Is timothy hay the same as straw?

Straw is yellow, and it is made from grain crops (like wheat) by removing the grain and chaff. Straw has no seeds, and it is used for animal bedding, mulch, or compost. Hay is yellow or green, and it is made from dried grasses or legumes (like alfalfa). Hay has seeds, and it is used as animal feed.

Is Timothy grass hay or straw?

Hay is often a tall field grass, usually a variety called Timothy.

What is the difference between hay & straw?

Hay is a crop that is grown and harvested as a feed crop for cattle, horses and other farm animals. Straw on the other hand is a byproduct of a grain crop; in our area it's usually usually wheat straw that we see.

Can I use hay instead of straw for bedding?

They look similar, but while straw makes excellent bedding for outdoor cat shelters, hay becomes a soggy mess. Hay is typically used to feed animals, like horses. It soaks up moisture, making it cold and uncomfortable for cats—and has the potential to get moldy.

What's the difference between hay and straw for rabbits?

Hay should have long stalks of various grasses; it should be dry, but with evidence of green about it. Straw, on the other hand, has larger, obviously hollow stalks, and it's usually a tell-tale yellow color.

The Difference Between Hay and Straw

What is the best bedding for rabbits?

The best bedding for rabbits can help to keep your pet healthy for longer. A rabbit's bedding must keep them safe, comfortable, and warm. Rabbits often eat their bedding, so it cannot be toxic. Shredded paper, Aspen shreds, specialist litter or pellets, and hay are all safe options.

Does hay turn into straw?

When the plants are left intact and bundled up, it's hay. But when the seed heads are removed, the plant stalk that's left behind is straw, a hollow tube that has many uses, including animal bedding on farms and mulch in gardens.

Can I use hay instead of straw in my garden?

This material is used more for animal bedding as it has little nutritional value left. But, it's also a great option for gardens. When deciding on hay vs straw, straw is the better option for the veggie garden. Hay bales often contain weed seeds and you don't want to make more work for yourself!

Which straw is best for bedding?

Wheat straw is the most common type used. It makes a warm, comfortable bed that is easy to handle as well as allowing free drainage. Wheat straw is usually readily available although it does tend to be the dustiest straw.

What can I use instead of straw for cat shelter?

You can use shredded paper as bedding. Make sure it's shredded, not just folded newspapers. Cats need to be able to burrow into the bedding, if they just lie on top of it they won't be any warmer. Another option is Mylar thermal blankets, these are sold at outdoor goods and camping stores.

What's cheaper hay or straw?

Is straw or hay cheaper? Straw is way cheaper than hay. The average straw bale only costs under $3 while the hay bale starts at $7 and above.

Do cows eat hay or straw?

Straw can constitute up to about 60% of the brood-cow ration but has only about half the value of hay in growing rations. Straw can be used in combination with other feeds as the major roughage for beef cows. Grinding straw can increase intake 10-15%.

Do horses eat hay or straw?

While quality hay and pasture grass are the ideal sources of forage for most horses, there are some cases in which eating straw is a suitable alternative or supplement. “Yes, horses can eat straw,” said equine nutritionist, Shannon Pratt-Phillips, PhD.

Why is it called timothy hay?

It is probably named after Timothy Hanson, an American farmer and agriculturalist said to have introduced it from New England to the southern states in the early 18th century. Upon his recommendation it became a major source of hay and cattle fodder to British farmers in the mid-18th century.

What's the difference between Timothy grass and timothy hay?

Timothy hay is a mix of leaves and stems from Timothy grass, which is a perennial bunch grass. Timothy grass is a cool-season grass and it works well for bunnies with delicate digestive systems. It provides very good fibre content and is a thick, coarse hay.

What kind of hay is timothy hay?

Timothy hay is a grass hay. Another type of grass hay is meadow hay. This is softer than Timothy hay, and may include some edible plants such as dandelions.

What rots quicker straw or shavings?

Straw. Bales of straw are much cheaper and quicker to rot down than their popular counterpart, shavings.

Is straw better than shavings?

Straw Straw is an inexpensive, readily available bedding choice. Good-quality straw is less dusty—but is also less absorbent—than shavings or sawdust. If the stall is bedded properly, the straw can form a comfortable mat barrier between manure and urine, which settles to the bottom of the stall.

Do horses prefer straw or shavings?

In studies, horses have preferred straw and shavings equally, not preferring one over the other. Studies also have found that horses prefer bedding over a hard surface, meaning that any bedding substrate is better than none.

Can I use timothy hay for mulch?

Can You Mulch with Hay in the Garden? The answer is yes, and many master gardeners swear by it. It's not an obvious choice because it is soft, dense, and spongy. It soaks up water and remains moist, which may seem a little unsanitary.

Which is better for grass straw or hay?

Choose hay from crops specifically planted for forage, such as alfalfa or timothy grass, to feed various animals. Aged hay contains nutrients that can enrich the soil. Fact 2: Straw is the hollow shaft left over after crops have been harvested. The stiff, hollow composition of straw makes it a great insulator.

Can timothy hay compost?

Timothy hay also has its own set of nutritional benefits for your plants and soil as the hay begins to break down, decompose and turn into organic matter. This organic matter is also known as compost and as you know compost provides so many rich nutrients for your plants.

Does straw attract mice?

Damp cloth and straw is an attractive home and water source for rodents.

What kind of straw should I use in my garden?

The best straw for gardening comes from wheat or oats, if you can get it. Most of the seed has been removed depending on how effective the farmer's thresher is and how much weed has grown in his field.

Why do farmers leave bales of hay in fields?

You might find hay bales left in a field simply because a farmer hasn't had time to stop by and grab the bales yet. Most farmers work overtime during the summer to get the hay in the barn by the time the fields stop producing.