Farm or store hay?

[Vickysows]

Hi I was wondering if anyone uses bales of hay for their guinea pigs I currently buy it on kg from b n m but and it not working out cheap so was thinking of a bale? I can get it local cut 3 weeks ago at 4.50. Will it have more mites etc?

 

[Piggies&buns]

I buy meadow hay bales from my local farm shop. They last for a few months and work out very good value. I also buy bagged Timothy hay from a pet store for my pigs to eat (although they eat their meadow hay bedding as well!).

 

[asian piggy]

I’ve done meadow hay from a local pet shop sourced from a nearish farm and what i’ve found with it, is that it is a lot cheaper than other brands and have nice long strands of hay. I haven’t found any mites so far fingers crossed, but they only problem I have with it, which is a little annoying is thick hard strands of hay or even perhaps straw i’m not quite sure. I have to always remove them if they’re too hard and pointy in case one of the piggies poke their eye but maybe that’s just from my local pet shop!

 

[Vickysows]

Yes I really am debating to do it. As you seem to get a lot more for your money n with it being winter you would be cost effective too

 

[Eriathwen]

I used to buy it in bales with my old piggies and it was so much better value. The quality will vary though so always make sure you inspect it before buying, stick your fingers right in to check under the surface the make sure its not got damp at any point, damp breeds mould which will make them quite sick. It should have a nice, fresh, sweet smell, dont buy from anywhere that has musty smelling hay. Pet shop hay was once from a bale, they dont do anything other than break it down into smaller bags really so unless it's been stored badly, you'll have no more issues with lice or mites than pet store hay, in fact, I never had lice or mites until I started using pet store hay so it may even be the other way around, given that pet shops with have rabbit and guinea pig stocked which may be carrying parasites which can get passed to the dry goods.

 

[Betsy]

I always buy hay in a bale from a local farm. I also always bag it up at the farm. This has several advantages.

1. You leave most of the mess at the farm
2. You can check that the whole bale is dry
3. You can check that the whole bale smells sweet
4. You can check out the hay that's going into the bag ie is it nice fresh green hay?
5. You can see how the hay is stored.

The hay I get from the farm smells like honey and my piggies love eating it, playing in it and burrowing in it and making hay tunnels.

 

[Seven7]

Kaytee hay from store, delivered to my home every other week. I get three bags of 1.7kg. This is only for Finn and Lara.