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Discussion on Hay with mouse DrOppings
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Member: ptowne
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Posted on Sunday, Apr 8, 2012 - 11:45 am:
I just bought a few bales of hay from a supplier I was considering. The hay looks and smells very nice. There is no evidence of any mold or mustiness. There are, however, mouse DrOppings. The chaff left in the truck from 13 small square bales was full of mouse DrOppings. Can I use this hay if I shake it out? It does not appear to be inside the bales. I hate to pass on the hay because it is nice, but I am grossed out by the mouse DrOppings.
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Member: vickiann
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Posted on Sunday, Apr 8, 2012 - 12:23 pm:
Of additional concern about the DrOppings for me would be the possibility of rodent urine in the hay. In my personal experience with my hay room, where they DrOp a lot of poop they often also pee. When I have found this in a corner I have disposed of the nearest affected bale or bales. The possibility of disease, perhaps such as leptospirosis, would worry me for equines and humans. Of course, exposure to rodent DrOppings is something that likely happens with fair frequency for horses so perhaps they have some level of immunity. I will be interested to hear what Dr. O has to say about this question.
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Moderator: DrO
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Posted on Sunday, Apr 8, 2012 - 2:35 pm:
It would be hard to imagine hay not contaminated by mouse, bird, and/or "any other wild animal that might roam the fields as the hay cures" urine and DrOppings but Vicki's concern about leptospirosis is real. If the contamination is heavy I might reconsider but a few mouse turds would be common in almost any hay looked at very closely. DrO
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Member: pattyb
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Posted on Sunday, Apr 8, 2012 - 5:07 pm:
Would salmonella also be of concern?
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Member: babychop
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Posted on Thursday, Apr 12, 2012 - 1:04 pm:
Just a side thought. Rats (and most likely mice) are incontinent. One thing I learned working in a vet hospital (yeah, ewww). They pee everywhere and quite often. And it is quite difficult to keep them out of your hay shed.
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Moderator: DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Apr 14, 2012 - 8:45 am:
Is it possible that Salmonella could come in through contaminated hay? I suppose so but would not lose any sleep over it. DrO
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