Kermit the frog once proclaimed “it ain’t easy being green.” That apparently applies to frogs as well as hay. As the parents of little hay munching machines, hay is a subject very close to all of us, but most know little about this particular item. It seems the more we talk about it, the more questions we receive. So here's another talk about... hay!

Hay is the name for a number of different species of grass. In our particular case we are most concerned with a specific type of hay – timothy. Timothy is an important food source for lagomorphs due to its low calcium and high fiber levels. But what IS it? If you have ever seen grass grow on a lawn? It is a lot more like that than you may have thought. Timothy is grown in fields primarily in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Nevada as it does particularly well in cool, higher altitude locations.

Like any other natural item it is subject to the whims of mother nature and she can be really fickle at times. You know how you see tomatoes in the grocery store and they look really good, bright red, and oh so tasty while other times they look like a pale pink rock. Hay has those same sorts of problems. Sometimes it is bright green and smells so fresh you want to eat it yourself. Other times it appears sort of yellow and dry…really dry.

To ‘make’ that hay for your bunnies is a bit like gambling. You see, farmers have to grow the hay in large fields. They go through during the year to remove weeds using a variety of methods. Then once the hay is mature and the seed heads are developed it is time to ‘cut’ the hay. This is done with large tractor driven mowers, not unlike the mower you use on your lawn. However, this lawn is often hundreds of acres or more.

The hay is cut down, then rolled into ‘windrows’ which look like concentric rings in the field. This row is rolled over a couple of times over a period of a few days. This allows the hay to dry to the right moisture content. Too much water in the hay and your bales mold, too little water and your bunnies don’t like it. As a result some fields may be a bit drier or wetter than another. Another aspect is rain. Farmers ‘try’ to harvest so rain won’t be an issue, but mother nature may have her own plans.

Then these rows are sucked up into a machine that packs the loose hay together and slices off the sides to form a bale, which looks sort of like a giant brick of hay. This bale is then picked up and stored in large barns. From the moment the hay is cut down, it begins to dry. Hay may be baled at roughly 18% moisture, but that will decrease from that point on.

We often get the question,“Is the hay fresh?” The answer for that is yes…and no.

First cut hay is just that…the first cutting of the season. Just like the first time you mow your lawn in the year. For timothy this often occurs, well, right now. In much of the country the first cut is made in July, weather permitting, and if nature cooperated all during the growing season. It isn’t like there is exactly one day in which the harvest is ready. The seed heads are allowed to develop to a certain extent and then it is cut. You only get one first cut per year.

The hay will continue to grow as it tries to find a way to survive. To do this, as cutting is a rather traumatic experience for the hay, it is forced to send out more leaves in order to facilitate photosynthesis. As more leaves develop and the grass stalk grows, the leaves below are shaded by the ones above and photosynthesis declines resulting in some browner leaves. However the tradeoff for all these leaves is a softer texture to the hay. Once this hay is tall enough and mature enough, it too is cut and the baling process begins again. This is second cut hay…the one that most bunnies often prefer. This hay is typically harvested in September.

So, is the hay fresh? Well, it is, and it is the freshest you can get it, but each cutting of hay happens only once a year. It has to last until the next cut is ready a year later. Second cut hay that you buy now was cut in early fall of last year. As a result, when you get the second cut right after it is harvested it is bright and green and smells oh so wonderful (unless you have hay allergies!), as the year goes on, the hay continues to dry and loses more and more moisture every month. So, even in the middle of winter, your hay is a fresh as it can be, but it was still harvested the previous fall.

Aside from this there will be variations from farmer to farmer, field to field and row by row. Some will be cut when it is greener. Some won’t be able to be cut until it has matured further or the weather improves or the baler is fixed (they do break down). There are a whole slew of reasons for the differences between any one box or bale of hay and another.

