Mouldy hay

[HeatherW]

I've given my guineas a top-up of hay today as usual and have realised it has a mouldy smell to it (but no mould that I can see). Is it safe for them to eat? Does it cause irritation or hair loss, by any chance?

Needless to say I'm throwing the rest away and getting some more (my reserve bag is the same!), but wondered if there could be any ill effects on my guineas. They seem happy to eat it.

Thanks!

 

[G&C]

You’ve done the right thing not using it, can’t you take it back to where you got it from for a refund/exchange?

I’m not certain on any ill effects it might introduce but I’m guessing fungal infections of their skin could be possible.

 

[HeatherW]

One bag's been open for a while, and the other is probably me not storing it correctly. I've ordered some fresh hay this morning, but they're having to eat what I've got until it arrives or I can find a decent small bag in the meantime. Jasmine has been losing her hair, though Pickle seems to have been unaffected, and both are being treated with Xeno for mites, so I've just had a thought that actually this could be causing it instead.

 

[David Piggie Lover]

Hi. I've notice my hay which I get from P@H sometimes has a damp smell to it. What I do now is I have a big box and i open the hay and this allows air to dry and circulate when I fluff it about ?
My girls seem very happy but I also mix with long hay from Burgess which of course is expensive but one is taken over with 10 eyes wanting fooooooooid. xx