OK, I use hay for part of the bedding for my button quail that live in indoor cages in my computer room. I usually get it in small bags from the local Agway.
Well, today we went to the new Tractor Supply Company that opened just down the street from me. They had a 40 pound bag of what was labeled "Chopped Timothy Hay and Alfalfa Hay, a bale in a bag." Thinking I had found a great deal, we picked some up. We got home and opened the bag and what I got was very finely chopped hay mixed with molasses!
I'm not worried that it is finely chopped. It would make it easier for the quail to eat if they wanted to. What I am worried about is the molasses. Does anyone know if molasses will hurt my little birds?
I'll call our vet tomorrow and see what he says. In the meantime, I cannot clean their cages until I know if I can use this hay or if I have to get more.
My chickens LOVE alfalfa meal with molases-- something I feed the sheep/goats/horses now and then. Don't know about the laxative affect since chickens crap on EVERYTHING ANYWAY!!! (they are the dirtiest creatures on the PLANET!!!!) It might be a nice "Green feed" for the quail, but I don't think it would make very good bedding as the molasses tends to be STICKY!!! Better to get them some shavings, or some DRY type of bedding than use the timothy/molasses mix. Could be more trouble than it's worth! But I bet they'll find it TASTY!
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~~ George Carlin
That's pretty much what the vet told us also. In small amounts it would be a tasty treat, but don't use it for bedding. I'm going to use some of it for treats and give the rest to my dad for the guinea pigs.
That's what i used to feed my horse and it was good because the molasses really kept the dust down, so it's good for animals with respiratory problems.
Ugh! I bought the wrong hay!!
Posted - Jan 13 2009 : 4:32:42 PM
