Hi it's me again. I just want to ask is it normal for piggies to only munch on hay at night when I turn the lights off? I feel like my boys are smart and picky where they know i will be feeding twice during the day and after the last meal there would only just be hay so they have no choice. They are not really eating a lot of hay as I expected because i have seen people say their two pigs can consume 2-3 kg of hay per month whereas mine probably around 1kg per month. Btw they are almost 4 months now.
Only eat hay at night
- Thread starter Oreo&Levi
- Start date
Lots of questions coming, sorry!
Are they gaining weight well?
How much veg and pellets are you feeding them?
Do you see them eating hay at all during the day?
How do you serve them their hay? Is it in racks or in loose, easy accessible piles (either loose on top of their normal bedding or in trays or large containers) that they can lay in and forage through freely?
If they really are only going through 1kg of hay per month then that isn’t a lot (1kg of hay wouldnt even last a week here!). They should ideally be spending quite a bit of their time foraging through hay
Are they gaining weight well?
How much veg and pellets are you feeding them?
Do you see them eating hay at all during the day?
How do you serve them their hay? Is it in racks or in loose, easy accessible piles (either loose on top of their normal bedding or in trays or large containers) that they can lay in and forage through freely?
If they really are only going through 1kg of hay per month then that isn’t a lot (1kg of hay wouldnt even last a week here!). They should ideally be spending quite a bit of their time foraging through hay
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Mine have hay trays at each end of the cage and are constantly in there lounging and chomping (and peeing and pooping too). If they are perhaps shy (not wanting to come out in the open to eat hay) you could cover over the end of the cage where the hay is to make them feel more secure.Yes they are gaining weight (10-20g per week) and their diet amount is based on your guide (1tablespoon pellets and 50g vege per pig). Well I sometimes have to trick them thinking I have food in my hands for them to come out to the hay rack or hay box i made. One of them, Levi will munch some while Oreo does not even bother and just went back to sleep. I put it in two hay racks which they have no difficulty accessing on one side and also another tissue box I cut as a tray filled with hay on the other side. I did put it in piles before.. 3 big piles around the cage and it just got a tiny bit lesser the next day and that's why I just tried to put it in a rack or box. ): They spend their time sleeping during the day and becomes really active when it's vege and pellets time only.
Yeah i also thought it may be the issue of my room being too bright as the window is opposite their cage so i pull the curtains in during the day. Seems like they still prefer sleeping rather than munching on hay.
Even when you use hay piles, the pile won’t ever completely disappear as they will forage through and pick out the bits they like. You can then fluff it up and top it up with fresh several times a day so they can come and forage through it again. The remainder of the pile can be thrown away once or twice a week (or any wet hay thrown away daily).
I personally find hay racks or anything small in which hay put in (ie hay racks, toilet rolls, tissue boxes) be restricting even if easily accessible (ie can reach up to them) - they’re fun and provide some enrichment but they don’t tend to eat it in the same way from those items as they do being able to get right into a big, loose pile of hay and freely forage through it.
If you want hay to be contained then large plastic under bed storage boxes with a door cut in or cardboard boxes (although they will obviously need replacing once they’re peed on) are great as the hay stays in one place but they can get right inside it.
Mine are entirely bedded on hay and even when they are laying around, their faces are always in hay and they’re always picking at it even if they aren’t physically moving.
They tend to be more active during early morning and evening, and while they only really sleep for short periods during the day, you would expect them to be out and foraging regularly.
What other kinds of enrichment do they have in their cage?
Have you tried different types of hay?
How often do you top up their hay?
Do you scatter feed veg and pellets or do you use bowls?
I personally find hay racks or anything small in which hay put in (ie hay racks, toilet rolls, tissue boxes) be restricting even if easily accessible (ie can reach up to them) - they’re fun and provide some enrichment but they don’t tend to eat it in the same way from those items as they do being able to get right into a big, loose pile of hay and freely forage through it.
