Not eating hay

[kimberlie]

(Put this in the wrong section before)

I have two sets of boys, and they usually love their hay.
Over the past few days one of my pairs have stopped eating as much hay, and are hardly eating any at all. I know this because the hay bin has hardly gone down at all.
I am using the same hay as i always have and they have never had any problems with it before.
My other pair are eating just as much.

Anyone know as to why they are not eating as much? Will this affect their health ?

 

[missy]

I'm afraid I have no idea why they'd both suddenly lose their appetite for hay, but I guess that if it continued it might eventually get to the point where their teeth weren't being worn down enough and dental problems could potentially arise as a result....although if it's only been a few days I'm sure they're fine right now.

Are they still eating the usual amount of vegetables and dry food without problem?

Hopefully somebody else can help more. Good luck!

 

[skrikopanik]

Hay is really important to a piggies health! Can you get them some other kind to try or at least give them grass (if you have it back yet). Apple tree branches are irresistable!

 

[daleksarah]

mine go through phases of being addicted to hay then not really bothering with it.maybe try putting more down as bedding as i know mine like to lie in it and eat it as they doze

 

[Sabrinova]

mine go through phases of being addicted to hay then not really bothering with it.maybe try putting more down as bedding as i know mine like to lie in it and eat it as they doze

Same, here, mine only seem to eat from the manger when I'm cleaning them out and then they pull it to the floor! If it's piled up on the floor of their cage or stuffed inside their pigloo they find it much more interesting

 

[Laura-CCC4]

Allowing them to forage in their hay does encourage higher hay consumption.

Is it an inability to eat the hay or a los of appetite for the hay? If it is the former, then a medical reason is more likely to blame - oral fungal infections are increasingly common as the weather warms up, first sign of my Elijah's oral fungal issue recently was him going off his hay and then veggies, followed quickly by much quieter behaviour. If it is the latter, an inappetance, then offering a variety of hays should help.