Orchard grass hay?

[metinemre]

Anybody using orchard grass hay?
I saw this type of hay in one of the threads but i don`t remember which one. ``saying it is softer than timothy hay``
I purchased a pack of it but now i read in another thread that any type of hay may have mold etc and someone saying he/she freezes hay before using.

How do you use hay, what type? brand? Do you freeze it? as cage liner? Nesting material? To feed? How often do you change it with new.

[debbie276]

I used it for a couple years for nesting material without any problems. Yes, it is softer then timothy hay.
Now I just let an area of the yard grow long and cut them fresh grass. The birds LOVE it and the seed heads are an added bonus. The owls have an easier time weaving the green grass into a nest rather then hay.

[KarenB]

I use orchard grass, but I've never had any mold issues. I store it in a dry place and change it out as it gets soiled. I also provide cocoa fiber for nesting material, but there have been times the finches used the hay because I didn't give them as much cocoa fiber as they wanted, apparently.

[Jen]

I use Orchard Hay and have not had any mold problems. I also use Coco fiber, which will get used up first before anything else. It's the favorite for my finches!

[Sally]

I used it for a couple years for nesting material without any problems. Yes, it is softer then timothy hay.
Now I just let an area of the yard grow long and cut them fresh grass. The birds LOVE it and the seed heads are an added bonus. The owls have an easier time weaving the green grass into a nest rather then hay.

I don't think you need to worry about orchard grass that is packaged, it has probably been sterilized already. Some people will freeze hay that they purchase from the feed store that is not packaged but baled instead, in case there are any critters in that hay.

I need to get some of the grass growing all over my yard, but especially up by the house. I haven't been able to keep up with my house lately, so I have LOTS of tall grass in my yard which is going to seed--should be perfect at this time for both eating and nesting material! If I lived in a more urban area, I'd probably get a citation from the city for my unsightly yard! Perhaps I could get a wildlife permit for it, since I'm growing something to feed wildlife?

[atarasi]

Sally, there is always a great reason to allow your grass to grow long. I've used some for nesting material after I dried it out some in the oven with the door open. Thanks to my then broken lawn mower, I wouldn't have had long grass, so it worked out well.

[cindy]

in all the years of using orchard grass and timothy hay I had only one issue of bugs in it, took it back to the store and got a new bag... mine love it!!

[lovezebs]

metinemre

All my guys enjoy Timothy hay.
In the larger flights, I put plastic tubs, half fill them with tim hay, add some chopped dry wild grasses, some live meal worms, some spray millet balls, some dry wild seeds, which I pick in the fall, and save over winter. HOLY crow , you should see them go at it.

I change it every three days or so. I dump it upside down on the cage floor, and everyone plays in it , while I wash their dishes etc.

I also offer coco fiber that I pull apart and place in different areas around flights and cages, so that they have to hunt for it.

Have never tried orchard hay . And btw, have never frozen any of this stuff.

~Elana~

[Derk]

metinemre

I was the person who asked about the mold - I am pretty sure I also mentioned my vet is paranoid about mold - and I mean paranoid with a capital P A R A N O I D. But that is why I asked what the experience was of those who use it. Oxbow - is one of the companies that produces packaged hay - timothy and orchard grass aw well as others- there is a site you can access and you contact them with questions. The bag and I believe the site explain that it is hand sorted and bagged after cleaning and sterilizing etc so it should be super clean. If there are any bugs they likely came from the distributor or store selling it. Check for an expiry date???? If there is one, get the one with the date furthest away. Please also note: I have given my birds the orchard grass, I use timothy for my rabbits (I buy this in large bales and it is getting older and although it is fine I have not used it for the birds). I also pick grasses from my yard as well as dandelion and chickweed. Oh..I also met one of the vets from Oxbow. I asked about the mold issue and he says he would never hesitate to tell someone it would be safe to use with birds.

