How long does rabbit hay stay fresh?

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

How do you keep rabbit hay fresh?

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.

Does rabbit hay get old?

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.

How often should you change your 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.

How long does fresh hay last?

If stored correctly, hay will stay good for about 12 months after harvest before losing any of its fresh taste or smell.

ALL ABOUT HAY FOR RABBITS ?

Does hay get old?

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.

Does hay lose nutrients over time?

A: Hay begins to lose its nutritional value at the time of cutting and continues to lose nutrients both while drying in the field and while in storage. The nutrients most affected by harvesting and storing are vitamins. Conversely, the protein and mineral content of hay is quite stable.

Do rabbits need fresh hay everyday?

Hay: The staple of a rabbit's diet

As grazing animals, rabbits need to have an unlimited supply of fresh hay daily. You'll want to feed your rabbit grass hays. Good types of grass hay for bunnies are timothy, orchard grass, brome and oat hay.

Can a rabbit survive on just hay?

Rabbits should be fed in a way that is as close as possible to their natural diet: mostly grass or hay. In fact, rabbits could live on hay and water alone, but we recommend providing some fresh leafy vegetables and a small amount of commercial feed.

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 moldy?

Look for Mold

Cut open a bale of hay and separate the flakes. Look for the presence of mold in any of the flakes. 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.

Should hay be stored in airtight container?

Storing hay

Hay is messy, and takes up space. Where and how we store it can be problematic – we want it out of the way, but we need to get to it several times a day. Your hay does best in the dark, where sun can't damage it. It also does best in dry places, with lots of ventilation.

How much hay should a bunny have a day?

Rabbits need at least one bundle of good quality hay that's as big as they are every day! Good quality, fresh hay should be available at all times and, ideally, rabbits should have access to growing grass for grazing, or kiln-dried grass.

Can rabbits eat as much hay as they want?

The general rule for healthy adult bunnies is no more than one-quarter cup of timothy hay-based pellets per 5 pounds of body weight each day.

Can a rabbit eat too much hay?

There's no such thing as a rabbit eating too much hay. Rabbits' teeth grow constantly. Grazing on hay helps to keep their teeth short. If your rabbit isn't eating enough hay, it'll have to have its teeth filed down by a veterinarian.

Can I eat my pet rabbit?

Rabbit meat is tender, lean, delicious and as versatile as chicken, to which it can also be compared in taste. Rabbits are easy to raise in small spaces, especially in urban or suburban settings and true to their reputation, reproduce quickly.

How can you tell if hay is fresh?

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.

Does hay expire?

Hay is a natural product that doesn't expire in the traditional sense of the term. When stored in the proper conditions, hay will retain its nutritional value for many months. Hay is required to feature a “freshest by” date that you will typically find on the back side of your hay packaging.

How long can you store timothy hay?

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

Is year old hay good?

Check the smell and look for obvious signs of mold. Generally, hay that is two to three years old is still acceptable given the right storage conditions. So before you go tossing last year's hay, give it a check over and feel confident feeding it if everything looks good.

What type of hay is best for rabbits?

Timothy Hay is by far the most popular and probably the best kind you can give your rabbit as their basic hay source. Timothy hay is a good all- around choice for unlimited offering to your rabbit. Timothy hay is a mix of leaves and stems from Timothy grass, which is a perennial bunch grass.

What do you store hay in?

"In most cases, it is recommended to elevate bales using gravel, which can reduce DM losses to 3-15%. The best option for storage is covering hay bales with tarps, which will help to prevent losses on hay stored outside."

How long can I store hay?

Hay stored undercover can maintain its quality for more than 12 months, but hay stored outdoors without cover will show significant reductions in quality, dry matter and nutrients over time. Hay can typically be stored outdoors and uncovered for up to three months, with a maximum of six months.