How quickly to introduce Readigrass and nettles?

[katbun]

Hi all, I've been reading some old threads from this forum on how to encourage more hay eating. Currently Joey and Piper are eating Timothy Hay from science selective, with occasional meadow hay from pets at home but they don't like that much. I know the best way to get them to eat hay is to reduce pellets, which I'm working on with Piper (Joey is underweight due to hiding dental issues from me! so I'm not going to reduce his pellets until he's back to normal).

I want to add some tasty stuff to their hay to encourage them, so I've ordered some oat Readigrass and norfolk nettles. They already love other herbal forages like dandelion, plantain, birch leaves, which I feed sparingly. How much of oat Readigrass and nettles can they eat, and how quickly can they be introduced? I don't want them to get stomach issues. Would you introduce them one at a time or not? I've also just introduced oxbow vitamin supplements so i don't want it to be too many new things at once...

 

[InspectorMorse]

I’d introduce one at a time and in a small portion, no more than a handful The nettles should be fine, but some Rabbits can stop eating their cecotrophs and get a mucky bum if they have Readigrass. Some get bloat if they eat too much of it.

IMO the best place to buy a variety of hays which are of consistently good quality is The Hay Shed

Premium Hay and Straw for Pets | Hay Box | The Hay Shed

Discover premium hay and straw grown in the UK for your beloved pets at The Hay Shed. We also sell treats and forage.

thehayshed.co.uk

 

[katbun]

Thanks, I'll try a handful of nettles tonight and we'll see what they think! I've read that about Readigrass, I'll be careful with it I know it shouldn't replace good old timothy hay.

I got the nettles from Bunny Bistro, and I think I'll order some Timothy hay from the Hay Shed when my current supply gets lower. Hopefully the buns will be more tempted by that. I like that the website says that they extract the dust, that would be good for sneezy Joey, currently I shake the hay myself. Do you find that it's really less dusty from the Hay Shed?

 

[Graciee]

Thanks, I'll try a handful of nettles tonight and we'll see what they think! I've read that about Readigrass, I'll be careful with it I know it shouldn't replace good old timothy hay.

I got the nettles from Bunny Bistro, and I think I'll order some Timothy hay from the Hay Shed when my current supply gets lower. Hopefully the buns will be more tempted by that. I like that the website says that they extract the dust, that would be good for sneezy Joey, currently I shake the hay myself. Do you find that it's really less dusty from the Hay Shed?

Hay shed and also Timothyhay.co.uk both very very little dust ime

 

[katbun]

Hay shed and also Timothyhay.co.uk both very very little dust ime

Brilliant I'll have a look at both, thank you!

 

[InspectorMorse]

Thanks, I'll try a handful of nettles tonight and we'll see what they think! I've read that about Readigrass, I'll be careful with it I know it shouldn't replace good old timothy hay.

I got the nettles from Bunny Bistro, and I think I'll order some Timothy hay from the Hay Shed when my current supply gets lower. Hopefully the buns will be more tempted by that. I like that the website says that they extract the dust, that would be good for sneezy Joey, currently I shake the hay myself. Do you find that it's really less dusty from the Hay Shed?

Hay Shed Hay is virtually dust free

 

[Graciee]

Hay Shed Hay is virtually dust free

Yea tbh apart from the bottom of the box which isn't much either it is great!

 

[joey&boo]

My buns love www.timothyhay.co.uk (regular stalky). As Graicee says the only dust is a small amount at the bottom. I think they are the cheaper of quality online suppliers too. All my buns have loved Ash leaves & they work a treat in getting them truffling through their hay. Its the end of the season but I've seen a few tree still that have leaves

 

[Graciee]

My buns love www.timothyhay.co.uk (regular stalky). As Graicee says the only dust is a small amount at the bottom. I think they are the cheaper of quality online suppliers too. All my buns have loved Ash leaves & they work a treat in getting them truffling through their hay. Its the end of the season but I've seen a few tree still that have leaves

Yea they are a bit cheaper, tbh they're still my most ordered hay, buns absolutely love it

 

[katbun]

Unfortunately nettles were not a hit, Piper couldn't even be convinced to nibble them, and Joey had a small bite and wouldn't eat more. I can't see why since they look and smell glorious to me

 

[Graciee]

Unfortunately nettles were not a hit, Piper couldn't even be convinced to nibble them, and Joey had a small bite and wouldn't eat more. I can't see why since they look and smell glorious to me

Haha so typical, try again, they may change their mind but some things mine just don't like, it's weird really how different they can all be

 

[katbun]

Haha so typical, try again, they may change their mind but some things mine just don't like, it's weird really how different they can all be

I got caught up in the benefits of different foods, and forgot about bunny pickyness I'll keep offering them but I am glad I got them on sale...

 

[Graciee]

I got caught up in the benefits of different foods, and forgot about bunny pickyness I'll keep offering them but I am glad I got them on sale...

yea I did that once, I was like these will be perfect for blah blah and would she eat them? Absolutely not

Maybe mix them with other stuff, they might eat it, although I have a rabbit that absolutely won't eat something he doesn't like even if mixed in

 

[katbun]

It seems after a few days of refusals that we love nettles here now! Complete with happy grunting and stealing out of the others mouth

 

[Graciee]

It seems after a few days of refusals that we love nettles here now! Complete with happy grunting and stealing out of the others mouth
View attachment 2956

Haha excellent so typical

They're absolutely gorgeous btw what are their names?

 

[William]

Im glad they like! I found it really fun giving mine forage. They loved herbs, dewberry leaves (which are like blackberry plants), Spanish needle (pretty much the whole plant) and they quite liked river birch leaves and twigs. I'd give them this stuff fresh but also sometimes dry just for a bit of a change.

 

[katbun]

Haha excellent so typical

They're absolutely gorgeous btw what are their names?

On the right is Joey and on the left is Piper. Joey's a smart but anxious boy (he can open doors), Piper (as you can see) is a good eater. She would do literally anything for a piece of food and has to be physically stopped from eating food out of Joey's mouth. She can be deeply asleep and I can silently give Joey a pellet - she will instantly know and come running over. They love each other very much from a baby bond, we've never had even a single nip between them. Joey does not care that he's underweight - as far as he's concerned Piper can have all his food and he'll groom her all day.

 

[rosie-posie]

Awww that is so cute x

 

[Zoobec]

They are adorable I am glad they like the nettles now!

 

[Shimmer]

Mine still refuse to eat nettles .... and I've got a good source