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Hay accidents

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Mother Hubbard

Mother Hubbard

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I've been thinking, scary I know...

Well since my Captain Jack has only has one eye due to hay getting stuck in his eye prior to my taking pity and rescuing him. Then today reading Gizmo&Joeys unfortunate operation for the same thing I think.

I wonder, is there a greater risk of hay accidents with hay boxes in their living compound rather than using hay rack style? I have hay areas, and hay racks and balls but was just thinking if it can be avoided?

So I guess the question is for any piggy owners with hay lofts/boxes or loose hay in their living areas/hutches have had problems hay in piggies eyes?
 
Touch wood...I've never had a problem with hay pokes, and I have hay boxes. They love borrowing in it and I found they just didn't use their hay racks, so I took them out. I've had mine for 3 years now and haven't had any problems (yet!). Don't want to speak too soon though :))
Would be interesting to hear from other peoples experiences though.
 
Thanks for replying. I was actually of thinking changing the upper floors to hay boxes, but it justme thinking.

Jacks naughty anyway, he just pulls out all the hay from the racks anyway. Cheeky monkey! rolleyes
 
I've had no problems with my girls. They bury themselves straight into their hay 'mounds', especially Truffle.
I am also considering a change though as they always have little hay beards going on! :)
 
I try to buy soft hay whenever possible, as I have quite a few piggies who love nothing better than to burrow in it.
 
I've never had a hay problem (touch wood) in all the years I've had guinea pigs.
Ive tried hat racks but they just dont use them.
I've always let them burrow right through it too-it's their most favourite thing to do and I couldn't take that joy away from them.
 
You've already seen my set up ;) i have litter trays lined with wood shavings topped with hay and then all hay goes in large hay racks.

Even with this - not more than 20mins after you left i was at the vets with one of my sows and an eye injury/hay poke. Thankfully the two lots of eyes drops applied 3 times per day did the trick and her eye fully healed..

After my experience I'm not sure whether keeping hay in a hay rack is any safer than throwing in a big pile of the stuff!
 
i think there will always be a risk whatever the system but that this is out weighed by the benefits and pleasure hay gives to piggies. it is a bit like having a cat that loves to go out and knowing in the back of your mind there is always a chance he could be involved in an RTA however 'safe' your location is.

my piggies have hay loose on the floor, they love burrowing in it and over the years every so often someone has had a grass seed husk stuck in their eye and once a very nasty looking injury presumably from a hay poke (which healed completely with treatment).

i dont stuff loads into hidey houses tho as i think if a pig rushed in the hay would not push out of the way and an injury would be more likely.
 
Sodapops said:
You've already seen my set up ;) i have litter trays lined with wood shavings topped with hay and then all hay goes in large hay racks.

Even with this - not more than 20mins after you left i was at the vets with one of my sows and an eye injury/hay poke. Thankfully the two lots of eyes drops applied 3 times per day did the trick and her eye fully healed..

After my experience I'm not sure whether keeping hay in a hay rack is any safer than throwing in a big pile of the stuff!
Click to expand...
Thanks Joanne, how could I forget! I do love the idea of big hay boxes.
 
lil said:
Thanks Joanne, how could I forget! I do love the idea of big hay boxes.
Click to expand...

What pigs wouldn't love some big hay boxes full with hay - if you are worried maybe you could stick to softer hays only in the hay box - meadow hay is a good choice for this... Then you could have the stalkier hay types in hay racks.... ;)
 
I'm going to have a look for the right size to fit my upper level, and I've been looking at some other hay, jack will go nuts! He's a demon whenever he hears the bag rustling for the hay. One day I might get a video of him...going mental that is.

xx>>>
 
lil said:
I'm going to have a look for the right size to fit my upper level, and I've been looking at some other hay, jack will go nuts! He's a demon whenever he hears the bag rustling for the hay. One day I might get a video of him...going mental that is.

xx>>>
Click to expand...

My lot are the same - popcorn like crazy when they hear the hay bag - so funny to watch :))

(eagerly awaits a jack video x)x)x)x)x))
 
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