Enough hay? Thanks for help

[Guineaconvert]

How do I know if Betty and Yeti are eating enough hay? I started with a hay bag but they weren't keen. If I have it loose they play but dont seem to eat that much. They seem to eat the most when I put it in slit toilet rolls or cardboard boxes, but even then it doesn't seem to me that they're eating tonnes. I wonder if they are holding out for tastier things! Trying to follow the really helpful feed guides on the forum and not spoil them.

 

[DMS260820]

Is it nice and green? You will know by the amount of poo you see laying about. Do the poos look long and healthy? A dark brown rather than a light brown.

My two don't eat much hay until they are active. Always towards 5pm until around 10pm.

 

[Guineaconvert]

Is it nice and green? You will know by the amount of poo you see laying about. Do the poos look long and healthy? A dark brown rather than a light brown

It seems lovely hay, its from haybox. They guzzle it down when i put a loo roll of hay in so I think they like the hay. Poos look good. So maybe I dont need to worry?

 

[DMS260820]

It seems lovely hay, its from haybox. They guzzle it down when i put a loo roll of hay in so I think they like the hay. Poos look good. So maybe I dont need to worry?

I wouldn't worry to be fair, I would weigh them everyday and see if they are dropping weight, but I doubt it. Expect fluctuations of about 40g maximum though ( in adult guinea pigs)

 

[VickiA]

It seems lovely hay, its from haybox. They guzzle it down when i put a loo roll of hay in so I think they like the hay. Poos look good. So maybe I dont need to worry?

HayBox hay is lush. Mine adore it. You are doing the right things.

Piggies always leave some hay. Once they’ve sat on it and peed on it they seem less keen to eat it for some reason, but they love foraging.

I give mine their hay in a hay tray ( a cat litter tray lined with newspaper and a bit of shavings and then hay on top) Those get topped up with hay twice a day. Then I also feed them extra hay in tubes, boxes, bags like you are doing. They love the stimulation of those methods, that’s why they seem to enjoy that so much. Then every evening I feed them a big handful of Timothy hay in a bowl. They have come to see this as a much loved evening treat and start shouting for it any time after 7pm! This Timothy hay always gets eaten, every single bit.

 

[Lorcan]

Once they’ve sat on it and peed on it they seem less keen to eat it for some reason

I always had a layer (or maybe 20) of hay on top of the bedding because that was what Comet wanted, so that's what they both got lol. My rule of thumb was if I was having to add to whatever size the current haypile was, then it had to be going somewhere and it definitely wasn't all ending up on the floor.