Farm fresh and all natural Timothy and Orchard grass hays.
Choosing hay for your bunny should involve you, your bunny, and a veterinarian if needed. Always provide unlimited grass hay.
Consider the variety of hay.
Store hay in a cooler, dry, dark place, and avoid plastic storage to prevent mustiness.
Just like grass in a lawn is mowed several times a year, hay is also cut multiple times annually. Farmers can often get two or three harvests from a single hay field in one year.
The first cut is called the first cutting, the second is called the second cutting, and the third is called the third cutting. Each cutting of hay yields softer blades of grass.
Farmers who specialize in hay for small animals must adhere to strict quality controls. The hay must be perfectly dry, have a good mix of grasses, be pesticide-free, contain no contaminants, and be suitable for sensitive digestion systems. Be cautious of hay with only one type of grass, as it might be grown using pesticides or invasive tillage techniques. Nature prefers biodiversity over purity.
Once hay is cut, it lies on the ground basking inthe sun. During this time, farmers flip and fluff it several times to ensure even drying. Hay left in the sun too long loses its green color and nutritional value. When it's dried just right, it's collected and compressed in a process called baling.
The quality and consistency of the hay depend on the farmer's processes and meticulous quality control. Larger hay companies may have inconsistency due to sourcing from multiple farmers.
First Cut Hay:
Second Cut Hay:
Third Cut Hay:
