alternatives to hay?

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I use both, piggy mainly eats readigrass but nests in hay and has a nibble of that when he is feeling too lazy to get up to get rg LOL
 
Thank you, yes I know they need plenty of hay, but I am looking for your economic and safe alternatives.
I use freshly cut hay from the bales I use for the horses but with winter coming up and the dmap weather I do not want to risk giving them damp hay.
The hay is barn stored, but not going to take any risks and sadly cant store bales of it upstairs in the GP room.
I am trying to find a suitable alternative that is prepacked in large bags that I can use.
Can GP's eat haylage?
 
It's the long strands of the hay that wears down the teeth.

I believe haylage can be fed in a pinch but not all the time - it's also a wet version isn't it (can't quite remember)

I would bag up hay now - potato sacks or big paper bags so it doesn't sweat.

How many pigs do you have? You could just buy smaller bags as and when you need it?
 
I can bring a certain amount, but we got 10 gps and get through lots and lots of hay.
I just wanted to find an alternative incase I needed to use it.
Not sure haylege will be suitable because it is very rich and has to be used within a week or so of opening. But I do like the smell of it.:)
 
yes they can eat readigrass but I wouldn't recomend giving them 100% readigrass due to high calcium
they can't eat haylage though due to high vitamins and sugar (I was wondering about that a while back when there was a hay shortage...)
I know what you mean about wanting an economical alternative- it's really expenseive for those small bags! can't you grab some hay now and bag it up in smallish bags for storing? or do you/someone you know have a garage/shed?
if you're really worried about winter horsey hay you'll have to give in and buy some little bags of meadow hay.
 
There is no real alternative to hay - only feeding readigrass is too rich.

Can't you bag the hay or buy it in smaller bags and store them in your house? Honestly, I think that your problem is less a hay problem than a storage problem. I have my hay in our cubby hole/walk-in cupboard.
 
Thanks guys, just wanted to be prepared for the winter.
Will bag up plenty now before the weather creeps in.
 
I buy a bale of hay from the local farm shop costs me £7.50 and i can split it down into 5 black sacks and shove it in my shed - I reckon it saves me over £20 plus a month with my three (soon to be 4 ) scoffers. - they dont like the ready grass much ,so I dodnt bother with it - ready grass is about £4 a tiddly bag here as well
 
TAN said:
I buy a bale of hay from the local farm shop costs me £7.50 and i can split it down into 5 black sacks and shove it in my shed - I reckon it saves me over £20 plus a month with my three (soon to be 4 ) scoffers. - they dont like the ready grass much ,so I dodnt bother with it - ready grass is about £4 a tiddly bag here as well
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You can get 15kg bags of Readigrass for about £12.00 online.
 
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