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In the same way that no two harvests are the same, we know that all animals are unique (just like the people that love them) and we are reminded each day about these different preferences. Some animals don’t show immediate interest in coarse/stemmy hay, while others prefer it. Some pets initially pass on brown hay, while others actually favor it. Keeping these individual personalities in mind, we recommend the following tips:

  • The most important suggestion we offer pet parents is to always transition from one package of hay to the next (this is a good idea regardless of brand or variety) by blending hay from each package. Regularly experiencing a variety of tastes and textures will help prevent picky eating tendencies.
  • If you find that your pets won’t eat stems, for instance, we never suggest throwing them out. Mix them in with softer hay, and we think you’ll find that your pets will eventually eat (and even enjoy) these fiber-packed pieces.
  • Proactively introducing variety in your little one’s daily diet through feeding a variety of hays is an excellent way to expand their palate to different tastes and textures while consuming an adequate amount (at least 70% of their diet) of essential fiber for proper gut health.  

For more information about encouraging a hay-packed diet, please check out the following educational resources:

If you have additional questions or would like more information, please feel free to contact us directly.

Keywords: hay, tips, picky eater, tricks, palatability, variety, mixing, refusal, texture, color, variation, timothy, orchard, botanical, organic meadow, alfalfa, oat