I seems possible that at least some practicing avian vets see so many sick birds - often because something was lacking in their care - that they sometimes get fixated on what can go wrong versus all the benefits. They err on the side of caution because they cannot be sure what the owner will do, or how good their common sense is. It definitely makes it a little tougher to decide what to do sometimes, but that is why I come here and read the experiences on the forum and ask lots of questions. Sorry if I made things more confusing for you. I hope this helps.

[metinemre]

metinemre

I was the person who asked about the mold - I am pretty sure I also mentioned my vet is paranoid about mold - and I mean paranoid with a capital P A R A N O I D. But that is why I asked what the experience was of those who use it. Oxbow - is one of the companies that produces packaged hay - timothy and orchard grass aw well as others- there is a site you can access and you contact them with questions. The bag and I believe the site explain that it is hand sorted and bagged after cleaning and sterilizing etc so it should be super clean. If there are any bugs they likely came from the distributor or store selling it. Check for an expiry date???? If there is one, get the one with the date furthest away. Please also note: I have given my birds the orchard grass, I use timothy for my rabbits (I buy this in large bales and it is getting older and although it is fine I have not used it for the birds). I also pick grasses from my yard as well as dandelion and chickweed. Oh..I also met one of the vets from Oxbow. I asked about the mold issue and he says he would never hesitate to tell someone it would be safe to use with birds.

I seems possible that at least some practicing avian vets see so many sick birds - often because something was lacking in their care - that they sometimes get fixated on what can go wrong versus all the benefits. They err on the side of caution because they cannot be sure what the owner will do, or how good their common sense is. It definitely makes it a little tougher to decide what to do sometimes, but that is why I come here and read the experiences on the forum and ask lots of questions. Sorry if I made things more confusing for you. I hope this helps.

Oh no worries, i am usually over protective and sensitive aswell so when i read something new i usually panic lol. Thanks for the reply

[lnlovesorange]

KarenB I think it was you who posted a picture, and someone asked what is that they are standing on and you said orchard grasss hay, and then I saw this post yesterday, so for laughs and giggles i bought a bad, sprinkled it on the bottom of the cage, and my birds were in HEAVEN, they NEVER go to the bottom of the cage, I thnk just cuz they like to be high up. Last night they were foraging maniacs and loving it!!! I've never seen them spend so much time at the bottom of the cage!! (i spilled some seed and egg shell down there, so they could "forage" and they LOVED it... i thought Melvin would try to use it as nesting material...he only took like two pieces... i just wanted to say thank you and my birds thank you, as they got to forage their little tail feathers off last night and seemed VERY happy to do so!!!

[Derk]

lnlovesorange
I believe you are referring to my question - I asked about the grass and yes, I also think it was Karen B's picture. I knew it was not straw but from the picture it did not look like orchard grass to me, I asked if it was oat grass.

If you have a yard and you know it is safe - no sprays etc - pick some young dandelion leaves and also chickweed. My birds love this as well. Don't be surprised if the birds also use the grass for nest material once they stop playing and foraging. My light back male managed to get a 12" long piece woven into the nest. He was fascinating to watch!

And thanks for the picture!

[lovezebs]

lnlovesorange & Derk

Yea, they all love this stuff. I think deep down, they are all just chickens inside, and love to scratch around in the hay and grass.

I've never had any problems or concerns with packaged hay. If however one buys it in bales and so on, I would check for bugs, mice, mice poop, and mold.

~Elana~

[KarenB]

KarenB I think it was you who posted a picture, and someone asked what is that they are standing on and you said orchard grasss hay, and then I saw this post yesterday, so for laughs and giggles i bought a bad, sprinkled it on the bottom of the cage, and my birds were in HEAVEN, they NEVER go to the bottom of the cage, I thnk just cuz they like to be high up. Last night they were foraging maniacs and loving it!!! I've never seen them spend so much time at the bottom of the cage!! (i spilled some seed and egg shell down there, so they could "forage" and they LOVED it... i thought Melvin would try to use it as nesting material...he only took like two pieces... i just wanted to say thank you and my birds thank you, as they got to forage their little tail feathers off last night and seemed VERY happy to do so!!!

Awesome!