Hay from a feed store, what should I be looking for?

[Guinea Pigzzzzz]

I am going this weekend to a feed store I found to buy some hay for my guinea pigs.
I don't know much about buying hay by the bale or anything, and I have only had my pigs for 3 and a half months and have been buying hay from the pet store.
This hay is probably going to be horse hay, and I read that is okay.
What are the signs I should be looking for, to know it is good quality hay and suitable for guinea pigs?

 

[gpmomma]

Bump! I need help with this too. Is it okay for there to be a few leaves in it? Clumps of dirt? An occasional clover?

 

[fluff]

dig your hand deep inside the hay and pull a handful out, it should smell sweet and yummy, do not buy if it smells musty or damp, clover is fine but can sometimes be a bit dusty.
i am very lucky as my excellent local shop stocks around 19 different hays but the are small animal specialists.

 

[Guinea Pigzzzzz]

dig your hand deep inside the hay and pull a handful out, it should smell sweet and yummy, do not buy if it smells musty or damp, clover is fine but can sometimes be a bit dusty.
i am very lucky as my excellent local shop stocks around 19 different hays but the are small animal specialists.

I am hoping this feed store is good, they have been in business at the same location for 80 years :O lol.. So they must be doing everything right. Thank you for the reply. I called yesterday morning and they only had bales of 40lb timothy and alfalfa hay mix, and they were out of the timothy hay alone. I have lots of timothy left from the pet store, so I will call back next week. Thanks

 

[Guinea pig slave]

We tried a bale with our piggies and the first one was ok but the second didn't smell as fresh and the piggies were scratching themselves :...
We threw the whole thing out and resorted to buying bags from various places, Wilko's do a decent Meadow and Timothy hay.
I had one from a small pet shop last week to try and it smelled like sweaty socks so that went in the bin too >>>