Hay problem!

[flo and her piggies]

Happy Monday!
So recently I moved my guinea pigs from living inside to outside. They have a large hutch and a massive home built run !
They've got used to it very quickly and seem very happy, my only problem is they aren't eating their hay. I've got it in a hay rack as usual and when I put it in they just sniffed it then left. Usually they (two of them) eat about two to three full hay racks a day, but now they don't eat any.
I did change it to see if it was gone off or something- still no result.
Should I be worried? xoxo

 

[bubble&squeak4ever]

Have you changed your hay at all? Where is the hay rack in the hutch? If its at the front on the bars then they may not feel comfortable coming out to eat it? Maybe you could try placing some hay on the floor in their 'bedroom' area and see if they eat it that way.

 

[Stewybus]

Hay is essential to their diet which should consist of about 80% hay. Are you using bales of hay from a farm or a propriety brand from a pet shop or supermarket etc.

I use hay from a farm & there's usually no problem. Sometimes at this time of year it can be nearly a year old but mine still eat it because it's been stored correctly in a barn or similar with ventilation. With shop bought hay, it's stored incorrectly in plastic bags & tends to be drier & dustier stored this way. Sometimes it can be 2 years or more old.

Best thing to do is buy from a different source or a different brand. If you use bales, try & get some of this year's crop which is available in some parts of the country but not all.

 

[flo and her piggies]

Have you changed your hay at all? Where is the hay rack in the hutch? If its at the front on the bars then they may not feel comfortable coming out to eat it? Maybe you could try placing some hay on the floor in their 'bedroom' area and see if they eat it that way.

The hay is the same as always - good quality dust extracted bagged hay. I have tried putting some in bedroom area- just got soiled
The hay is now in a hayrack. I don't see why they should feel uncomfortable eating from it there as in their old cage it was in the same sort of place
??

 

[bubble&squeak4ever]

The hay is the same as always - good quality dust extracted bagged hay. I have tried putting some in bedroom area- just got soiled
The hay is now in a hayrack. I don't see why they should feel uncomfortable eating from it there as in their old cage it was in the same sort of place
??

Maybe this paticular bag of hay is not very good quality and therefore they don't want to eat it? Will they grass, pellets etc?

 

[flo and her piggies]

Maybe this paticular bag of hay is not very good quality and therefore they don't want to eat it? Will they grass, pellets etc?

No it is, they've been on it ever since I've got them 2-3 years and they usually devour it! They have eaten tons of grass since they started living out and they eat their pellets as usual?
? x

 

[Salt n Peppers mum]

No it is, they've been on it ever since I've got them 2-3 years and they usually devour it! They have eaten tons of grass since they started living out and they eat their pellets as usual?
? x

They are more than likely supplementing their grazing activity on to the grass meaning the hay is now being eaten less?