thorns & weeds in KM's 3rd cut Timothy hay ...

**webjetter** · #1 07-02-08, 08:05 pm

This is the first time I've ordered KM's 3rd cut Timothy hay (I always get the 2nd cut, which is beautiful). I had to get it because a couple of months ago when I ordered, they didn't have the 2nd cut. I assumed the 3rd cut would be even better, especially from the description on their website. Is it normally full of gigantic sticks, thorns, stickers and weeds??? Attached is a photo of the icky stuff I have to sort out of the box when I reach my hands in to grab hay for the piggies. Some of these are thorny and they stab me ... I couldn't imagine if the piggies got a hold of this!

Has anyone else had this experience? Is this normal for 3rd cut? Or maybe it's just a funky batch?

**Haley0489** · #2 07-02-08, 08:35 pm

I found a huge stick like the one in your second picture, at top, just today! I didn't mind it, just yanked it out and threw it in the trash, but the stickers aren't good at all. I got 2nd cut and I thought the 3rd cut was supposed to be the best of the best...but I also thought it wasn't ready until September?

Edited To Add:
I've also found quite a few of those green leaves in my hay, I wasn't sure what they were so I've been picking them out.

**webjetter** · #3 07-02-08, 08:48 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haley0489

I've also found quite a few of those green leaves in my hay, I wasn't sure what they were so I've been picking them out.

I've been picking them out too in case they were weeds, and then today I saw that those leaves seem to be attached to the thorny stick (as shown in the closeup photo) so that confirms it is something I definitely don't want in my piggie's diet! Our instincts were right.

**gooberific** · #4 07-03-08, 01:17 am

I have a box of 2nd cut... but I gotta start getting mine in the daylight so I can see... I usually go out at night to grab the hay. I put it all into a paper bag to bring it into the house (I also fill up their hay rack outside), so I touch virtually most of the hay that comes in. Anything that's stick-like, I just toss onto the ground. Then when I get inside I pick out all the brown bits.

I haven't seen any non-hay leaves so far.

**Ly&Pigs** · #5 07-03-08, 10:09 am

Are you sure it's not 2nd cut? KM doesn't have any listings at all for 3rd cut.

Sometimes the hay will have things in it that shouldn't be there. If you are unhappy with the hay, just contact KM.

You can always pull out the sticks, weeds and other stuff. KM doesn't grow or cut the hay herself so she may not even be aware of all the junk in this batch of hay.

**gooberific** · #6 07-03-08, 10:13 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ly&Pigs

Sometimes the hay will have things in it that shouldn't be there. If you are unhappy with the hay, just contact KM.

I just figured that was the case. It's grown on a farm, and it gets much taller than the weeds, and then it's all taken up by machines... they're nearly impossible to see until the end user receives it.

It's still better than Kaytee.

**webjetter** · #7 07-03-08, 11:28 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ly&Pigs

Are you sure it's not 2nd cut? KM doesn't have any listings at all for 3rd cut.

I'm postive it's 3rd cut. The shipping label says 3rd cut Timothy and this is what my email order confirmation says:

Kleenmama's Hayloft
------------------------------------------------------
Order Number: xxxx
Detailed Invoice: xxxx
Date Ordered: Saturday 15 March, 2008

Products
------------------------------------------------------
1 x 05 lbs Bluegrass hay () = $6.00
1 x 05 lbs 3rd cut timothy hay () = $6.00
------------------------------------------------------

As I mentioned, I ordered this months ago. Back then they only had 3rd cut, not 2nd cut. (And I always get 2nd cut, which has never had this thorn problem ... it has always been beautiful.)

Even though I ordered it in March, I didn't start using it until a few weeks ago when the last order of hay finally ran out. When I kept pulling out these big thorny things, I decided to ask the forum if this was normal with 3rd. I didn't really want to contact KM's until I knew if it was unusual or not. Plus I just went to their homepage and there's a notice that says their hay is now extremely limited or almost gone, so I guess she wouldn't be able to replace it with anything right now if I sent it back anyway.

Yes, it's definitely still better than Kaytee or any of the other store-bought hay ... brownish stems, not soft fragrant green hay like KM's. So I guess I'll just keep picking out all the yuckies for now.

**Ly&Pigs** · #8 07-03-08, 11:36 am

Okie dokie, I just thought maybe this was a more recent order.

