What hay can gerbils eat?

What hay can gerbils eat?

Organic soil or peat are great natural beddings for your gerbil along with meadow or Timothy hay, plus shredded paper for nesting. Don’t use fluffy material as this can wrap around gerbils’ limbs and injure them. Gerbils also like a nest box – but not made of wood or plastic, which they’ll chew.

What is the difference between timothy hay and regular hay?

They are not different products; it’s all the same Timothy grass hay. The reason the term “grass hay” is used is to distinguish it from legume hay, such as alfalfa or peanut, which is richer. Grass hay is grass hay. They are not different products; it’s all the same Timothy grass hay.

Is Timothy hay considered grass hay?

Growing Conditions for Timothy Hay It is a cool-season grass that grows well with a cool spring and withstands harsh winters, but does not tolerate drought and will decline or die without adequate irrigation. Timothy hay is used most often as cattle and horse feed.

What does good timothy hay look like?

Timothy looks like most other grasses, with upright stalks and slender leaves that tend to sheathe the stalk instead of branching out. It is clear timothy does not offer the same level of protein, but good quality timothy should meet the protein requirements of most horses, provided they’re not in heavy work.

How can you tell good quality hay?

Look for the following characteristics:

1. Maturity – High quality hay will have a high proportion of leaves in the bale, with few or no coarse stems or seed heads.
2. Condition – High quality hay will contain little dust or mold.
3. Color & odor – High quality hay generally has a bright green color and a sweet, fresh odor.

Which is better for horses timothy or orchard grass?

Orchard Grass is higher in protein (10-12%), higher in calorie content and contains the same balanced levels of calcium and phosphorus as Timothy grass. The high nutrient intake delivered by Orchard Grass hay translates into potentially less grain the horse would need to eat to satisfy energy and protein requirements.

What type of hay do horses like best?

Kentucky bluegrass, orchardgrass and timothy are all examples of common grasses used for hay. Benefits: Grass hay is lower in protein and energy than legume hay — but it’s also higher in fiber, which can make it a good choice for many horses.

What cutting of hay is best for horses?

Mid- to late-maturity hays are best for horses with low nutrient requirements, because the horses can eat more to satisfy their appetites without overeating and becoming fat. Horse owners also ask whether first or second-cut hay is better. There is more variation within a cutting than between cuttings.

Can horses eat first cut hay?

First cutting of hay is the one harvested first in the year from the field before it blooms. This cutting is good for horses. There is a lot of fiber, so it is nutritious, plus it is easy to eat because the stems are flexible and thin.

How many bales of hay do horses eat a month?

Q: How many bales of hay does a horse eat per month? A horse can eat anywhere from 15-25 pounds of hay a day, which generally equates to a half of a 45/50-pound square bale of hay per day (~15-30 bales per month).

Is straight timothy hay good for horses?

Timothy hay is the most digestible of all hays and is one of the most popular hay feeds for horses. Horse owners have found that Timothy hay promotes a shiny coat, good digestion, bowel regularity, and a healthy weight. It is also excellent for colic prone, protein-sensitive, and obese horses.

Is Timothy Hay good for older horses?

The horse needs to be able to chew and break down the hay, so select good-quality, soft hay that isn’t overly mature; it shouldn’t have thick, fibrous stalks. Coleman has found that mixed grass-legume hay, such as orchard-alfalfa or timothy-alfalfa, is often a good choice.

Can a horse eat too much hay?

We know horses need to eat either grass or hay. Horses can overeat on grass, especially if the pasture is lush, but it is also easy to let a horse get too fat eating hay. And, sometimes too little hay can mean a horse will lose weight.

Should horses have access to hay all day?

Some say horses should have access to hay all day, every day to keep their digestive tract working consistently and properly. Others recommend feeding a few flakes of hay at meal time is sufficient for most horses.

What causes hay belly in horses?

Generally, hay belly is caused by poor nutrition. 1 More specifically, it is typically seen when a horse is fed poor-quality forage, such as very stemmy, old hay, and not enough protein. It also causes the horse to lose muscle tone over his topline, particularly if he’s not being exercised regularly.

Should horses have free hay access?

Feeding hay free choice can duplicate this to some extent, and it definitely has a favorable impact on behavior. Horses who are allowed to eat as much hay as they want are generally more relaxed and content, and 24-hour access to horse hay tends to reduce vices such as wood chewing.