Question about hay

[cluckmecoop7]

Hi members!

I have a quick question about hay, and here it is: What is the best kind of hay to give to my chickens to peck and scratch at? Also, can I leave it in the run? Because if it rains then it will get wet and I'm not sure if that is ok.

Thank you! And could you please reply soon because I want to go pick some up today!

 

[GC-Raptor]

I'm currently using a compressed bale of Alfalfa and Orchard grass combo. I use it on top of Pine shavings on the coop floor. . I clean coops weekly and toss the old bedding into their pen. . I get it at TSC and it's expensive, but both coops are small and I use shavings under it. GC

 

[Willowspirit]

If you check out the small animal section you can probably find Timothy hay in a smaller package. I'm fortunate to have tag ends of hay from my horses.

 

[50-45-1]

Alfalfa hay has lots of small leaves that chickens will eat. Grass hay not so much.
I also buy it in a compressed bale at TSC, but sometimes i can get a bale from a local farmer.
So many are bailing in those large round bales and not so many still do the small square ones.

 

[Willowspirit]

Alfalfa hay has lots of small leaves that chickens will eat. Grass hay not so much.
I also buy it in a compressed bale at TSC, but sometimes i can get a bale from a local farmer.
So many are bailing in those large round bales and not so many still do the small square ones.

I think the difference is that alfalfa is not a grass it is a member of the pea family.

 

[Shadrach]

I wouldn't put hay in a run or in a coop. It's important to differentiate between hay and straw! Straw is fine in the coop and in the run, hay often has mites, rats piss, mouse droppings and produces spores that are not healthy for a chickens lungs.

 

[Percheron chick]

Buy a small bale of alfalfa. Pick out one with the most amout of leaf and the finest stem. Toss a single flake in the run (comes off in about 2# sections). They will scratch through it and pick out the leaves. Most stems get left behind.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Hi members!

I have a quick question about hay, and here it is: What is the best kind of hay to give to my chickens to peck and scratch at? Also, can I leave it in the run? Because if it rains then it will get wet and I'm not sure if that is ok.

Thank you! And could you please reply soon because I want to go pick some up today!

If it gets wet it will also get moldy.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Thank you everyone!

 

[cluckmecoop7]

....but what is the difference between straw and hay?