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erinmoveit

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Joined
May 9, 2012
Messages
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Location
Otsego, Michigan, USA
I know that it is common to sometimes find brown hay in my Timothy hay, especially with the season, but I have been getting some AWFUL hay. Dusty, brown, teeny tiny pieces that just fall out of the hay rack. My rabbits are picking through it and hardly eat any of it. They just pick it out of the rack and toss it aside til they find a piece they like. I wanted the company to know, that I don't want to switch just curious if there is a reason.

I spend wayyy too much money on hay for myself, my fosters and helping others out to be throwing away so much hay.

Anyone else having this problem with Oxbow hay lately?
 
I feed my bunnies horse hay as I have horses as well. On a couple of occasions (when I didn't have a horse or access to baled hay) I purchased hay from a pet store...Oxbow... Kaytee...not sure of which one...I was mortified, first the price and second the [FONT=.Helvetica NeueUI]Tuesday[/FONT]poor quality of the hay...color, dustiness...I will never spend my money like that again! Do you know any horse people you could connect with? Horse quality hay is the best hay out there and far more cost effective than buying prepackaged hay from Oxbow! I pay $4-$5 for a 35-40 pound bale of hay vs. whatever you pay, I think like 2-3 X that for maybe a little over a pound of hay? Good luck... Will be interested to see what Oxbow says!
 
I feed my bunnies horse hay as I have horses as well. On a couple of occasions (when I didn't have a horse or access to baled hay) I purchased hay from a pet store...Oxbow... Kaytee...not sure of which one...I was mortified, first the price and second the [FONT=.Helvetica NeueUI]Tuesday[/FONT]poor quality of the hay...color, dustiness...I will never spend my money like that again! Do you know any horse people you could connect with? Horse quality hay is the best hay out there and far more cost effective than buying prepackaged hay from Oxbow! I pay $4-$5 for a 35-40 pound bale of hay vs. whatever you pay, I think like 2-3 X that for maybe a little over a pound of hay? Good luck... Will be interested to see what Oxbow says!

I agree! We just go to the local feed store and i think pay somewhere around $7 for a whole HUGE bale of hay, which my bunnies LOVE, I might add. So much more economical, and that makes me feel like I can justify buying the high quality pellets for our buns.
 
I get my hay from a my cousin and when he doesnt have any I get it from a local farmer. I used to feed my buns store bought hay but it made me sneeze so bad and itch whenever I touched it. I feel better knowing that the hay I feed them isn't some junky stuff that no one would feed their farm animals so they send it to auction for some big company to buy. I'm not sneezing all the time either and I'm supporting my local farmers.
 
I've had to call Kaytee and send the hay back to them. It was a bag of alfalfa and it was TERRIBLE! It was really really thick stalks that were brown and the fluffy parts of it where like 60% brown and it was really dusty. I was really unhappy with it.
I've gotten some semi-brown oxbow before, like its usually brown where the little window in the bag is and the hay is exposed to the store lights then the middle is greenish.
Hay hasn't come in anywhere yet though, so this is all last years hay, that could be why its brown.

BUT I just got a small bag of kaytee and its REALLY green, like too green. I think they spray it green. Its also like a third cup hay because its very long and stalky and it has a lot of seed heads on it. Not that bad, but its really strange. haha.
I have a bale of coastal from a feed store, but I got the kaytee for a variety until the spring time and the new hay crop comes in.

Good job emailing and letting them know! They charge too much money to have bad hay!
 
My last box of Oxbow was a little more brown than usual and yes the bunnies noticed, but they eat a total of 5 kinds of hay every day so they have plenty of variety (oxbow's orchard, oxbow's timothy and a blend of oat, wheat and rye grass that I buy from a local rabbit rescue). I remember hearing that hay quality basically all over the country was effected this year.
How much hay are you buying at a time? I buy it in 9 lb quantities (which only runs me about $11.75 with my vet student discount) and have found that when you buy larger quantities at a time you do get higher quality hay. I used to buy my hay from the feedstore by the trashcan but went ahead and ordered some oxbow with this discount and the bunnies really do seem to love it. I can get 8 lbs of hay for $9 from the rabbit rescue so if I was paying full price for the oxbow I'd probably switch to that option.
 
do have tractor supply near you?? they have a brand l and m and you can get a large bag cheaper and it's real fresh and green!! I noticed kaytee and oxbow hay was looking a little sad!!
 
I buy multiple 9lb bags at a time. The last time I went I only bought 1 hoping it was just a bad lot. But I ran out quick and had to go back for more and it is all the same. VERY dusty, very brown. I have always bought Oxbow and my buns have loved it that's why I keep buying it at $26/bag (for the 9lb).

I WISH I WISH I could find horse hay to feed. The stuff at the feed stores around here all contain alfalfa and I have adult (or nearly adult) buns. The local farmers that I am SURROUNDED by don't know if there is Alfalfa in it.

I know my buns can't have alfalfa and it makes me really nervous to get any around here when they either don't know or aren't sure how much is in it. It seems like a 99% of the hay around me has alfalfa. I can't afford the prices of the online stores to have any shipped to be either.
 
