How long can guinea pigs go without hay?

Claire W

Claire W

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I have been putting my piggies in our summer house so they can stretch their legs. I give them cut grass and they have water and their pellets but not hay as personally, I don’t want the mess and the last time I gave them hay, they didn’t touch it.

I usually keep them in there for 2-4 hours but is that too long to go without hay? How long can they go without baring in mind they’ve had grass
 
If they have access to grass all that time I think they’re fine to be without hay. When mine are out on the grass (runs) I don’t give them hay.
 
Id want to make sure they’ve got something available all the time - whether it’s grass or hay doesn’t really matter but as long as they don’t run out of one of them during the time they are out of their cage particularly if they’re out for a few hours.

Mine were out on the lawn in their run for an hour yesterday and even though they had the grass and eating that was their priority, I still put a hay tray in. After about half an hour of grass and running about they both went to their hay tray and sat eating hay for a while.
 
Claire W said:
How long do you tend to keep them out on the grass?
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When they’re used to it they can be out there for a good 2-3 hours. But now I’m rethinking my stance as @Piggies&buns says hers went for hay after a while. Do you usually put hay out for them if they’re going to be there longer than an hour?
 
Siikibam said:
When they’re used to it they can be out there for a good 2-3 hours. But now I’m rethinking my stance as @Piggies&buns says hers went for hay after a while. Do you usually put hay out for them if they’re going to be there longer than an hour?
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No I don’t, they just have pellets, water and cut grass but I’m wondering if I should? I’d just rather not have the mess
 
I would have thought if they access to grass they won’t need the hay in that time? Hay is just bailed and dried grass.
for example, we don’t put hay out for the horses when they’re on grass (except in the winter when grass is scarce)
 
Bradshaw Piggies said:
I would have thought if they access to grass they won’t need the hay in that time? Hay is just bailed and dried grass.
for example, we don’t put hay out for the horses when they’re on grass (except in the winter when grass is scarce)
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They don’t have constant access to grass when they’re in the summer house. They have it as and when I cut them some which is at least once every 90 minutes or so
 
When you go to top up have they finished it all? In that case I think I would have hay available as well.
 
Ahh I see. Could you put the hay in a litter tray in there? To try minimise mess (though I appreciate not entirely)
 
When mine are out on the grass they still have hay. I carry them out in pet carriers with hay in and the carriers go in the runs with the doors off. The piggies like to nibble on the hay between grass eating sessions. I feel hay probably helps with the digestion of fresh grass.
 
Thank you. I think I will start to put hay in a litter tray whilst they’re out in the summer house. Yes, the grass has always gone by the time I go to top it up
 
Hay cakes might be less messy? It’s what I use for them in my bathroom for floor time as hay was getting everywhere. When I cut grass for my two they eat all of it and then head to the hay cake.
 
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