There are even some farmers that add items like iron powder to make your hay artificially greener during harvest. It doesn’t help the nutrient analysis any but it might look prettier. Just like how they gas tomatoes in the store to make them redder to appeal to the consumer. You don’t need it and it doesn’t help you any, but the tomato will look prettier. We make sure to avoid those sorts of tricks with the hay we buy. You don’t need tricks for the food you are going to provide to your beloved bunnies. We rely on quality farmers and hay companies that value quality.

So the next time you open your bag or box of hay, realize all the work and quality that went into that seemingly simple item.

All of our products are chosen because they are awesome for your house rabbit. However, some items find themselves underappreciated for some reason. I thought I'd take a moment and give these underappreciated items a little play!

The toy's shape, texture and smell will be of interest to many bunnies who are not familiar with toys, enticing them to explore through nudging, rolling or chewing. The name says it all -- it is an all natural willow, woven into a tight but light ball. Ball measures 6 inches in diameter.
Bunnycat Hideout These were made to give cats a place to hide out and get away from it all, but they are fabulous for bunnies. I know, because ours love it! So, they have entrances that look like a cat outline, but if you sort of squint it could just as easily be a Netherland Dwarf...they have short little ears too! Plus, our bunnies just modify the openings as they see fit. At this price...you're crazy not to get a few! Size: 16" long x 8" wide x 9" high (so it isn't for the big bunnies, but is great for small bunnies, guinea pigs, etc.). Has three doorways which the bunnies love to modify.
Tuscan Bowl Wow, these are nicer than my dishes at home! They come in a wonderful set of colors that are sure to enhance any bunny home. Your bunny may not care what you use as long as there is food in it, but you'll sure notice just how nice these bowls look...and you're the one that has to fill and clean them, so why not get a bowl that'll make YOU smile? Approximately 5 inch diameter to hold plenty of food or treats. Comes in green, red, yellow, and blue.
Just Carrots (Organic!) A fun way to treat your pets (and yourself), the name says it all! JUST CARROTS... absolutely nothing added! Dehydrated carrots make for a flavorful, crunchy treat! Intense concentrated, all natural flavor for carrot lovers. Use as a fun treat for your bunny, or use in your own kitchen!
Bunny Playland Tube Made of thick cardboard. 30 inches long with a 10 inch inside diameter for even those bigger bunnies. Also includes two simple wooden stands to put tube in so it won't roll away with the bunny in it! Makes your bunny more secure and able to use the tube

One of our customers told us about her fantastic work she does in conjunction with some long eared friends.

We have a small non-profit called Bunnies in Baskets. Basically, I take my socialized house rabbit(s) around to nursing homes and schools for "bunny assisted interactions" and humane education. Our website is www.bunniesinbaskets.org and we frequently order from you. Here are some photos!
Thanks for everything you do! :)

Sarah Baran (and buns!)

Her group is right here in Oregon! Their web site explains they "meet and greet" with seniors, adults, and children who may benefit from volunteer "bunny assisted interactions" for motivation or enhanced quality of life.

We'll be sending Sarah and her helpers a basket of treats to say thanks for sharing! Send us your photos or story for a chance to be a winner! We do BunFun about twice a month, so that's two chances a month to win!

HRS Offers Special Educational Seminar
Master Seminar 2: Advanced Rabbit Speake is a unique educational opportunity to learn in depth what your rabbit's moves and moods can tell you. See the flyer for more information.

New Show on Animal Planet Exposes Animal Hoarding
Premiering July 21, at 9 PM E/P, Confessions: Animal Hoarding delves into the hearts and minds of individuals afflicted with this disorder and provides a voice for the family and friends who are determined to prevent their loved ones from spinning further out of control. In each of the six episodes, cameras will enter the homes of men and women—from their early 20s through the retirement years—discovering what it's like for animals and people to live in toxic conditions that result from an unbelievably large menagerie of animals. Highlighting the rescue work of The Humane Society of the United States in selected cases, this groundbreaking Animal Planet series gets to the heart of the matter, exploring the reasons why these individuals turned to hoarding and how their problems spun rapidly out of control. A program like this will no doubt be hard for animal lovers to watch, but this is an issue which needs more exposure and understanding.