anyone else do this?

[Guinea_Lover]

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to ask everyone if any of you use farm hay for your piggies?
I've just started using hay from my stables, this is because I find it cheaper & the bale lasts quite a while.
My piggies seem to absolutely love it, they quite seem to like hay with long strands as I find shop brought hay stands are quite short.
Any reviews?

 

[claremw92]

i always use farm bales of hay as i get through SO much of it...
its so much cheaper... £5 for a bale.... and the pigs and buns get through 2 bales a week on adverage... and i've found its alot courser and rougher and longer... meaning its good for my bunnies who have had dentals done recently...
x

 

[zebrallama]

Yes, I do. Of course you have to check that it's not mouldy, and store it somewhere dry with a bit of ventilation so it doesn't go mouldy in storage. And make sure NOT to get a type that's high in calcium. As far as I know, in Australia at any rate, the only hays that you're likely to get offered that are bad are clover and alfalfa. We usually use oaten hay, and sometimes rye.

 

[Delaine]

I also use bales of hay from a farm and a hay dealer. Right now I am using a first cut Timothy, quite course and lots of stems) and a second cut Timothy (very leafy). The girls like the second cut much better but will eat some of the courser hay, so I mix the two together. I sewed old single sheets to make a big bag to store it in and keep it in the basement. I leave the top open. It lets the hay breathe but keeps the mess to a minimum. I can then take what I need from the top.

 

[zebrallama]

I have trouble getting hay with the mix of leaves that my piggies would prefer, but that's OK. They just pick out their favourite bits (which includes not just leaves but also stems, only in a different ratio from what the bale has). It's so cheap that I can afford to throw out what they don't want.

This is just to do with the ratio of thick stalks, thin stalks, leaves and seed heads. I'm not saying it's OK to have inferior hay in terms of species, mould etc.!

 

[poppylily]

I use farm hay because I get through so much! It does vary in quality from year to year though, and also from different suppliers. Once you find a good one stick with them! My piggies love the hay, as (where I get it from) its quite soft and has a few different plants in, which they mostly ignore. I have found they prefer this farm hay to shop hay. Just beware of thistles (nettles fine) and feathers (mitey)

 

[Curlycritter]

I use farm hay, it is far much cheaper and before it was getting so expensive buying 2 petstore bales everyweek while the bale I get now last me ages and at the price i used to pay for a weeks worth..

the piggies don't notice a difference, and this way I can waste loads by putting it all over their enclosure and in their hay rack, whilst before it was just their hay racks..

they get their usual readigrass 1-2 a weeeeeek too

 

[Lady Kelly]

I don't at the moment but I am hoping that when I move again (hoping to buy my own place) I will be in a position to store hay so that its cheaper

 

[Gingypig]

I do! I have a horse so buy hay at the yard and store it there then just bring home a bag at a time. Sometimes I bring home haylage which the pigs n buns love!

 

[Murmur]

I use farm hay, it is far much cheaper and before it was getting so expensive buying 2 petstore bales everyweek while the bale I get now last me ages and at the price i used to pay for a weeks worth..

the piggies don't notice a difference, and this way I can waste loads by putting it all over their enclosure and in their hay rack, whilst before it was just their hay racks..

Yep, I find this too. It's about £7 for a farm bale that lasts me over a month, compared to spending £6-10 a week on shop-bought packs. Much cheaper, and I can put loads into the cages for foraging! They get fancy hay too every so often but I think they prefer the farm stuff.

The only problem can be storage, if you haven't got boxes or hay bags to put it in it gets EVERYWHERE!