Alternative to hay?

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sue 1974

sue 1974

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I am sick and tired of hay. I run a rescue and so have about 42 hutches. Hay seems to get everywhere especially on clean out day

My o/h is always moaning about it coming into the house. It sees to get everywhere.
When i was at the CCT Vedra told me she doesn't use hay but uses Spillers ready grass. Problem is i can't find it anywhere.

Does anyone know here i can find this or a better alternative to hay?

Thanks.
 
I've never heard of that either, but if you don't get your answer by Thursday, I'll ask my foster parents who are farmers if they know of any alternatives to hay and what it's called, where you can get it. Worth a shot (Y)
 
I am so rubbish on the computer. I have spent days looking for info on it, you find it in minutes! Thanks:)):)):)):))

The thing that concerns me is they won't be able to burrow in it like hay and the lack of warmth from it. All my pigs are in a shed but some are outside.
 
Vedra was telling me that she has had so any problems using hay, like gettting Lice and static lice which she said can actually burrow into the guinea pig whch can be fatal. Since she swapped to readigrass she has not had one problem.

My main concern is the fact they like to bury in the hay and i don't think they can with readigrass. Also readigrass is a lot more expensive.

Really not sure what to do
 
Hi Sue - I couldn't get readigrass but do use Justgrass which is the same idea. My piggys get access to grass every day of the summer so in winter like to supplement the hay with the Justgrass. Last winter was the first time I used it. I really like it (and most importantly so do the pigs). I fed a few handfuls 3-4 times a week. I was a bit afraid to use it too often as it seems very rich (smells very strongly of fresh cut grass) and its not in long fibres like hay so not as much chewing action required to eat it. Vedra is the expert so if she says ok then I believe that and Graham is happy with the chins having it and they are very prone to teeth issues just like piggys.

I buy a bale size bag of Justgrass for about £12. You do need to be careful as well as it does have a shelf life - there will be a month and year date on the bag.

Forgot to say that I buy it in an equine supply shop.
 
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my girls have just grass but it is just mixed in with the hay and get one handful a day
 
it sounds like you were initially after a less messy form of bedding etc initially in which case have you considered using fleece, vetbed kinda stuff although that will come with an alternative moan of using the washing machine 24/7 it would probably be cheaper for you in long run. I feed mine readigrass & they love it over eating hay although they do still get hay as well in the boxes etc as well.

I thought the same that they would miss the burrowing aspect of it but they dont seem to mind & i do occasionally put a big mound of hay in for them to wade thru......
Si
 
as our gps live in our bedroom, hay can find it's way into the bed, but when the OH moans, I just ignore him and think it's tough poo, even though I hoover the floor up everynight, it still finds it way into the bed!
 
wales1000 said:
as our gps live in our bedroom, hay can find it's way into the bed, but when the OH moans, I just ignore him and think it's tough poo, even though I hoover the floor up everynight, it still finds it way into the bed!
Click to expand...

Thing is doing a rescue from home my hubby puts up with enough. I am also very fed up with the mess of hay.
 
scooby_si said:
it sounds like you were initially after a less messy form of bedding etc initially in which case have you considered using fleece, vetbed kinda stuff although that will come with an alternative moan of using the washing machine 24/7 it would probably be cheaper for you in long run. I feed mine readigrass & they love it over eating hay although they do still get hay as well in the boxes etc as well.

I thought the same that they would miss the burrowing aspect of it but they dont seem to mind & i do occasionally put a big mound of hay in for them to wade thru......
Si
Click to expand...

with over 40 hutches though fleece would be a nightmare
 
do you give them hay as well?



LesaC said:
Hi Sue - I couldn't get readigrass but do use Justgrass which is the same idea. My piggys get access to grass every day of the summer so in winter like to supplement the hay with the Justgrass. Last winter was the first time I used it. I really like it (and most importantly so do the pigs). I fed a few handfuls 3-4 times a week. I was a bit afraid to use it too often as it seems very rich (smells very strongly of fresh cut grass) and its not in long fibres like hay so not as much chewing action required to eat it. Vedra is the expert so if she says ok then I believe that and Graham is happy with the chins having it and they are very prone to teeth issues just like piggys.

I buy a bale size bag of Justgrass for about £12. You do need to be careful as well as it does have a shelf life - there will be a month and year date on the bag.

Forgot to say that I buy it in an equine supply shop.
Click to expand...
 
Sue

I had the same dilemma earlier this year after seeing Vedra and switched to Readigrass/ Graze On but although it's ok as food stuff they seem to really enjoy burrowing in the hay and also as you say, it keeps them warm. So after trying it for a month or so I went back to hay. I get the odd flare up of mites / lice but they seem much happier with hay as bedding. They can also get quite fat on readigrass! And I think it has a higher calcium content than hay

Sophie
x
 
Thanks Sophie have looked through your old thread. I started looking into this after seeing Vedra as well.

After a lot of thought and all your answers i think i will stick to hay, but try and keep it tidier(impossible lol)
 
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