Making own hay?

[MyGrandbunns]

Hello dear Bunny Family,
I have a question- probably a stupid one.. but I have long grass in my back garden- not sprayed or anything. I wondered if i could pick some and let it dry to feed bunny man. Has anyone every done that or is it not safe?
He loves the fresh grass so I give him some along with his Timothy hay. Speaking of which- i find he loves the Timothy hay when it is fresh from a new back. After a few weeks even with the bag folded over to try and keep it fresh, he goes off it!
Have a good day everyone and dear Bunns )

 

[Catlyn]

Not a stupid one at all.
I know a few people who have done so. I've also done it. Our patch of land is right across the road from some wild grass on nobody's land, so for the past two years or so i've been taking a chunk of it and drying as treat hay for my rabbits. I just laid the grass outside if it was sunny to speed up the drying process, then i would move it into the bun room onto grids to dry.

 

[Livia]

It's definitely safe and a good idea.
I personally dry some grass (that's ment for sheep) every summer when I visit home. As Catlyn said it's best to dry it outside in the sun, for it to dry the quickest spread it out in thin layers and also it's important to turn it over at least once.
The only downside to this is that your rabbit will become spoiled, in my case my bunny only eats hay that comes from a local farm.

 

[Catlyn]

Being spoiled or not also depends on the rabbit. But maybe also from where their main hay is sourced from- ours have always gotten local farm hay in bales, so they didn't mind if the 'homemade' hay was no longer avaliable.
Dad told us that Storm had raised a fuss and refused to eat the store-packaged hay that the ER vet clinic provided for him, so the techs had to go get some baled hay from their farm animal section. He started happily eating it, the tech told dad on the following call.
As long as the dried grass is just a treat/supplement to main dry hay, i wouldn't worry about somebun becoming 'spoiled.'

 

[Preitler]

I make about half the hay I need to feed 6-10 rather big rabbits through winter myself. Whenever possible they get the fresh forage.

I even built a manual baling press, bales need way less space and they store well if the hay is dry enough.

 

[MyGrandbunns]

It's definitely safe and a good idea.
I personally dry some grass (that's ment for sheep) every summer when I visit home. As Catlyn said it's best to dry it outside in the sun, for it to dry the quickest spread it out in thin layers and also it's important to turn it over at least once.
The only downside to this is that your rabbit will become spoiled, in my case my bunny only eats hay that comes from a local farm.

Thanks so much for your reply and yes haha our bunnys get to expecting it!

 

[MyGrandbunns]

I make about half the hay I need to feed 6-10 rather big rabbits through winter myself. Whenever possible they get the fresh forage.

I even built a manual baling press, bales need way less space and they store well if the hay is dry enough.

Oh thats great to hear- what a fine family of bunny's- hehe one keeps me busy!

 

[MyGrandbunns]

Being spoiled or not also depends on the rabbit. But maybe also from where their main hay is sourced from- ours have always gotten local farm hay in bales, so they didn't mind if the 'homemade' hay was no longer avaliable.
Dad told us that Storm had raised a fuss and refused to eat the store-packaged hay that the ER vet clinic provided for him, so the techs had to go get some baled hay from their farm animal section. He started happily eating it, the tech told dad on the following call.
As long as the dried grass is just a treat/supplement to main dry hay, i wouldn't worry about somebun becoming 'spoiled.'

Many thanks Catlyn..yes he does love his"home" grass- i remember buying cheaper hay called meadow hay and the bunns were quite displeased until their beloved Timothy hay returned. They love those long crunchy bits so much!
Have a good day

 

[JBun]

The main concern with feeding fresh forage, is the risk of calicivirus. If your rabbits aren't vaccinated, feeding fresh forage is usually not recommended.

FORAGING FOR WILD PLANTS — Frances Harcourt-Brown

www.harcourt-brown.co.uk

 

[MyGrandbunns]

The main concern with feeding fresh forage, is the risk of calicivirus. If your rabbits aren't vaccinated, feeding fresh forage is usually not recommended.

FORAGING FOR WILD PLANTS — Frances Harcourt-Brown

www.harcourt-brown.co.uk

M

 

[MyGrandbunns]

Many thanks for the advice. I only pick the fresh grass (unsprayed etc as i have other pets and hate toxic sprays ) in my own backyard. Which is fully fenced. Though cats visit from from time to time. We are in NZ- no wild beasts lurking where i am apart from birds and hedgehoggies )