**camende** · #9 07-03-08, 01:00 pm

I think that 3rd Cut is usually the BEST that KM has to offer. I had to get 2nd cut and while it is really good quality, I personally prefer the 3rd cut. (I'm not sure what the piggies prefer...they love both!)

I would call KM and tell them the problems you are having with your last shipment. I am sure they will make it right.

**paula.m.moore** · #10 07-03-08, 02:58 pm

The one time I ordered Timothy and not Bluegrass from KM, that stuff was in there. There's not any way to avoid that kind of stuff in hay - it grows in a field. In my case it wasn't "full" - there were just some gross things here and there. Since I go through all the stuff before the pigs get it to eat, it's never been a big deal.

You might want to ask her if she got it from a different grower or something - and mention to her your issues with it.

**Wheek Weak** · #11 07-04-08, 02:40 pm

I love KM's hay and have used it for quite a while now. However, I usually order the bluegrass.

I decided to try the timothy (2nd cutting) the last time I ordered. I was so disappointed with it. It was very stemmy, weedy (stickers, weed stalks, clumps of dirt, and a lot of dead bugs), and half chaff (dusty fluff) that had to be thrown away. Not to mention that it aggravated my allergies immensely.

So this time I went back to the bluegrass. As usual, it's soft, green, mostly non-dusty, and easy on my hay fever.

I don't blame KM for the bad timothy. I think it's just the nature of that type of hay, and being second cutting (less than ideal). I ordered KM's first-cut timothy, a couple of years ago, and it was absolutely perfect.

Instead of taking a chance on timothy, and considering how much easier it is on my sinuses, I'll just stick with the bluegrass from now on. The babies won't mind a bit...they totally love KM's bluegrass!

**Ly&Pigs** · #12 07-04-08, 04:21 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wheek Weak

So this time I went back to the bluegrass. As usual, it's soft, green, mostly non-dusty, and easy on my hay fever.

This batch of bluegrass is terrific. I want to eat it myself. Got my order in yesterday and the girls have already gone through almost a huge rack full.

**camende** · #13 07-04-08, 08:28 pm

I've order a small amount of bluegrass to see if my piggies would like it. It didn't seem like they liked it as much as the Timothy Hay....Maybe I will try again the next time I order Hay...I'd like to be able to give them a variety.

**webjetter** · #14 07-04-08, 09:45 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wheek Weak

I decided to try the timothy (2nd cutting) the last time I ordered. I was so disappointed with it. It was very stemmy, weedy (stickers, weed stalks, clumps of dirt, and a lot of dead bugs), and half chaff (dusty fluff) that had to be thrown away. Not to mention that it aggravated my allergies immensely.

I don't blame KM for the bad timothy. I think it's just the nature of that type of hay, and being second cutting (less than ideal). I ordered KM's first-cut timothy, a couple of years ago, and it was absolutely perfect.

I'm a little confused on this ... KM's doesn't sell first cut Timothy because it's so coarse/stemmy that it can cause eye and mouth injuries in small animals like piggies. The higher the cutting, the better the quality, so I'm really surprised you found the 2nd to be less than ideal. It's usually wonderful.

My girlies go through phases where they sometimes love the bluegrass and sometimes could care less. I order it occasionally --yes it is very high quality and so far I've had no complaints about it.

**Wheek Weak** · #15 07-05-08, 11:25 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by webjetter

I'm a little confused on this ... KM's doesn't sell first cut Timothy because it's so coarse/stemmy that it can cause eye and mouth injuries in small animals like piggies. The higher the cutting, the better the quality, so I'm really surprised you found the 2nd to be less than ideal. It's usually wonderful.

You're right on that, webjetter. I just went through my paperwork, and it was the 3rd cut timothy that was so good. I apologize for the mistake.

I was more surprised than you to get that bad batch of 2nd cutting. I had to discard half of the box. That's why I'll just stay with the bluegrass. We've never had a problem with it. It gets used right down to the last stem in the box!

**camende** · #16 07-05-08, 02:29 pm

I opened a new shipment KM's 2nd cut Timothy Hay in the last week. The quality of this shipment is significantly better then the box I just finished. Prior to these last two shipments, I had only purchased 3rd cut hay from KM.

Anyway...the 2nd cut Timothy Hay that is currently shipping is good. I am looking forward to Fall when the 3rd Cut will be available...

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