Bale of hay from farms

[Nicole1997]

Can using hay from a farm kill my guinea pigs? My dad is saying it can but he never really had guinea pigs that were his. I just want to try to find a cheaper and better way to get hay.

 

[Mother Hubbard]

Hello,
Er no all hay comes from farms, as it’s not grown in poly tunnels lol.
Anyway, I buy hay from a farm in either bale or large hay bags.
As long as it’s green and smells fresh and sweet I buy it. Usually it is cheaper to buy direct but depends on the farm too and I know my farm specifically grow it for feed for grazing tomorrow give to animals so no pesticides.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Definitely not.
I get my hay in large bales from a farm and i find its much better value

 

[Nicole1997]

Thank you

 

[Betsy]

I get my hay from the farm in bales.I pop it into black sacks at the farm that way I can check the bales out as I bag it up. It should smell nice and sweet like honey and not musty, needs to be dry all the way through the bale and ideally be a nice green hay.

 

[Goth Mummy]

Just make sure the hay is guaranteed ragwort free there's a lot of ragwort in my area and I shudder when I see it in hay fields.

 

[Betsy]

Thanks for pointing that at @Goth Mummy I forgot to put that in

 

[Goth Mummy]

Thanks for pointing that at @Goth Mummy I forgot to put that in

I only mentioned it as I once found ragwort in hay I bought for my pony and pigs, and was horrified. Just a small piece can kill a pony, so a small animal would have no chance Its palatable when dried, apparently.

 

[Flutterby]

I get farm hay from a local supplier, love it!

 

[Nicole1997]

Is standee hay okay for them? From what I have read it seems to be okay. But I want to make sure.

 

[Thebroughfamily]

Can we feed any hay to our guinea pigs? I live out in the country with lots and lots of farmer around me that silage a couple times a year so there's lots of hay to hand. But sorry if this is a stupid question but is it the same hay the pigs should eat? They use it to feed the animals in the winter.

 

[Betsy]

You mustn't give your piggies silage as this will ferment in their tummies causing bloat which is really painful and can kill. Any hay is fine as long as it is ragwort free and is nice and fresh and dry.

 

[Thebroughfamily]

Thank you Betsy

 

[G&C]

Just make sure the hay is guaranteed ragwort free there's a lot of ragwort in my area and I shudder when I see it in hay fields.

What is ragwort? What does it look like can someone post a picture of it?

 

[Betsy]

Ragwort is poisonous to piggies.

 

[G&C]

Ragwort is poisonous to piggies.

Thank you, I had no idea about that.

 

[Goth Mummy]

Thank you, I had no idea about that.

it has a very distinctive leaf shape that is easily spotted, even dried in hay, fortunately.