Oxbow Orchard Grass Hay 425g

Oxbow Orchard Grass Hay 425g

Orchard Grass is a green, fruity-smelling grass hay which many small animals enjoy. To the untrained eye, it looks identical to timothy grass, but the seed heads have a different shape.

Orchard Grass is a perennial cool season grass with flat leaf blades. The leaves vary in color from green to bluish-green depending on the maturity of the plant. The lower surface of the leaf is not shiny; and leaf sheaths can be somewhat rougher to the touch than timothy.

Orchard Grass is recommended by veterinarians for small herbivores due to the nutritional content. Orchard Grass can be mixed with other grass hays when feeding your pet. This is encouraged because animals seem to like the variety. Mixing your grasses will encourage them to eat more hay, which is beneficial to the health of the animal.

Hay is absolutely vital to the health of small herbivores. Orchard Grass also provides a long-strand fiber source that is needed to improve the digestive and intestinal functions by stimulating the digestive system. When animals are fed free-choice hay, it promotes their natural chewing behavior, which helps prevent molar spurs and other dental problems that are so common in these small herbivores.

Feeding Directions

Growing Animals: Unlimited amounts Mature Animals: Unlimited amounts

Orchard Grass can be fed free choice to rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, prairie dogs and other herbivores as an alternative to timothy, oat hay, and brome. Free-choice means that the feed is available at all times. If they finish what is given, you need to give them more! Hay should not only be used for nutritional purposes, but also for mental stimulation and the promotion of natural foraging behavior.

Try feeding hay in new and inventive ways to increase consumption.

• Rabbits like to eat hay in their litter box.
• Fill a cardboard tube, basket or animal-safe toy with hay and place it in your pet’s favorite spot.
• Put a layer of hay on the bottom of the cage and hide food/treats in the hay for foraging.
• Put hay everywhere: the hutch, the corner, behind the couch, etc…
• Offer a variety of mixed hays to tempt animals with sophisticated tastes.

How much do I feed daily?

It should be fed free choice daily. That means the hay should be available at all times. 75% of a small herbivore’s diet should be hay.