Dust Free Hay Or Oxbow Orchard Grass?

[Dilly's Piggies]

I've heard many people have switched from brands like oxbow or alfalfa king over to dust free hay as the quality and dust extraction is supposedly much better, especially for piggies and people with hay allergies.

I have 2 pigs with allergies and I also suffer with allergies/asthma myself so I'm on a hunt for the best possible hay I can buy for my little ones. I've been feeding oxbow timothy for 2 years and my piggies love it however it's just far too dusty for the two girls sensitive noses so they are being switched.

I'm debating whether to try dust free hay or oxbow orchard grass, I hoped others could weigh in with this decision and let me know which is better. Also, dust free hay have soft, stalky or american timothy, which one should I buy?

 

[Gia]

I personally love orchard grass. I got my 60 pound bale from a local horse supply store about 8 months ago. It was so cheap and I haven't even used half yet. It wasn't very dusty when I got it and it's easy to store. The only downside is that my hands are VERY sensitive to any type of grass and organic matter of any sort and they'll break out in hives. A simple solution is to just wear reusable gloves when I handle it. It would probably benefit you to use the dust free orchard. Good Luck!

 

[sport_billy]

Orchard grass is loved by our girls they go crazy for it

 

[Flutterby]

I've never tried the Oxbow hays but I have tried the dust free hays and they were lovely. My lot are fed on natures own 5 a day hay which is lovely!

 

[Kylie80]

I don't find the oxbow orchard grass to be very dusty, maybe a bit at the bottom but I usually chuck the last 1/8th of a bag or more of hay out anyway as it starts to get to dusty. The piggies loooove it.

 

[acapae]

I bought a bag of the meadow hay by Dust Free Hay a few years ago now and it was super dusty. When I contacted their customer services about it I was basically told it was impossible because of the name. That's.... not how names work... They may well have improved their dust extraction technique since then (and if people are changing to it then that suggests they have), but I wouldn't rate their CS if you do have a problem.

 

[DM030819]

But @acapae , if the name says it is then it must be true! Haha

I used to buy it from there and it was no better or worse than Alfalfa King or Oxbow Timothy.

I'd guess Oxbow Orchard would be better as it's longer strands and I'd assume that would have less dust. It'd be worth getting a smaller bag to try!

 

[Wizzy]

I've never tried the Oxbow hays but I have tried the dust free hays and they were lovely. My lot are fed on natures own 5 a day hay which is lovely!

Same, I found they love this! I bought pets at home meadow hay, but that was bad quality, a bit moldy and very dusty.

 

[helen105281]

I would go for the Oxbow hay. We feed orchard grass and it is not that dusty. They have the timothy too and then we use cheaper meadow hay underneath. The orchard grass and timothy is always gone first.