Oxbow Animal Health Western Timothy Hay, 40 Oz: A Review
If you are looking for a high-quality hay for your rabbit, guinea pig, chinchilla, or other small pet, you might want to consider Oxbow Animal Health Western Timothy Hay. This product is made from 100% all-natural timothy grass hay, which is grown without pesticides and hand-sorted and hand-packed with care. Timothy hay is a nutritious, sweet-smelling grass that will stimulate the appetite of your small pet and provide them with essential fiber for digestive and dental health. In this article, we will review the features, benefits, and drawbacks of Oxbow Animal Health Western Timothy Hay, as well as compare it with some similar products on the market.
Features
Oxbow Animal Health Western Timothy Hay has the following features:
– It is made from timothy grass hay, which is the #1 vet-recommended hay for small herbivores.
– It is grown in the USA by Oxbow’s family of farms, which are dedicated to producing the best and most appropriate products for small pets.
– It is harvested at the optimal stage of growth to ensure high quality and nutritional value.
– It is hand-sorted and hand-packed with care to remove dust and debris and preserve freshness.
– It comes in a resealable 40 oz bag that can be stored in a cool and dry place.
– It has a guaranteed analysis of crude protein (min) 7.00%, crude fat (min) 1.50%, crude fiber (max) 32.00%, and moisture (max) 15.00%.
Benefits
Oxbow Animal Health Western Timothy Hay offers the following benefits for your small pet:
– It provides them with a high-fiber diet that supports their digestive health and prevents obesity, diarrhea, and GI stasis.
– It helps them wear down their teeth and prevent dental problems such as overgrowth, malocclusion, and abscesses.
– It satisfies their natural chewing and foraging instincts and enriches their environment.
– It enhances their taste buds and encourages them to eat more hay.
– It is low in protein and calcium, which prevents urinary tract issues such as bladder stones and sludge.
Drawbacks
Oxbow Animal Health Western Timothy Hay has the following drawbacks:
– It may be more expensive than some other brands of hay on the market.
– It may vary in quality, texture, and color depending on the season and batch.
– It may contain some brown or yellow parts that are less appealing to some pets.
– It may cause allergies or respiratory problems for some pets or owners who are sensitive to dust or pollen.
Comparison
To help you decide if Oxbow Animal Health Western Timothy Hay is the best choice for your small pet, we have compared it with three other popular brands of hay on the market: Kaytee Natural Timothy Hay, Small Pet Select 2nd Cutting Perfect Blend Timothy Hay, and Alfalfa King Double Compressed Timothy Hay. Here is a table that summarizes their main features and differences:
| Brand | Oxbow Animal Health | Kaytee | Small Pet Select | Alfalfa King |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product Name | Western Timothy Hay | Natural Timothy Hay | 2nd Cutting Perfect Blend Timothy Hay | Double Compressed Timothy Hay |
| Type of Hay | Timothy grass hay | Timothy grass hay | Timothy grass hay | Timothy grass hay |
| Size | 40 oz | 6 lb | 10 lb | 12 oz |
| Price | $12.32 ($4.93 / lb) | $6.99 ($1.17 / lb) | $29.99 ($3.00 / lb) | $5.99 ($7.99 / lb) |
| Origin | USA | USA | USA | USA |
| Harvesting Stage | Not specified | Not specified | Second cut | Not specified |
| Sorting and Packing Method | Hand-sorted and hand-packed | Machine-sorted and machine-packed | Hand-sorted and hand-packed | Machine-sorted and double compressed |
| Guaranteed Analysis | Crude protein (min) 7.00%, crude fat (min) 1.50%, crude fiber (max) 32.00%, moisture (max) 15.00% | Crude protein (min) 6.0%, crude fat (min) 2.0%, crude fiber (max) 32.0%, moisture (max) 12.0% | Crude protein (min) 7%, crude fat (min) 1.5%, crude fiber (max) 34%, moisture (max) 15% | Crude protein (min) 8%, crude fat (min) 2%, crude fiber (max) 30%, moisture (max) 12% |
As you can see, Oxbow Animal Health Western Timothy Hay has a higher price per pound than the other brands, but it also has a higher quality and freshness due to its hand-sorting and hand-packing method. It also has a lower protein and calcium content than Alfalfa King Double Compressed Timothy Hay, which makes it more suitable for adult small pets. However, it does not specify the harvesting stage of the hay, which may affect its nutritional value and palatability. Small Pet Select 2nd Cutting Perfect Blend Timothy Hay is the only brand that clearly states that it uses second cut hay, which is the most balanced and preferred type of hay for small pets. Kaytee Natural Timothy Hay is the cheapest option, but it also has the lowest quality and freshness due to its machine-sorting and machine-packing method. It may also contain more dust and debris than the other brands.
Reviews
Here are some representative reviews from customers who have bought Oxbow Animal Health Western Timothy Hay:
– “My guinea pigs love this hay. It is fresh, green, and soft. It smells good and has very little dust. It is worth the price for the quality and quantity. I highly recommend it.”
– “This hay is very inconsistent. Sometimes it is nice and green, other times it is brown and yellow. Sometimes it is soft and leafy, other times it is hard and stemmy. Sometimes it has a lot of seed heads, other times it has none. My rabbits are very picky and they don’t always eat it.”
– “This hay is great for my chinchilla. It is low in calcium and high in fiber, which helps prevent bladder stones and digestive issues. It also helps keep his teeth healthy and trim. He enjoys eating it and playing with it.”
– “This hay is very dusty and causes me and my guinea pig to sneeze a lot. It also has a lot of brown parts that my guinea pig doesn’t like. I wish it was more green and less dusty.”
Conclusion
Oxbow Animal Health Western Timothy Hay is a high-quality hay for small pets that provides them with essential fiber, nutrients, and enrichment. It is grown in the USA without pesticides and hand-sorted and hand-packed with care to ensure freshness and quality. It is low in protein and calcium, which helps prevent urinary tract problems in adult small pets. However, it may be more expensive than some other brands of hay on the market, and it may vary in quality, texture, and color depending on the season and batch. It may also cause allergies or respiratory problems for some pets or owners who are sensitive to dust or pollen.
If you are interested in buying Oxbow Animal Health Western Timothy Hay for your small pet, you can click here to order it online from Amazon.com. Alternatively, you can check out some other brands of hay that we have compared in this article, such as Kaytee Natural Timothy Hay, Small Pet Select 2nd Cutting Perfect Blend Timothy Hay, or Alfalfa King Double Compressed Timothy Hay. Whichever brand you choose, make sure to provide your small pet with an unlimited amount of hay every day to keep them healthy and happy.
: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000WFKF9O
: https://oxbowanimalhealth.com/product/western-timothy/
: https://rabbit.org/faq-diet/
: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CQ3ZRYL
: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M0F7XZB
: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JN9IJAW
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