If you want hay to be contained then large plastic under bed storage boxes with a door cut in or cardboard boxes (although they will obviously need replacing once they’re peed on) are great as the hay stays in one place but they can get right inside it.
Mine are entirely bedded on hay and even when they are laying around, their faces are always in hay and they’re always picking at it even if they aren’t physically moving.
They tend to be more active during early morning and evening, and while they only really sleep for short periods during the day, you would expect them to be out and foraging regularly.
What other kinds of enrichment do they have in their cage?
Have you tried different types of hay?
How often do you top up their hay?
Do you scatter feed veg and pellets or do you use bowls?
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I see... i will go look for a large container for them then. I was thinking if it's a good idea to "starve" them so they have no choice but to eat hay? When i say "starve" i mean not literally cutting them off from their pellets and vege but maybe feeding them later than their usual time. As there are plenty of hay, could it work?
Previously they have a chew toy and wooden tunnel but they currently have mites now where I threw them out. They are under week 2 of treatment now. That's also why I ditched the hay piles and put it in hay racks for easier changing of the bedding regularly. Also I asked the vet about their hay consumption, she said that since they are young they probably prefer softer hay so I bought Oxbow Orchard grass hay for them to mix with the timothy hay. Same issue.. from what i'm seeing they are eating more timothy than the orchard grass haha. I am probably gonna buy oat hay soon.
I top up twice the hay twice in the morning and night. I tried scattering their pellet and vege once in their hay but they are really smart.. they picked out all of them without touching one strand of the hay. Even when i tried tricking them with hand feeding the vege and when they open their mouths i put a strand of hay there they straight turn their backs on me
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You could try changing up the times and feeding routine to see if it stops them ‘waiting‘ for their veg and pellets and encourages more hay consumption. Hay is always the most important part of their diet.
Generally speaking, interest in chew toys is low. Lots of different hides, tunnels, boxes are such fun for them - fill them with hay also. Lots of enrichment in their cage to get them moving and foraging (I understand the need to clean things more given the mites). Mine live in my shed so aren’t on fleece but they do get given cosy fleece tunnels overnight if it is particularly cold. i make sure their cosy tunnels are removed during the day though (to ensure they’re always dry given fleece outside is problematic) so they don’t just sit about in them.
It may not be that because they are young they prefer softer (not something I’ve ever found with any of my animals - they will eat hay regardless), but what I do find, is that first cut timothy hay - the harder stems - generally are left by any age piggy (or my rabbits for that matter).
Mine are primarily fed meadow hay but are also now being given second cut timothy (its leafier) and due to a delay with my hay delivery they also have a bag of oxbow orchard/timothy blend at the moment and are loving it again (having gone off of it altogether about 18 months ago). I think they are enjoying the variety again.
Thats fine - foraging through the hay to search for veg etc is a a source of enrichment in itself.
Generally speaking, interest in chew toys is low. Lots of different hides, tunnels, boxes are such fun for them - fill them with hay also. Lots of enrichment in their cage to get them moving and foraging (I understand the need to clean things more given the mites). Mine live in my shed so aren’t on fleece but they do get given cosy fleece tunnels overnight if it is particularly cold. i make sure their cosy tunnels are removed during the day though (to ensure they’re always dry given fleece outside is problematic) so they don’t just sit about in them.
It may not be that because they are young they prefer softer (not something I’ve ever found with any of my animals - they will eat hay regardless), but what I do find, is that first cut timothy hay - the harder stems - generally are left by any age piggy (or my rabbits for that matter).
Mine are primarily fed meadow hay but are also now being given second cut timothy (its leafier) and due to a delay with my hay delivery they also have a bag of oxbow orchard/timothy blend at the moment and are loving it again (having gone off of it altogether about 18 months ago). I think they are enjoying the variety again.
Thats fine - foraging through the hay to search for veg etc is a a source of enrichment in itself.
Alright I will just try the method of dumping loads of hay in a large box and probably put a blanket over the top of the cage and see if they eat more. Thanks for your suggestions and advice!
