Is hay safe for AGs?

[rjhammy]

We have a 2-year old CAG named Ash.

 

We just brought home a pair of bunnies, father and daughter (don't worry, they're neutered and spade) from the shelter. Now our house REALLY smells like zoo!

 

Anyways, Ash... the ever-nosy-all-knowing-queen, was wandering around the room and started rummaging through my box of hay for the rabbits. She seems to be so intrigued by each individual straw of hay. It was as if she made her life's mission to pull out each straw from the box individually.

 

I let her do it for about 20 minutes... and jumped on the computer to see if it was okay for her to play in the hay. Seems like it's fine, but I just wanted to add a post just in case.

[Jayd]

Hi, I can't find hardly anything about birds and hay, or Timothy hay. Some people use it for cage lining, http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-timothy-hay.htm

[animalINSPIRED]

Hmm I haven't heard anything on hay either. Though I can see how it would be entertaining for a grey, it's like a giant preening toy!

[chelseaB]

I have given Biscotti small boxes & bags of alfalfa, he loves making a big ol mess with it! He doesn't really eat or chew on it much, just spreads it around!! Great fun!

[birdhouse]

LOL Think any parrot was sure to find that box of hay. Just the mess factor alone. And of course it would be nesting material.

 

Don't really think it's a bad thing, assuming you don't mind the clean up. But there are a couple of things to consider. Hay quality is always a factor with any animal. Timothy hay vs Orchard Grass hay vs hay that may have been mixed with other plants might make it more or less safe for Ash to play in.

 

For instance, have seen it said that Orchard Grass hay may mold more easily than Timothy hay because of when it's harvested. That could cause problems for Ash. And the other plant material that might be combined with the hay might also need to be checked (see Oxbow Botanical Hay).

[Dave007]

Putting any type of material that's actually used or stimulates a bird to build nests of any type is a bad idea. Hay of any brand is ideal to a bird. That pertains to young and adult birds. Birds who are pets and breeding birds who aren't pets will react the same way with nesting material around them. Many people have problems with their birds in the future concerning nesting behavior and those people haven't ever used any nesting material throughout the bird's life. Birds can latch on to many things to go through nesting behavior. It can possibly stimulate infertile egg production, aggressive behavior when trying to remove it. That happens with adult birds. It may be cute right now but doing that is messing around in possibly unknown territory.

[tarm]

you should not use any hay IMO. The health issue is fungus and mold spores. Very common if the hay gets moist or could already be in the hay straight from the field. Not to mention whatever fertilizers etc was used and any kind of other plant matter that is without a doubt in there is small amounts. Hay does not go thru any special processes like human foods do. Its straight from field to market product..

[Talon]

Yes, Tarm is correct! Hay is very dusty, moldy, fertilized with chemicals, put thru very dirty hay equipment etc. Many smaller animals pee & poop on it in the field. Last summer we had to put one of horses down as she had been suffering from EPS which is a horribly debilitating disease that they can get from possum droppings most likely brought in from the hay....Birds have such delicate respiratory systems. Keep them away from the hay for this reason and the ones Dave advised on. He is quite right as well.