How can you tell if timothy hay is moldy?

Does timothy hay go bad?

If stored properly in a cool dark place with good ventilation, the Timothy Hay Food may keep for 6 months or longer.

What should timothy hay look like?

Timothy hay looks like long strands of dry grass. It can be light to pale green or light straw color, depending on its age and quality. The hay should have a fresh-cut grass smell. Alfalfa hay is higher in protein and calories, but timothy hay has more fiber and better calcium to phosphorus ratio.

How long does it take for hay to go bad?

Hay doesn't come stamped with an expiration date, so sometimes it's hard to know when to use it and when to toss it. Consider these points: If the hay was of good-quality when harvested and stored in a dry place with sufficient airflow, hay is likely suitable for consumption for two to three years.

What happens if a rabbit eats mold?

Mold in Feed

It's important to make sure that your rabbit doesn't consume any moldy feed or hay. Inhaling the mold spores can cause respiratory illness in a bunny. Eating moldy foods can kill him.

How To Visually Tell If Your Horse Hay Is Good Or Bad

Can rabbits eat moldy hay?

While brown hay doesn't necessarily mean your rabbit's hay is bad, the dried up stuff doesn't have as many nutrients. But, if the hay has a funky smell to it or you can see visible signs of age or mold, don't feed it to your bunny.

Can rabbits get sick from hay?

Quality of Hay

Nothing can get a rabbit sick quicker than hay that is moldy or has something wrong with it. The high quality hay you feed your rabbit should be fresh and stored properly. Excessive moisture and/or sunlight will cause damage to the hay and make it unhealthy for consumption.

How can you tell if hay is bad?

Signs that your horse hay may be bad include a lack of color or dried-out appearance, a moldy smell, excessive dust, visible mold, or excessive heat towards the center of the hay bale. Because hay provides your horse with so many essential nutrients, you must provide your horse with the best quality hay available.

How do you remove mold from hay?

To eliminate mold commonly found in hay bales, West Chester, Pa., equine veterinarian Frank Reilly suggests “flash soaking” — tearing pieces of hay off of the bale, putting them in a hay net and then under a heavy rock in a bucket of water for 10 minutes. Studies have shown this reduces the organic dust count, he says.

What Colour should timothy hay be?

Soft Timothy Hay should have these qualities:

Color: Described as hunter or deep green. Soft Timothy Hay should be noticeably darker green than Coarse or Medium Timothy Hay. Stems/Stalks: The stems of Soft hay should be very thin, less than 1/32nd of an inch, if any at all.

Why is my timothy hay soft?

Soft Timothy Hay contains mostly leaves with very few stems or seed heads. This grade of hay comes from the third harvest of Timothy Hay or an exceptionally soft second harvest. Stems, if any, will be thin and occasional seed heads will be short.

What is the difference between timothy hay and western timothy hay?

Note: Timothy Hay is more suitable for adult rabbits due to the low calcium content. Oxbow Western Timothy Hay is high in fibre, low in protein and calcium and is a good, basic grass hay with high quality nutrition.

What does good timothy hay smell like?

Good hay smells fresh and slightly sweet. Acrid or musty smells usually indicate the presence of mold.

How long does hay last in a box?

If stored correctly, hay will stay good for about 12 months after harvest before losing any of its fresh taste or smell. Even if your pet did eat it after that 12 month mark, it still wouldn't hurt them. After all, there are bags of hay being sold in retail stores that are sometimes two or more years old.

Is timothy hay dusty?

Timothy hay in general just contains a lot of dust.

Can moldy hay be saved?

Moldy hay frequently causes respiratory problems in horses. Recurrent airway obstruction, commonly known as heaves, is a lung disease that compromises a horse's ability to breathe. It is similar to asthma in humans and is a chronic condition that can only be managed, not cured.

Can you get sick from moldy hay?

Farmer's Lung is an allergic disease usually caused by breathing in the dust from moldy hay. However, dust from any moldy crop - straw, corn, silage, grain, or even tobacco - can also cause Farmer's Lung.

What is the white stuff on hay?

In hay, the white mold in the bale is the mycelium and dustiness is from the tiny spores. The potential for hay molding starts even with the standing hay crop where bacteria protects the plant from fungal and yeast infections.

What does mold look like on hay?

Look for Mold

Moldy hay generally presents as darker areas which are grey or black. If you find mold, refuse the bale – mold indicates that the hay was baled when it was too wet. Feeding moldy hay to horses can result in serious problems, such as colic.

Why does hay go Mouldy?

Rain and poor drying weather has caused some hay to be baled wetter than desired. With high humidity, normal drying in storage may not occur and hay can retain elevated levels of moisture allowing mold growth. Mold and bacteria will grow on hay (without preservative added) at moisture levels above 14% to 15%.

How often should I change my rabbits hay?

Hay bedding in a rabbit's living space should be changed once a week if the rabbit uses a litter box. If a rabbit doesn't use a little box, this hay will need to be changed once every 2-3 days. Additional hay should be added at least once daily as rabbits will likely consume this hay for food.

Is timothy hay good for rabbit bedding?

Timothy hay is not only great for your rabbit's diet, but it can also make good bedding. Hay is a warm and dry bedding material that rabbits naturally enjoy sleeping in.

How do you keep hay fresh for rabbits?

Store Hay in a dry place

Storing hay in a dry place will prevent it from locking in moisture and growing mold on your rabbit food. It will also save your hay from getting wasted. You should store the rabbit hay in a plastic bin or place like a closet that will protect it from moisture and wetness.