Orchard Grass Digestive Issues

Dilly's Piggies

Dilly's Piggies

Teenage Guinea Pig
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I've used Oxbow timothy hay for 2 years and my guinea pigs love it, but 3 out of my 10 piggies now have allergies/breathing problems from how dusty the timothy hay is.

I have tried switching to orchard grass and my piggies liked that too, I was really impressed with how soft and dust free it is, even in 22kg boxes. However it caused soft/smelly poops with all of them which was a huge shame, this grass is just what my piggies need for their allergies to timothy.

I've heard of this happening with other piggies too and I wanted to know if this is something that will settle down, it won't hurt my guinea pigs to stick with orchard grass and wait for their guts to become accustomed to it? I want to give this hay another try.
 
My two don't get soft poos with the orchard grass but something about that hay makes me think it's a very rich hay if that makes sense, maybe it's the sweet smell or how dark green it is i don't know but it doesn't surprise me if other piggies would get soft poo's eating it.
 
My piggies get Readigrass which I believe is similar to the orchard grass. They do occasionally get soft poops on it but a couple of days without veg settles them down
 
Kylie80 said:
My two don't get soft poos with the orchard grass but something about that hay makes me think it's a very rich hay if that makes sense, maybe it's the sweet smell or how dark green it is i don't know but it doesn't surprise me if other piggies would get soft poo's eating it.
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From what I've read it's something to do with orchard grass having a slightly higher water and calcium content but I'm not sure if this is true... Orchard does seem much richer like grass than the seemingly dry timothy like you say.

Me and the piggies enjoyed orchard grass so it's a real shame this happened :(
 
Hopefully someone will come along soon with more experience with UK brand hays that might be able to help you. Must be other piggies out there that can’t eat timothy hay.
 
Is it oxbow orchard grass?
 
That is quite an unusual reaction, I have fed it for years and none of mine have had any issues. I wonder if it is that particular batch.
 
I feed orchard grass hay as a treat,some had soft stools for 2 days,but when there digestive tracts get used to it,this stops in my experience.timothy hay i get from timothy hay co.uk.this years batch is very green and no dust.but not all my piggies like timothy hay.prefering the softer meadow hay.
 
eileen said:
I feed orchard grass hay as a treat,some had soft stools for 2 days,but when there digestive tracts get used to it,this stops in my experience.timothy hay i get from timothy hay co.uk.this years batch is very green and no dust.but not all my piggies like timothy hay.prefering the softer meadow hay.
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Timothy Hay | Hay Supplies UK is this the site you use?
 
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