a link to a repsectable veterinary type website that said it was absolutely fine, and i asked my vet too as i was concerned as it's pretty much all mine will eat :roll: and was told it was no problem at all - it's only dried grass after all and in the wild rabbits would eat unlimited grass...they don't get it exclusively but it is th ebulk of their hay intake and i mix other bits like oat hay or meadow hay through it, a bit like a parent hiding vegetables in their kids tea in the hope thye don't spot it :oops::lol:
 
Heather&Bart-MyLittleBuns said:
I just found out the calcium content it no higher is redigrass than it is in hay

Bunny Buddy corrected me the other day :oops:
Click to expand...

:lol::lol:

That's reassuring:)

The only hay he eats on and off is ings hay, and hay for pets said they'd give me a few free samples as my last batch was horrid, so hopefully mixing some readigrass in will encourage him to eat it again:roll:
 
The calcium content is 8mg per 1kg so 0.8%, some pellets are higher calcium content than that, I have been feeding a large handful twice daily to all of my rabbits for around 8 years with no problems :)
 
Readigrass contains 0.8% of calcium and 15% protein https://www.thehayexperts.co.uk/Hay...Hay.19/Readigrass+(Pure+Dried+Grass).213.html

Western Timothy hay is 7% protein

Alfafa Timothy hay 0.75% calium and 8% protein https://www.thehayexperts.co.uk/Hay....21/Alfalfa+King+Timothy+Hay+:+1.8kg.268.html

Oat hay is 0.29% calcium http://www.shady-acres.com/susan/Calcium-Phosphorus.shtml

If you look at http://www.guinealynx.info/hay_calcium.html this lists the calcium % which shows that there are many other types of hay which are much lower in calcium than readigrass.
 
BinkyBun said:
As far as I'm aware, I think readigrass can only be fed as an extra treat. A handful a day. It should not be used instead of hay as its calcium content is high. If your bun has gone off your hay, it would be a better idea to buy a sample pack of different hays and see which one your bun wants to eat.

You can get a sample packs from Hay Experts https://www.thehayexperts.co.uk/Hays,+Grasses+%2526+Herbs.4/Select+by+Hay+Type.130/Sample+Pack.23/
Click to expand...

Done that many a time:)

He hates them all, unfortunately. The only thing he will eat is ings hay from H4P, and as the last batch I got was a bit iffy, he would not eat it. My girls only like H4P meadow hay, which Benji doesn't like, but Graham at H4P has offered to send me some free samples of hay to see if there's anything else that will tempt my little prince:roll:
 
I feed readi grass or just grass every other day in place of pellets have done for both the rabbits and guinea pigs for the last 11 years. They have their bowl stuffed full and have never had a problem.

I think it if you have a animal with a known problem then I'd be careful but in a fit healthy animal it should be fine.
 
I was told by Frances Harcourt-Brown that anything below 1% calcium was okay to feed freely, anything over 1% should be fed more sparingly. This was specifically with regard to a rabbit that does have bladder sludge issues - even for him readigrass is deemed okay. Though she also said, "If he will eat hay then give him hay rather than readigrass."

janice said:
Readigrass contains 0.8% of calcium and 15% protein https://www.thehayexperts.co.uk/Hay...Hay.19/Readigrass+(Pure+Dried+Grass).213.html

Western Timothy hay is 7% protein

Alfafa Timothy hay 0.75% calium and 8% protein https://www.thehayexperts.co.uk/Hay....21/Alfalfa+King+Timothy+Hay+:+1.8kg.268.html

Oat hay is 0.29% calcium http://www.shady-acres.com/susan/Calcium-Phosphorus.shtml

If you look at http://www.guinealynx.info/hay_calcium.html this lists the calcium % which shows that there are many other types of hay which are much lower in calcium than readigrass.
Click to expand...

The calcium content of 0.8% isn't a problem though, having said that, others may be a better choice for regular feeding. Looking at those figures the protien content *may* be of more concern depending on the individual rabbits.
 
I hope you get him nomming some hay again soon. I can sympathise with having a fussy boy, although as it happens Spenser is eating his hay fairly well just now. I used to give him a handful of readigrass most days, but he went off it (just after I'd bought him a new box of the stuff too). :roll: I suppose you've tried mixing readigrass in with other hay?
 
I am another one that feeds a couple of handfulls every day. They have free access to normal hay as well. I have 11 buns and have done this for years and never had any problems with sludge or stones. Many vets have commented on the great condition of their back teeth too :D I do think it is good for buns with potential dental problems as it is very palatable and wears their teeth quite well. I adopted an older bun who was on the verge of needing a dental, but once I introduced him to readigrass his teeth wore down and levelled out so he didn't need any dental work at all.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

G
Bunny Not eating 3 weeks HELP
Replies
4
Views
92
a reader of books
a reader of books
H
Spring behavior
Replies
0
Views
70
HanBun
H
A
Possible underlying cause for dental issues?
Replies
4
Views
68
Apache
A
Back
Top