Food Care Question

[JT_Hunter]

My rabbits are housed outside in a tent, and my food for them is also kept in a similar situation (on the table to the right). . I have the pellets kept in a large plastic old cooler I also feed grass hay, and for now it is just on top of an old plastic table. I am concerned that the grass hay may get damp, as it is usually very humid here. I have no way to keep this stuff indoors. Does anyone have a suggestion for me on how to keep the food source as fresh as possible. I know that the grass hay could get moldy and be a problem. How would I know if it is moldy?
Picture of my rabbitry. The entry way is also my picknick area...wood storage...etc...yea...that is a laptop sitting there...hey, I am in IT
Also included a picture of one of my 5 week old hoppers...have 6 total, with more on the way next week

 

[SatinsRule]

You'll have to pay really close attention to the hay you're feeding. The molds which often develop in hay will be very small at first, but your first indication will usually be if there seems to be an excessive amount of dust which flies out as you peel it off in flakes (all bales will break down into what horse farmers refer to flakes, which is about 4-6 inch thick pads of hay).

The drier the hay is before it's baled, the better and longer it will tend to store. If it's been baled before it was allowed to dry properly, or if it was stored in a barn which has alot of moisture pass thru it on a regular basis, mold will develop more rapidly within the bale. The first bale I bought this year was bermuda grass. It's a good all-around hay, but it can be problematic if it wasn't allowed to dry fully before baling. The one I bought wasn't and I wound up throwing out most of it. Right now, I have regular straw. It's not much for feed purposes, but it's great for bedding and in show carriers, and it's dry as the Mojave desert.

 

[JT_Hunter]

I kind of figured I might all ready have some mold as I am seeing that dust you are talking about...guess I better pitch this batch and get more...but, how can I keep in so it won't get moldy...any ideas...my rabbits love the stuff

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

Store the hay up high-- ow much do you get at a time? Ventilation all around the bale is important-- I beleive Rabbit geek recommends storing in large plastic bags for those who live in the city-- so-- a good, sturdy contractors bag should hold a bale-- Tie it and lay it so water cannot enter through the end Keep it in a cool place

I found that having a source that knew I would want say, two bales every couple weeks worked out nice-- I would pick up a bale that was properly stored in her barn-- And I kept my rabbits much as you do00 under a tarp!! Feeds were kept in their bags, in metal trash cans with tight lids, set on Pallets down part of the center aisle. Pallets kept the cans off the wet ground, and help maintain an even temp around the whole trash can. When keeping animals the way you are-- it is important to have enough on hand to get through rough spots,(Like a snowstorm that cripples the road crews) but not so much that you lose a lot if something goes wrong. Having a reliable, safe source is a big help!

 

[ladysown]

i'd keep it in a cardboard box or something that breathes so that moist air doesn't stay. and with your set up... a piece of cardboard over top. get small quantities.

so a cardboard box set inside an OPEN plastic tote would work well... and then cover with cardboard again so something peaked in case of condensation. Hay needs air to stay dry. Tarp often don't breathe enough.

 

[MaggieJ]

I've used a sling made from an old cotton bed sheet to store loose hay. I made a knot in each corner of the sheet and zip-tied the knots to large nails in the wall. It was in a shed, not under a tarp though, so I'm not sure how it would work for you, JT, but I thought I'd throw the idea out there for consideration. It certainly allows air flow.

 

[JT_Hunter]

Thanks Terry....I have only been using very little so far as everyone is primarily on pelets, but I want to change that ratio over time. I am also going to be buying some alfalfa to help grow out the little ones. I had wondered about using garbage cans, and or plastic bags. I will give that a try. I have made arrangements to pick up more on my way home tonight. Right now I do not use enough to warrant a regular stop, but the farmers put up with me. So far, I have only bought one bale of the grass hay, as I just got started back in March. I have 6 bunnies at 5 weeks old now, and another little due one week from now...I have one buck and 2 does for breeding...and will be picking up a second buck hopefully this weekend....dang this can grow pretty fast<br /><br />__________ Thu May 26, 2011 9:42 am __________<br /><br />Cardboard eh...yea that might work out great...as well as your suggestion Maggie...sounds good...but I think I will get some dampness under my tarps from rain splash...the bunnies are totally protected...but not the area where I keep the foods...

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

One of the issues with garbage cans-- or even bags-- even if there is 'dry' hay in them-- a sudden drop in temps will cause condensation and there does need to be air circulation under the bale-- the way you have yours on the table does not permit this-- and moisture will collect on the 'bottom' while the top stays dry.
I found my rabbits did benefit,in the muscling up department, anyway, was by putting hay flakes on the tops of the cages-- they ate the flakes from the bottom, stood up in periscope mode to reach it!- So, if your cages open from the front-- that could be an option for at least one bale-- a way to free feed hay and store it at the same time..

 

[JT_Hunter]

Great idea Terry...I was thinking about that at lunch time...but did not know if they would then just eat the grass hay and never go to the pellets if I put the hay on top of the cages...will they eat both...as they need...or will they go for the hay and not touch the pellets...what about the alfalfa for grow out...Shhh...meat rabbits...shhh...I imagine the alfalfa gets stored the same way..

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

Hay is better for the rabbits-- if they choose the hay over the pellets, and eat the pellets as supplement, your food costs decrease dramatically. Now, I paid a lot of money to a vet specialist-- and she told me, good quality hay before pellets--!!! And anything you can do to encourage activity inside the cage is beneficial to the buns. When the rabbits make a chearleader-type pyramid to reach the hay, take a pic and put it on YouTube or someplace!