The grain price increase

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

I dont know what to do. I am thinking of going back to pellets. The grains took a 4 dollar a bag hike. That is big. Cant get hay right now either. Keeping it all to them selves. I dont know what to do now. I can get big round bales. If i feed pellets. I need the hay for sure.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

The food situation is abysmal, I'm so sorry you are having trouble finding hay and reasonably priced feed. At least you aren't alone...seems the whole world is going crazy expensive.

 

[skysthelimit]

Grains here for me are more expensive than the pellets, at least the oats which is all I can find. My feed store finally got some timothy mix, but it looks like straw. Come winter time, I might have to use straw for my nest and start feeding the cubes.

 

[MaggieJ]

Mary Ann, keep watching the Kijiji ads for hay in your area. It will be in short supply this year because of the drought, but some must still be available. Iggysbabysitter and I found a good local source and we preordered and prepaid hay that is still in the field. We've bought from this family farm before and know we can trust them. They will store it for us and we can get it a dozen bales at a time as needed.

i expect the price of grain to go up sharply. This year we will feed more hay and a bit less grain. We may also cull a bit harder.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

thanks maggie. I am looking. Big square bale and big round bales. If i have to i can bring home a big square bale and divid it if i have to. It think i seen it around 65 dollars. But it will last a long time. The grains. I will not pay for what they want now. I have another farmer i am going to try tomorrow and see what his price is.I will not travel far with the price of gas.<br /><br />__________ Thu Aug 02, 2012 7:34 pm __________<br /><br />

I might have to use straw for my nest and start feeding the cubes.

I always use straw in the nesting boxes. It is cheaper than hay here. I have the feeding cubes. But they dont really like it. ANd some of them are pissed on and some are in water dishes. Yuk. But if i have then i have no choice. That is my last resort.

 

[skysthelimit]

Here grass hay was $4 and straw was $6.50. I liked to feel of it, so I used the hay and wood flakes. Now I'm getting pine pellets instead of wood chips, so it's just the hay.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

Well, I found some hay ...Yaaa, But it is only grass hay first cut.BUt it is better than nothing. THe other farmer i called him. His price is higher than the farmer i was getting it from. So the grains are out now. NOw shopping for pellets. It will be interesting to see on the price of those. I will know in a few hours. Pellets with the grass hay is a good combo for the rabbits. They will still get there boss and oats. Just in a different way.

 

[MaggieJ]

Glad you found some hay, Mary Ann. Keep the contact information for next year. Grass hay with pellets should be fine.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I found some hay grown by a family that started growing it so they had hay to feed that wasn't sprayed with herbicides or insecticides and is free of chemical fertilizer. They are asking $14 a bale, but since we are going to buy 3 stacks of 58 from them, they are going to sell it to me for $13 a bale. We can squeeze about 60 bales into the shelter we have, and they are willing to store the other stacks for us!

We will be picking up the first load today!

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

I think i am going with the extruded food for the rabbits. A little more money but they will eat less of it. I hope . Here is the link for it. It is the show hutch deluxe.
http://www.blueseal.com/smallanimal/<br /><br />__________ Fri Aug 03, 2012 9:28 am __________<br /><br />

I found some hay grown by a family that started growing it so they had hay to feed that wasn't sprayed with herbicides or insecticides and is free of chemical fertilizer. They are asking $14 a bale, but since we are going to buy 3 stacks of 58 from them, they are going to sell it to me for $13 a bale. We can squeeze about 60 bales into the shelter we have, and they are willing to store the other stacks for us!

We will be picking up the first load today!

How long will that last you. ? WOW, that is allot of money for a bale of hay. I guess that is for 55 pounds. NOt the larger ones. Just curious ,how many breeders do you have?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Do they list the ingredients anywhere on the site?

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

We may also cull a bit harder

Yes , I have sold allot of my breeders to a gentleman that took over what i was doing. Because of health reason i had to down size allot. But i couldnt just get out of them totally. I have a few breeders. I dont keep any babies back this year anyways. Have to see how things goes. So i am also culling hard. Any mothers that dosnt do good on the second try, She is out. NO third strike here anymore. With the price of food and hay going up. I have to really watch who is pulling there weight and who isnt.<br /><br />__________ Fri Aug 03, 2012 9:39 am __________<br /><br />

Do they list the ingredients anywhere on the site?

I phoned and asked. They had the ingredients right on the bag. There is no corn. I am getting some today. I will post it later.