Is moldy hay bad for bunnies?

It’s not worth it to feed moldy hay! You’ll potentially lose your rabbits. You can smell the mold once it becomes established. Or, the sweet smell is gone, and you may see black spots on the stems. If really bad, you’ll see entire areas that are black with white fuzz growing in the darkest areas.

Can moldy hay make rabbits sick?

In general, mould can cause more and greater damage to both health and property. But mildew can make your rabbit sick, too.

What happens if animals eat moldy hay?

Here are the risks of feeding moldy hay to livestock: Horses are impacted the most by moldy hay and can lead to respiratory and digestive problems like colic or heaves. 2. Cattle aren’t as sensitive to moldy hay, but certain molds can result in mycotic abortions or aspergillosis.

Can hay be bad for rabbits?

Rabbits love hay and it should ideally form a large part (preferably 80%) of their regular diet. Adult rabbits won’t do well on alfalfa because of its high calcium content so should be fed on grass-based hays. Some rabbits prefer one sort of hay over another so you may need to experiment to find which they prefer.

How do I know if my 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.

How can you tell if Timothy hay is moldy?

Signs of bad hay:

1. A bad smell.
2. Brown and brittle.
3. Visible mold.
4. A bun who turns their nose up at their favorite cutting.

How can you tell if hay is moldy?

Can bunnies get sick from dust?

Just like the humans who love them, rabbits can suffer from allergies to an array of irritants like house dust, room fresheners, perfumes, and cigarette smoke. Beddings made from pine or cedar shavings are also common causes of respiratory irritation as is the use of strong chemicals such as bleach and ammonia.

How do you keep hay from going Mouldy?

Stack the bottom layer of bales on their sides, with the strings facing sideways instead of up. The uneven surface allows better air circulation and helps prevent mold from growing. Stack the second layer with the strings facing up, all pointing in the same direction.

What can replace hay for rabbits?

Grass is more nutritious than hay as hay is dried, causing some of the beneficial vitamins & minerals to fade over time. Just as their wild counterpart, a domestic rabbit will always opt to eat fresh grass over hay, and eat it with fervour too!

Is Timothy Hay OK for baby rabbits?

Like adults, hay should play an important role in young rabbit’s diet. Grass hay (e.g. meadow or timothy) is the one food you should introduce from the start, even if your rabbit isn’t already eating it. If you are feeding alfalfa it’s a good idea to feed it mixed with grass hay.

Is year old hay still good?

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.

Is it OK to feed my rabbit moldy hay?

Excessive dust or hay that does not smell sweet may indicate mould. Do not feed your rabbit moldy hay. Never, I repeat NEVER feed moldy hay, because it can make your rabbit seriously ill. Moldy hay may contain white dust, or black and/or white spots on the bale.

Can a horse get mold from a hay bale?

Although the spores can cause to respiratory problems in humans and horses, the main concern in cattle is the total amount of mycelium and spores combined or the total fungal biomass. (Note: white mold in a hay bale is mycelium and dustiness is from the tiny spores.)

What kind of mold is growing in Hay?

In hay, mold growth is comprised of mycelium and spores. Mycelium are the stringy growth structure of fungi and spores are the reproductive or seed like structures. Although the spores can cause to respiratory problems in humans and horses, the main concern in cattle is the total amount of mycelium and spores combined or the total fungal biomass.

Why is Hay so good for a rabbit?

Hay is good for your rabbit because the long fibers of hay help the muscles of the rabbits gut stay good, strong and healthy. This added high fiber content is a very important to good dental and intestinal health in rabbits.