Is Barley Straw any good for guinea pigs?

mstori · May 8, 2009

just bought a massive bag for the rabbits/guinea pigs and when Ive got home it says suitable for rabbits, but not piggies.. is there a reason?
It says healthy and hygienic, soft and comfortable, dust extracted, absorbent, cut short for comfort...
I use Hay normally to line the bottom of the cages and hutches.. but ran out and the only Hay they had was the stuff I got last week which was horrible and dusty and no-one can go to the farm for me til the end of next week (going to try the farm stuff!)
Thanks.. Tori x

mstori · May 8, 2009

also just noticed there is a chart on the back which says pets its suitable for.. piggies isnt ticked yet its sold on loads of sites on-line as piggie bedding? x

sazzy11 · May 9, 2009

bumping this up

KingBoris&HisFollowers · May 9, 2009

i don't think any straw is suitable for piggies mainly due to the fact that it can cause injury some more knowledgable members should come along soon xxxxx

Missbonbon · May 9, 2009

No type of straw is recommended for piggies, it does not have any nutritional content and can cause piggies serious eye injuries.

I stick to hay for bedding, aswell as feed.

mstori · May 9, 2009

thanks, i wont use if it causes injury. I have timothy hay for feed, but not enough to do the cages out and only had enough for 2 hutches of the hay i had left. Will have to get some of the rubbish hay then

its been terrible quality lately.

Niki · May 10, 2009

I use short cropped straw as bedding (hay on top in winter) & have done for years with no adverse effects & no eye injuries caused by it/ Is the barley straw like Russel Rabbit? This isn't like harvest straw which can cause eye injuries as it's much softer. Vedra has in the past recommended Russel Rabbit straw because its short cropped & soft

mstori · May 10, 2009

thanks, I ended up getting some more timothy hay and using that, but its soo expensive!
Didnt want to risk the straw after what had been said, although I have seen the exact same one (canac) being sold as guinea pig bedding..
wish i had thought of putting it down and then putting the hay on top.
Got a friend going to their farm for me sometime this week to get me a bale, hopefully it will be better than what is round here although goodness knows where and how i will store it! lol