How do you feed hay? (container?)

[TerriG]

We tried a homemade hay rack, but they were wasting so much. We switched to suet containers and sometimes we hang them, sometimes they are on the floor, etc. They seem to enjoy the change, although I have one doe that will only eat it when hung, and one buck that won't eat it out of the suet container. We have to put it loose on his floor. I give them hay every night.

Anyway, now that it is cold, it is harder to use the suet containers since my fingers get so cold. Looking for ideas. Pics would be great My dh hates that they waste so much of it, so we need to keep waste to a minimum.

 

[avdpas77]

You can look at the "comercial" hay feeders at Klubertanz, Bass, etc and get some ideas. If you are feeding clover or alfalfa hay, expect them to prefer the stems and let the leaves fall through. Even if you leave the leaves in a crock, they probably won't eat them. Remember, rabbits in the wild eat "browse" as much as anything (think seedling trees and bushes) and not always the tender clover that we often see them munching on.

I have tried hay rack (where they have to pull the hay through the cage wire) and they work to some extent, but I usually just stick with medium quality hay and realize the lost stuff is going into the manure to be compost. I guess I have learned to accept that. I can see it would be much more of a concern in a expensive hay area, but I usually can get half clover/half grass hay for $2-$4 a bale.

 

[Frecs]

My rabbits did NOT like me using the "hay holder" part of their J-Feeder. I then tried using toilet paper rolls as I'd heard that some rabbits enjoyed that. Mine did not. Mine prefer that I pile it on the floor of their cage, thanks very much. They eat some, they spread the rest around to lay on.

 

[TerriG]

I have tried hay rack (where they have to pull the hay through the cage wire) and they work to some extent, but I usually just stick with medium quality hay and realize the lost stuff is going into the manure to be compost. I guess I have learned to accept that. I can see it would be much more of a concern in a expensive hay area, but I usually can get half clover/half grass hay for $2-$4 a bale.

Right now we are feeding Timothy in bags, but are going to switch to whatever we can find in bales (other than alfalfa).

 

[AnnClaire]

In the winter, I make hay rings ... take the hay, sort of tease it out as you are rolling it until you have a "rope" and twist it into a ring and twist the ends around ... sort of in a knot.

They have to work at it to get to the parts that are tightly twisted and I find that they waste less this way.

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

I was forced to buy a bale of alfalfa from Tractor Supply-- it is so compressed,. the leaves are not much better than fines--So-- I am feeding small quantities in bowls for the rabbits in the shed, and the doe with litter that is in my house-- I stuff an oatmeal box, lay it on it's side in the cage, and the babies and momma just eat out of that. I also am soaking the extruded alfalfa cubes in warm water every day, and give that in the evening-- gives the outdoor rabbits a warm, wet, tummy filling meal.
I cannot believe that I paid 20 dollars for a bale of hay!!!

 

[Frecs]

I cannot believe that I paid 20 dollars for a bale of hay!!!

Gasp! If I'd paid that much for hay, I would be as careful with every little leaf, too! I use Coastal Bermuda which I paid all of $3 per bale for...thus, the ability to just let them using it as bedding as well as food...and no tears shed over what falls to the ground... :bunnyhop:

 

[BlueLove16]

indoor rabbits, i use shipping boxes, that has the thicker cardboard, and cut holes in them and zip tie them to the pen above their litter boxes. they shred the cardboard and hay makes little to no mess...the rabbits outside i have in kennels so i keep flakes in between the kennels they just just pull at or above the kennel they can reach up and grab it

 

[AnnClaire]

Yeah, alfalfa would not work in a knot ... when I was feeding that, I used pyrex pie plates ... the sides are just high enough to keep most of the adult rabbit out, short enough for the babies to crawl into ... you know, that one or two that just have to be in the MIDDLE of the food

 

[Oceanrose]

I use hayracks I made out of leftover hardware cloth. I hooked them to the outside of the cages. 2 cages share 1 rack. I lose some hay underneath, and some because I'm klutzy filling them, but the bunnies themselves waste very little with this setup.

