OK, this was a pretty unpleasant find but I'm not sure how 'normal' this is, as I can see how this could happen if hay is simply cut and bagged up. I found the dissembodied head of what looks like small reptile in one of my bags of hay!

There is a photograph right at the bottom of this post. Sorry if it's a little bit gross - but there is a warning in my title and if you're of a sensitive disposition you might wand to avoid scrolling down!

What makes this even more cringey is the fact that I managed to handle it twice before realising what it was! I first picked it up in a handful of hay I had grabbed from the sack to scatter by hand, so didn't really notice it. It was pretty early in the morning, so the light was quite dim, but I could see a dark shape in the hay I had scattered. So, of course I bent down for a closer look and picked it up, as in the light it sort of looked like a big piece of a dried-out flower bulb or something. I'm sure you can imagine my disgust when it dawned on me what I was holding!!! Yuck, yuck, yuck!! But I'm glad I noticed it before Buddy had given it a gnaw as that wouldn't have been pretty. The poor creature!

I was wondering if anyone else had a similar experience? This was in a bag I ordered from The Hay Experts (online) so I am considering emailing them the photo and letting them know what I found!

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My beautiful boys...
Ozzy (Burmese Cross, b. Aug 2000)
Buddy (Red Rex, b. Mar 2010)

It's not unusual. The animal was in the field either when the hay was being cut, or when it was being bales. Both those bits of machinery have blades, and can easily do that to a lizard. I once found a dried out sow worm in a bale of horse hay.

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Cara,
Owned by Fern, Heidi, Asteroid, Bubbles & Fizz
Missing Snippet, Frost, Willow & Nix


Opinions are like armpits. Everyone has them, and some stink.

EWWWWWWWW
I've found mice and things in my hay before but never a lizard type thing

I would definitely email the company with the picture hun as that isn't right

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if you email them you might get some compensation.

Give it a go

I wouldn't be pleased finding that in a bag from a company named the Hay "Experts"

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Binks and Smudge

R.I.P JETTY

poor thing, its probably a viviparous lizard (other wise known as common lizards) they are found all over the UK

iv found a mouse in a cheepo bag of pet store hay before

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The Hay Experts don't grow, check nor package the products themselves, so are hardly at fault.

With any natural product, there is a risk of contamination from various sources. Rodents, reptiles, rabbits etc all feed on hay fields, and many fall victim to the harvesting process.

Where i walk they grow organic meadow hay, and when baled this year, i must have counted over 40 dead grass snakes in just one small area.

I'd contact the company that manufacture it, and im sure they will send you a free replacement.

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I am just a worthless liar.
I am just an imbecile.
I will only complicate you.
Trust in me and fall as well.
I will find a center in you.
I will chew it up and leave,
I will work to elevate you
just enough to bring you down

Sorry I'm not an expert on the Hay Experts

It does seem to be happening quite often though maybe they should have some sort of quality control in place to limit the amount of contaminated produce.

__________________

Binks and Smudge

R.I.P JETTY

Who is "they"?

Im assuming you know little of the hay growing, harvesting and baling process here.

__________________

I am just a worthless liar.
I am just an imbecile.
I will only complicate you.
Trust in me and fall as well.
I will find a center in you.
I will chew it up and leave,
I will work to elevate you
just enough to bring you down

I know nothing about the process and don't really want to just I know to run a successful business you need some element of quality control to keep customers happy and get repeat business.

__________________

Binks and Smudge

R.I.P JETTY

TBH I wouldn't really worry about it, I've found far worse things inside a large bale of haylage! You are going to get some foreign objects from time to time, hay is grown in a field, cut & left in the field to dry, baled & stored in a barn somewhere, it can be contaminated at any point during this process.
Sorry if this is a bit thick but I have never kept rabbits as pets, do you use the hay for bedding or fodder? If bedding why not try an alternative product (I'm sure there are plenty available), then you won't have any more surprises!