Yea, I'm really picky about my hay being just so. I always buy it before I need it just so I can be picky. I haven't had trouble with Timothy or orchard (though I've seen some icky hay in the store). Oat has been awful! I've not bought any in months. Botanical and organic have been good too. I do buy my hay (oxbow) from concord pet supply. Although there are plenty of horse farms in my area, I've had to trash 2 bales that I tried because they were brown and I hated the smell. It wasn't like mold or musty but like a barn smell. I didn't notice it until I brought it inside my house. It would look green at the feed store but when I brought it home and matched it up to the oxbow it was brown. And the oxbow I buy always smells fresh and sweet. I just found a 50 lb bale of oxbow Timothy that I bought which is green, sweet smelling, and my buns loooove it so we are happy here in the wabbitat.

I would be perfectly willing to buy cheaper hay if it had the same high quality as the oxbow I buy. But I'm also not buying from a typical "pet store" either. Concord pet supply doesn't sell live animals, just pet supplies. Sometimes they have adoptable pets from local rescues. I like supporting them :)
 
Here is the response that I got:
[FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Dear Erin,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Thank you for contacting Oxbow Animal Health. We take a great deal of pride in the quality of our products and this focus on quality is what separates us from the other products in the market. I apologize on behalf of Oxbow for not living up to our own high expectations.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Erin, in order to start a Case for Quality Assurance, I need some additional information. Please supply your address and phone number. Also, the Lot Number is located on the white, plastic clip that closes the bag (sizes 15 oz. – 90 oz. hay bags). If the hay bag is larger, 9 lb. – 50 lbs., the Lot Number is ink stamped near the label on the outside of the Oxbow box. It is a five digit number beginning with an 11 or 12. This is the number that Quality Control needs to track this exact Lot of hay. And lastly, where and when did you purchase this hay?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I truly appreciate that you chose Oxbow to feed your rabbits. I look forward to hearing from you soon.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Best Regards,


[/FONT]
 
I had to write an email to Kaytee because I was SO disappointed with their Timothy hay recently! It was just trash. Same thing everyone has been saying on here: really dusty and full of like "filler," not actual hay but grass-like fluff. A very nice lady got in touch with me and asked for the UPC codes and "use by" dates on the bags. I would suggest asking for coupons or a credit to get some replacement hay, that's what Kaytee did for me.

I am going to look up a place to get horse hay too....I just assumed it was the best idea to get hay from Petsmart, but my eyes have been opened. If I can find a good supplier, I will definitely be switching!

Good luck to you!
 
I buy multiple 9lb bags at a time. The last time I went I only bought 1 hoping it was just a bad lot. But I ran out quick and had to go back for more and it is all the same. VERY dusty, very brown. I have always bought Oxbow and my buns have loved it that's why I keep buying it at $26/bag (for the 9lb).

I WISH I WISH I could find horse hay to feed. The stuff at the feed stores around here all contain alfalfa and I have adult (or nearly adult) buns. The local farmers that I am SURROUNDED by don't know if there is Alfalfa in it.

I know my buns can't have alfalfa and it makes me really nervous to get any around here when they either don't know or aren't sure how much is in it. It seems like a 99% of the hay around me has alfalfa. I can't afford the prices of the online stores to have any shipped to be either.

Have you tried posting on Craigslist or at your local feed stores? I find it mind boggling that farmers in your area can't tell you what is in their hay :( secondly, alfalfa is very leafy and easy to spot! My heart breaks for you...$26/9 pound bag is insane...that would make a bale of hay (40 pound bale) cost like $115...WOW!!! Another suggestion, contact your county extension office and see if some could look at sample and tell you what it contains. I wish I could send you a couple bales! Good luck!
 
I buy from them A LOT, i mean a couple of the big bags every couple weeks. I buy for myself and i usually have a foster or am keeping an eye on one for someone else and also help people who have rabbits that have fallen on hard times.

I don't really know if I'm expecting any compensation. I think I just want them to know that there have been issues with the quality and see if it's typical or an issue to be expected due to the weather.
 
I think I will get some pictures tomorrow of the neighbors hay. I haven't asked him what is in his because I don't want to offend him. I know that can seem silly, but it's because of the relationship our family has with him. He is an older man set in his ways. He was my dads gym teacher in high school. He has raised many many animals. I'm afraid that if I ask and he says there is alfalfa and I don't take it that he will take it offensively or in a mindset that I don't trust him. I don't know if any of that makes sense.. all in all, it's easier not to ask lol.
 
We bought horse hay, 3 or 4 bales, this fall, and the bunnies don't like it. They eat far less than if we give the nice green Oxbow. It also contains a lot of seeds, dust, and maybe even cow poop (?). There are some green pieces in the hay, especially in the middle of the bale, but it's nowhere near as nice as Oxbow. It may have cost something like $4 per small rectangular bale (1/10 the price of oxbow, or thereabouts), but the quality is also in proportion. Our Oxbow has been of good quality. I can't find the other kinds, although I'd like to feed them. Some places online seem to be sold out of things like meadow grass, oat hay, orchard grass, bermuda grass, etc.
 
Yeah I've been very disappointed especailly in Kaytee- the last big bag I bought from them of the timothy was all like stuble and straw. Needless to say, my buns wouldn't touch the stuff.
 
I noticed on the oxbow facebook page a few people had similar comments about their timothy hay being brown and they were told to contact customer service. Please let us know how they resolve this. I really like Oxbow as a company and I expect them to stand by their products.
 

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