Ignoring their hay...

[PiggyGuru]

I've noticed that neither of my piggies eat much hay out of their hayrack (ie. a bent grid). I've had them for about a week and a half and in that time I've only had to change the hay ONCE (I've read that people on here can change it up to 3 times a day!). They just ignore it and go for the pellets. Daisy uses the hayrack more than Pippa. Pippa just seems to pick at the pieces that have fallen out onto the ground.

When I put the hay in a bowl during floor time they bury their heads in and munch away, so I know there's nothing wrong with the actual hay. I've read that hay is meant to make up 75% of their diet. Right now it's probably only contributing about 25%, so I'm a bit worried.

What should I do? I would put the hay in a bowl, but it just seems to get thrown everywhere and they end up sitting in it and soiling it (mm... extra flavour anyone? :p). I'm in quite a pickle!

 

[Connie]

I had the same problem with my piggies, when i bought a hay rack they refused to eat from it! i tried many things such as hiding veggie treats in there but they still ignored it. I have now gone back to having a "hay corner" and sadly they do soil it so it has to be regularly changed... some piggies are just funny like that i guess!

 

[flips]

Piggies love to roll around in hay. |) Mine have a litter tray and another separate area for lounging in the hay. They eat much more of it this way. I change the hay in the litter tray every day. I top the big area up with hay every day so there is always a fresh layer and then do a full change every 3 days. They do have a hay rack but were never that interested in it. They like to trim it rather than pull the strands out, then wait for me to pull the next lot through for them. rolleyes

You could try stuffing slit cardboard tubes or tissue boxes with hay to get them interested.