 

[mystang89]

Ocean, is there any way you can take a picture? I have some left over Hardware Cloth and that doesn't sound like a bad idea. I might try to put something underneath for any dropped.

 

[Oceanrose]

Here is a photo:

I just eyeballed them and cut to size and secured with cable ties. I stuff them full every 3-4 days, and the bunnies work their way through them in that amt of time. You can see the waste that falls underneath in the one on the right. Most of this is from when I fill them, though a little bit drops through. You probably could put a container there. I just clean the aisle as the last step in cleaning the rabbitry and haul it out to the compost heap instead of spreading it on my beds. If I'm in a real hurry I rake it under the cages, which just mixes with everything else. It does keep the cages clean, and the angora coats free of hay. That was the reason for the design, I wanted their coats clean.

 

[3mina]

I feed alfalfa/Timothy cubes, I get some waste but not like I would if I was feeding loose hay

 

[KKRabbitry]

I just put a little pile on the floor. I make sure to give a very small amount, since it drives my crazy when they waste, then it gets stuck in their fur, and wet and nasty....yuck. So I give small amounts, but frequently. At least twice a day.

 

[ZRabbits]

All my rabbits get their hay in their litter boxes. That's how I've always taught my rabbits their litter box training. I know where their corners are and place the hay in the opposite side. Also makes for easy cleaning of crates. Even my LH's stay clean. Only once in a while do I pull a bit of hay while grooming.

Karen

 

[BlueLove16]

i would love to be able to find alfalfa/timothy cubes but can only find alfalfa cubes which they get one everyday to knaw on and i replace it when its gone

 

[ZRabbits]

Actually found Timothy cubes, bought them, but all mine do is play with them so I know they are not getting the hay they need.

Did you try Oxbow? Don't know if they have the mix, but they do sell the timothy cubes.

Karen

 

[mystang89]

I think I might try Oceans way except instead of putting them on the outside I might put a smaller version on the inside since I have rabbits right above them that might pee in the outside hay, at least until I get a urine guard made.

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

Gasp! If I'd paid that much for hay, I would be as careful with every little leaf, too! I use Coastal Bermuda which I paid all of $3 per bale for...thus, the ability to just let them using it as bedding as well as food...and no tears shed over what falls to the ground... :bunnyhop:

I am in an area affected by two years of poor summer growing conditions. Hay is in VERY short supply- anyone with extra hay to sell is selling it fast and not locally!!! Sadly, the local farm co-op stopped carrying Lucerne-a lot less expensive, and less waste. The TSC bales are very compressed, and come from Idaho!!!I Live in Ohio----

 

[caroline]

I tried to make a hay feeder that attached to the outside of the cage but most of my cages really don't have a convenient place to do that since so much of the available space is taken up with feeders and water. So for a long time I just put the hay in the cage on the floor. A LOT seemed to be wasted by sifting through the floor and onto the dirt below. Sometimes I could pick up dry hay and put in back into the cages but much of the time it was just raked up with the manure and ended up in the garden. Hay is EXPENSIVE where I live. Most bales are $16-$20. I'm luck to have found a rancher that grows it about an hour up the coast and I can buy a load for $7.00/bale but I still hate to see most of it go for mulch.

Then a couple of times I noticed a woman at a rabbit show feeding her rabbits hay by just sticking a 6"-8" handful in the 1x2 cage wire. So after the second time I saw this I determined to try it.

Well I really like this option. I wear leather gloves since there are lots of "sticky" bits in the bales. I take a handful and twist it a bit so that one end can be fed through the 1x2 wire. Then I take the other end and bend it around the adjacent 1x2 opening and stuff it in there. The hay then stays pretty well in that U shape while the bunz munch on it.

There is still some waste but it doesn't seem like nearly as much as I saw when I just put the hay on the cage floor.