Compressed Oaten Hay Bales (LARGE SIZE) (Sydney & Surround Only)
Oaten hay is vet-recommended as a great high-fibre food for all rabbits, which helps maintain rabbit digestive health. Oaten Hay should be given in addition to nutrient-dense foods, such as rabbit mix and pellets.
These oaten hay bales are highly compressed, and the feedback we have had from our customers is that these bales are often superior to other oaten hay bales and are especially suited to small animals like rabbits and guinea pigs.
Hay is an integral part of a rabbit's diet and should ideally make up about 70% of their food intake.
Disclaimer:
1 of 2. Please select this option only if you are in Sydney or the surrounding areas, such as the Central Coast, Newcastle, Wollongong, and select Blue Mountains areas, including Katoomba. If you are outside these areas, please select the compressed oat hay labelled 'Regional NSW and Interstate'.
2 of 2. There are no refunds if you are not satisfied with the quality of the oaten hay. Everyone's definition of what is acceptable oaten hay is different, and some rabbits are very fussy, and we can't be held hostage to these subjective opinions. This includes if you find some mould in your bale. Yes, oaten hay often has some amount of mould due to being harvested only once a year and left in farm paddocks for long periods. 99% of the time, it goes unnoticed, and the rabbits are fine. We do our best to source the greenest hay, and 90% of the time, it's great. However, every batch varies, and we cannot guarantee it will always be to everyone's liking.
Bale Size (cm): 60 W x 42 D x 43 H (approx) Bale Weight: 22 to 28 kg (approx) (usually about 25kg)
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. Hi. I'd like to know about the calcium content of this product. My vet recommends feeding my guinea pigs hay that is low in calcium, specifically Oaten or Timothy hay.
A. After making a few enquiries, I was not able to find out the calcium levels for this oat hay, as it's not something that the farmers test for. However, I found a guinea pig website that suggests Oaten Hay, in general, has lower levels of calcium than most other types of hay.
Q. Why does my oat hay look browner and drier than other types of hay?
A. Oaten hay, by its nature, does look more dried out and brown compared to other green hays like lucerne. Some people are shocked when they see oat hay for the first time, especially if they are accustomed to lush green lucerne hay. Some people have even mistaken it for straw hay initially, but after a while, they come to recognise the subtle green and brown colour of oaten hay as totally usual. Despite its less appealing colour, oaten hay is still very attractive and healthy for rabbits and guinea pigs.
Q. How long can Oaten Hay be stored before it goes bad?
A. To increase the shelf life of oaten hay, it's best to keep it in a cool, dry place. Keeping it dry and moisture-free is especially important, as even a slight amount of moisture can eventually lead to decay and mould growth on the hay.
Q. Do these oat hay bales contain a lot of grain, as my bunny really likes this part of the hay?
A. These bales do have some grain, and from our experience, they generally have more grain than our regular oaten bales, but this does vary from batch to batch.
Q. Is your oaten hay organic?
A. From the supplier: The Oaten Hay is not organic, as it could have come from several different properties, making it difficult to trace. Needless to say, any treatment would have no residual properties. It is as clean and chemical-free as we can make it. Organic Hay is sometimes available, but due to the low volume and handling costs, it is four to five times more expensive.
Q. Where does this oaten hay come from?
A. According to our supplier, this oaten hay is grown in South Australia. The cooler climate in this region is conducive to growing oats.
Q. Can i ask where your oaten hay is harvested from? I'm hoping it is far away from where the new rabbit virus has currently affected.
A. We posed this question to our supplier and got the following response: "We are fortunate enough to know that our products are grown in a particular part of South Australia. We just spoke to the farmer who grows our Oaten Hay, and he assured us that rabbits are not an ongoing problem in this particular landscape, which is unsuitable for them due to its flat terrain. Furthermore, there is also a high population of foxes that benefits farmers by keeping away crop-eating herbivores, such as rabbits. Due to this ecosystem, there is no need to release RHDV strains, and as a result, the disease is not prevalent in the area. We work with numerous pet shops across Australia, and we have never received any reports of contamination issues related to RHDV. Hopefully, this is a good indicator of the quality of our product. Unfortunately, as with any farmed product, we cannot fully guarantee it as it is grown outside in the elements. We hope that in the future vaccinations will be available to pet owners such as yourself to protect the loved members of your family"
A. Do the hay bales come covered or wrapped?
Q. Yes, these bales are shipped wrapped, usually with two garbage bags.
Some general tips to help keep Oaten hay dry:
Please keep it away from direct sunlight. Keep away from direct contact with the floor, grass, and other surfaces. Place hay on some timber or other dry mat. Replace or sweep the mat regularly to help prevent moisture buildup.
Ideally, it's recommended to use the oat hay as soon as possible, within a month or so. However, oat hay can be kept for months, even up to 4 months or more, in ideal conditions. It's best to check the hay regularly for any signs of decay or moulding, especially when storing oaten hay for longer periods.
Disclaimer: Since hay is a natural fibre, it may, in some rare cases, go bad prematurely despite everyone's best intentions and care. This information in no way assures that any given hay is safe to feed to their pets. This decision is up to the pet owner. Oaten Hay bales may include some non-oaten hay material, like other plants, leaves, bark, etc, which is collected unintentionally during the collection process. This is normal and unavoidable.
Please do not consider any information on this website as expert advice. Always seek expert advice before using any of our products or caring for any pets or plants.
Image Disclaimer: The image of oaten hay on this page is for marketing purposes only and is not the actual oaten hay for sale here. The actual item for sale may differ significantly from the image on this page.