Different Kind Of Hays? :s

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Squeaky_Ewok

Squeaky_Ewok

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Hello everyone!

Just a quick question on what is the difference with like normal hay? timothy hay?v alfalfa hay? This just confused me, I thought hay was hay :doh: But my mom picks up some hay from time to time if we run out and this time she bought timothy hay? I'm not sure if my pig likes this more than the normal hay but eats it all the same xD Shocked me how less compacted it is and how light in colour it is too :S
 
All hays differ, I think it is based upon the type of grass it is cut from. You even get differences between those which are the same type.
Timothy tends to be more coarse in my experience, you find that the hay will vary in colour throughout the year and dependent upon the harvest .Greener hay tends to be more tasty (in the piggies opinion). Alfafa hay contains a higher quantity of calcium which should only be used really for pregnant sows and babies because of this.
 
As Klee has said, alfalfa hay should not be fed to piggies older than a few weeks (or pregnant piggies) as it's high in calcium and can potentially cause bladder issues.

Timothy hay and meadow hay are both suitable. I only feed timothy hay as the extra coarseness is great for wearing down their teeth. Meadow hay tends to be softer, and therefore makes good bedding. Timothy hay is the lowest in calcium, but many members feed meadow hay without any problems.
 
I buy most of my hay from a local farm @ £4 for a large bale approx 100 cm x 45 cm x 45 cm. My piggies love this & given the choice prefer this to either shop bought meadow hay or timothy hay. Meadow hay can vary tremendously as it's down to what was grown in the meadow. At £4 a bale I can also use it as a layer over their auboise or hemcore. The same can be done if you're using shavings or megazorb. I think it's a case of finding a good supplier & sticking to them. A bale lasts me about 5 to 6 weeks used in an 8ft run & 1.2m cage. We are getting 2 dutch rabbits next month & we'll also use it for them.
 
I buy from Hay for Pets got different sizes and different types. My pigs are like the Timothy and Rye hay. Recently found out they turn their noses up to anything else. And like above it is coarser too so good for Piggie teeth :)
 
I have just moved to permanently feeding timothy hay, my Peppa is no spring chicken so lower calcium is ideal. The younger piggy Norbert is old enough now not to require the extra calcium in his diet :D
 
Thanks everyone! Timothy sounds quite good so I will keep that in there for the time being, I am getting a 10/11 week piggy soon if all goes well with the meeting, is timothy hay okay for this young piggy? I'm not sure about what age range alfalfa should be fed up to?

Again thanks everyone for the advice! :)
 
Squeaky_Ewok said:
Thanks everyone! Timothy sounds quite good so I will keep that in there for the time being, I am getting a 10/11 week piggy soon if all goes well with the meeting, is timothy hay okay for this young piggy? I'm not sure about what age range alfalfa should be fed up to?

Again thanks everyone for the advice! :)
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Yes you can feed timothy or meadow to any pigs x
 
Squeaky_Ewok said:
Thanks everyone! Timothy sounds quite good so I will keep that in there for the time being, I am getting a 10/11 week piggy soon if all goes well with the meeting, is timothy hay okay for this young piggy? I'm not sure about what age range alfalfa should be fed up to?

Again thanks everyone for the advice! :)
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I believe that alfalfa hay can be fed to young or pregnant sows - but I'm not sure about what age is classed as adult. I have read that up to one year is ok, but if anyone else knows better than this, please feel free to correct me.
 
Janey said:
I believe that alfalfa hay can be fed to young or pregnant sows - but I'm not sure about what age is classed as adult. I have read that up to one year is ok, but if anyone else knows better than this, please feel free to correct me.
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In my experience alfafa is not essential for young pigs. My Rosie who lived up till 7.5 we had her from a baby and she never had alfafa, likewise we had Tia from about 9weeks and she was just fed on meadow as timothy is so difficult to get hold of.

Timothy hay should be fine for a 10-11 week old.
 
Mine only had alfalfa for 3 weeks and that was because i had a young pregnant sow whose pups we're very small and i was worried for them, i wouldn't feed it to my piggies now, mine get lovely green meadow hay i get from a farm shop near me.

I've bought timothy hay in the past but it's works out quite expensive with my six as they go through hay like there's no tomo and i can't find anywhere that sells it in big bales!
 
Ahh okay thanks again people! :) Just wanted to make sure timothy hay was suitable as it seemed strange to me xD once that bale is done though I think Gi much prefers the meadow hay, it stays in the hay rack better too!
 
Mine arent fussed on timothy at first but after a week or so they eat it like they do meadow, I getthe burgess hay in 2kg bags :)
 
Ok, this might sound like a daft question, but how long does everyone leave a 'new' hay in the hay rack to see if piggies like it, if they're only nibbling at it?
 
MushiiPeas said:
I've bought timothy hay in the past but it's works out quite expensive with my six as they go through hay like there's no tomo and i can't find anywhere that sells it in big bales!
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Hay for pets sells Timothy at the same price as meadow hay.

Janey said:
Ok, this might sound like a daft question, but how long does everyone leave a 'new' hay in the hay rack to see if piggies like it, if they're only nibbling at it?
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I put fresh Timothy hay in the rack each day and put the old stuff in the bedroom - I have 3 different types of Timothy that I rotate daily. I also use 2 different types of bedding hay. I think I have just realised that my pigs are spoilt, I mean 5 different types of hay for 2 pigs! Is it really necessary?!?! Lol!
 
AbiS said:
Hay for pets sells Timothy at the same price as meadow hay.


I put fresh Timothy hay in the rack each day and put the old stuff in the bedroom - I have 3 different types of Timothy that I rotate daily. I also use 2 different types of bedding hay. I think I have just realised that my pigs are spoilt, I mean 5 different types of hay for 2 pigs! Is it really necessary?!?! Lol!
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haha! Thanks AbiS! I'll try rotating it too - thought I'd totally confused them as I've been trying so many different ones. Thought I'd found one they like, but they don't seem to be eating it as well. Maybe they just like a variety?
 
A brief explanation of the types -

Timothy Hay as the name suggests is pure timothy grass (a specific species), it's considered to be lower in calcium and higher in fibre than other hays, particularly later season cuts.

Meadow Hay is a mixture of grasses and other plants, variable depending on the location of the meadow, often containing fescues (a soft fine grass) earlier cuts will be higher in nutrients and lower in fibre than later cuts - this is evidenced by greener leafier hay vs stalkier hay with grass flowers. The plant variety makes this a good nutritional hay to feed.

Orchard hay - similar type of grass to timothy (I think it's typically cocksfoot) but seems to be cut at a leafier stage producing soft green hay.

Rye and oat hay - both grasses grown for grains, rye grass is often used for lawns also, higher in nitrates and starchier than other hays.

Alfalfa hay - a legume (pea family) rather than a grass, high protein and calcium.
 
I read somewhere that timithy hay could cause injury to piggies due to coarseness if used in litter trays Is this just a myth.Idont use my hay racks as they prefer playing in it
 
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