Compressed Oaten Hay Bales (MEDIUM SIZE)

Compressed Oaten Hay Bales MEDIUM SIZE.

These oaten hay bales are highly compressed and the feedback we have had from our customers is that these bales are more often superior to other oaten hay bales and are especially suited to small animals like rabbits and guinea pigs.

Oaten hay is vet recommended as a great high fibre supplement for all rabbits, that helps maintain rabbit digestive health. Oaten Hay should be given in addition to nutrient-dense foods like rabbit mix and pellets.

Hay, in general, is an important part of a rabbit's diet and should ideally make up about 70% of their food intake.

Bale Size (cm): 60 W x 40 D x 30 H (approx) Bale Weight: 17 to 20 kg (approx)

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. Hi. I was wondering about the calcium content of this product? My vet wants me to feed my guinea pigs hay that is low calcium and she recommended Oaten or Timothy hay.

A. After making a few enquiries I was not able to find out the calcium levels for this oaten hay as it's not something that the farmers test for. However, I did find a guinea pig website that seemed to suggest that Oaten Hay, in general, does have lower levels of calcium than most other types of hay. 

Q. Why does my oaten hay look browner and dried out than other types of hay?

A. Oaten hay by its nature does look more dried out and brown than other green hays like lucerne. Some people do get a shock seeing oaten hay for the first time when they are used to seeing 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 normal. Despite its less appealing colour, oaten hay is still very appealing 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 little moisture can eventually lead to decay & mould growth on the hay.

Q. Do these oaten hay bales contain a lot of grain as my bunny really like 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 and as it could have come from several different properties which makes it difficult to trace. Needless to say, any treatment would have no residual properties. It is as clean and as chemical free as we can get 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 that grows our Oaten Hay and he assured us that rabbits are not an ongoing problem in this particularly unsuitable landscape of flat country. Furthermore, there is also a high population of foxes that benefit the farmers by keeping away crop-eating herbivores such as rabbits. Due to this ecosystem, there is no need to release RHDV strains so the disease is not prevalent in the area. We deal with many pet shops Australia wide and we have never had any reports of problems of contamination from 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:

Keep it away from direct sunlight. Keep away from direct contact with the floor, grass etc. Place hay on some timber or other dry mat. Replace or sweep the mat regularly to help prevent the build-up of moisture.

Ideally, it's recommended to use the oaten hay as soon as possible and within a month or so. However, oaten 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 fiber 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 is up to the pet owner to decide.

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.