Alternatives to Timothy

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Ingie

Ok so I realise that the best possible hay for guineas is Timothy hay, it is not typically grown here in Australia, I have only ever seen 2 brands of it (one being oxbow, another being Peters) It is ridiculously expensive!
Like I'm talking $17.95 for half a kilo T.T. Which is roughly just over 1 pound?
I have heard that oaten hay is still fairly good for them, is that a viable alternative? Is it ok to feed them oaten for say 6 out of 7 days a week, then give them timothy for that one day?

If not, then does ANYONE know any cheaper ways to get Timothy hay in Australia?

How much does it cost to purchase in the UK? I am curious :P. I guess it's so high here because it's all imported grrrr
 
Oxbow is expensive everywhere!

Mine don't like oat hay but I know other piggies who do. In the beginning I would recommend you not to get a big bale of anything your piggies might not like. I feed mine meadow hay that I buy from a farmer, a bale for the same price as a pound of oxbow :)). It makes me able to give them heaps to play and burrow in as well as eat. We don't do hayracks here :)
 
I buy Oxbow timothy, which is imported from the US and, yes it's really expensive! I try to feed a combination of meadow hay and timothy, which makes it go a bit further and gives the piggies some variety. They sometimes have green oat hay as a treat.
 
I just nearly fainted, just looked at our courier to see how much it would cost to ship a large box of hay to you and it is £144.75:o@)!!
 
I share this problem, only unfortunately they don't even sell it in ANY pet stores where I live so it is pretty much out of reach unless I get it shipped in from somewhere and as it is already expensive I don't even want to think how much it would cost...
Much as I would love to be able to provide my boys with Timothy hay, I think it's a better option to just feed them lots of grass and pellets and save money for vet visits and other guinea pig necessities.
 
Any grass hays should be fine...

Meadow
Timothy
Orchard-Grass
Oat
Brome
Rye

I know Oaten (oat) is quite a popular one is Australia so if your guineas like it, then go for it.

I have also heard of owners in Australia who can only get alfalfa hay, which is a legume hay very high in calcium and protein. My view on this is that it's better for pigs to have alfalfa hay than no hay, with the important awareness that the rest of the diet (veggies) should be carefully handled to ensure that the pigs are not getting an overload of calcium.
 
Napalm: You live in QLD don't you? Just jump onto the oxbow Aus website, they have a list of stockists: http://oxbowaustralia.com/Retail Locations.htm

I think I shall start off getting small packets, Ill try a 70% oaten and 30% timothy and see how I go. Ill avoid alfalfa for older piggies :P.

I shall see if I can find meadow :P

Thank you for your help everyone!
 
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