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Hay - or grass???

Lynsey

Young Bun
Hi, I'm a novice soon-to-be owner and of course all the books seem to give conflicting advice! I've read the hay topic posted and it's got me thinking. Some books recommend unlimited access to grass which they will have in the run, while others say it should be restricted and they should have hay. Is grazing on grass good for the teeth as some books say or can too much be bad for their tummies?
 
Mine have fresh hay at all times - I have to keep topping it up as they never go back to it once it has been there for a while - new stuff is always much better (it doesn't even work if I try to plump the older stuff up :roll:

Having hay is a must as it helps keep their teeth right. My buns don't get grass (we don't have any as the dog kept diging it up)

As well as making sure there is always hay- they get a small amount of pellets and some veg in the evenings. You also have to be careful with grass as it may have had pesticides etc sprayed on it.

Aggie is on a diet so all she is getting at the moment is hay (with some veg in the evening).

The thing with hay is it is always available and is always beneficial to your bunnies. Timothy hay is probably the best if you can get it.

What kind of bunny are you getting and when are you hoping to get it :D

lol Pam
 
If rabbits are used to grass, it is fine to have them on it all day - after all that's what wild rabbits eat. However, if the bunnies are not used to it, start off with short periods as a sudden change of diet can upset their tummy.

Apparently wet/damp grass is the most abrasive food for bunnies (according to my dental specialist vet), better than hay even.
 
By coincidence my vet and i discussed this earlier today...she seemed to imply grass first over hay - but in reality that both are important.

But with many rabbits thriving as indoor pets, suggests to me that as long as they've got access to unlimited fresh hay, you won't be going too far wrong.

We think we get wild rabbits in our garden, so to avoid myxi-etc problems we've shyed away from feeding fresh grass from our garden (but then I don't really know much about how myxi spreads so could've got that totally wrong!!). We use readigrass and hay; the readigrass seems to be their favourite over the hay.
 
I asked my vet about this a long time ago and he looked at me strangely and said 'Hay IS Grass'. Which of course it is :? :wink:

When grass is available and you have time to pick it, give them grass. Otherwise give them hay. Or give them both. As long as the grass is not contaminated, and the hay is not musty they are both exceedingly good for rabbits.

Once there is nice spring grass I pick as much as I can and feed mine that. (There is none left in my garden as they scalp the ground as soon as a blade appears :roll: ) I use hay for bedding though so they still have hay. If they can graze, that would be better.
 
we use both hay and a freeze dried grass by company called Friendly

They deffo prefer the grass though, and it goes a really long way. and even makes my mouth water from the smell of it.
 
Grass is more abrasive than hay, and I think richer in vitamins, but hay is so much simpler. By all means, if you have a secure garden or run, a nice day and the time to keep an eye on them while they hop about, let them munch the grass. But the rest of the time make sure they're surrounded by hay. I don't think it's really an either/or question. Grass is lovely, but at times it can be inconvenient. Hay isn't as hard wearing on their teeth, but they can have easy 24hr access to it.
 
Bunnybasics said:
we use both hay and a freeze dried grass

I use both as well. I make sure they have lots of grass and hay, but a smaller amount of the dried food. They also have plenty of fresh veggies!!!
 
LurcherGirl said:
so to avoid myxi-etc problems
I thought myxi was transmitted via insects (mosquitoes and the like)...?
It is via mosquitoes and fleas,you could buy a bag of hay from the farm shop though which had fleas in it (mostly in summer) and could be transmitted that way
 
Like everyone else has said.

As long as you offer a fresh unlimited supply of hay you cant go far wrong.

As well as the above my lot get a good handful of Pure Dried Friendly Grass in the evening for a bit of varitey as they are house Rabbits.

Louise
 
Like everyone else has said.

As long as you offer a fresh unlimited supply of hay you cant go far wrong.

As well as the above my lot get a good handful of Pure Dried Friendly Grass n the evening for a bit of varitey as they are house Rabbits.

Louise
 
Thanks for all your useful advice. We are building a hutch at the moment with a run below - chicken ark style so we can move it round the garden so hopefully the rabs with have unlimited access to the run, which is why I was wondering about the grass!

Hoping to get a pair late Feb/early March - home should be complete by then.
 
You know this is really interesting.,, the group I saved Rusty from never told me anything how or what to give except "rabbit mix from the shop".. but is there a way of actually saw your own grass, even on a balcony?
 
You can by seed and grow grass in a seed tray. I'd recommend two trays so the bun can have one and the other can have a break from being had by the bunny : D
 
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