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Hay for pigs and people

EmmyJ

EmmyJ

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jul 27, 2019
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Somerset
My boys just get the regular pet shop hay and they eat it all just fine. However, both me and my partner are pretty allergic to it and as I have skinnies who live indoors, it's not ideal. I'm sure I read somewhere that there's one type of hay that more people are allergic to, and one which is better for allergies but for the life of me I can't remember which hay was which and where I read it to!

So, any advice/ideas on which hay to feed my skinnies that is both good for them, and good for our human allergies!


Thanks!
 
I can’t help you there, I’m allergic to hay too. I have to wear gloves to handle it as I come out in a rash on my hands and get quite wheezy too. I would try and look for dust free hay. I have tried all types of hay but it’s the same with all unfortunately 🙁
 
Some people find their allergies are worse with Timothy hay. I have only once bought it for our piggies for that reason - never again! Apart from that, we get the same brand of meadow hay regularly but some bags seem to affect me more than others. I don't know whether it affects us more heavily when something else has already made allergies flare up?
 
We find Timothy hay is worse for allergies, sometimes it seems to be worse than at others.
 
I think I might try the meadow hay. I have a feeling it was the Timothy hay = worse for allergies that I heard.
 
Do you have a farm near you that sells hay? I have severe hay fever (nosebleeds and everything all year round) but I'm OK with the farm hay.
 
Ok that's interesting, I get hayfever quite bad too. Lots of farms around here but I don't know if any of them sell hay.
 
I feel your pain. I am allergic to both the hay and the wood chips so I wear gloves when doing stuff in their cage! I give the girls orchard grass a lot and they love it, plus I’m not allergic to it!
 
Thanks, all! Definitely going to trial some different hays and see how we get on.
 
You should try Oxbow brand Meadow Hay. I'm not allergic to hay, but sometimes it makes my nose stuffy/sneeze and my eyes water. The only thing with Meadow Hay is that it makes my nose run when I grab a handful out of the bag. Other than that, no problems.
 
Update: I've gone for "Vilmie Mountain Meadow Hay" which so far, has not set off me or my partner's allergies! And as a bonus, both pigs love it - Mortimer especially so as he popcorns like crazy when I put it in their cage. :D
 
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