Soft cut timothy hay

[Namida]

Does soft-cut timothy hay work just as well for guinea pigs’ teeth as coarse-cut?

I usually buy “blend”, but I’ve noticed my pigs tend to leave behind the coarser hay. They seem much more interested in softer hay so I’m thinking to switch to soft-cut.

I did try offering only soft-cut many years ago to my first pair of boars, who gave both crossed the rainbow bridge, but I noticed their poops got smaller, making me think they might be getting less fibre. Do guinea pigs get the same dental and digestive benefits from soft hay compared to coarse hay?

 

[Roselina]

Hello this is my personal experience and I can’t confirm what you’re asking
I’ve always got soft cut hay as I’m terrified of haypoke
My boar is 4.7 and has always had normal poops and good dentition on soft hay ( as did his RB brother)
I’m struggling to get good soft hay atm so I’m mixing the soft I can get with the coarser type and they’ve taken to it well
I gradually introduced it to avoid problems - normal poops etc

I’m sure someone with more experience will be along to offer advice

 

[Piggies&buns]

Yes soft cut Timothy does work on their teeth - any grass hay does.

However, soft cut Timothy tends to be a bit more rich and it has been found on the forum that it can cause digestive upset in some pigs. In the event that it causes digestive upset, then vets were advising it is either best mixed with a different type of hay and fed more as a treat rather than being the main hay source, or not fed at all.
But as I say, in some pigs - others have been fine with it.
Mine were fine with it when I used it but I always feed meadow hay as their primary hay anyway; mine have never liked coarse cut Timothy.

 

[weepweeps]

My piggies loved third cut (soft) Timothy hay but it was so rich it unset their tummies so I don’t buy it anymore.

 

[funnehmare]

Anecdotal but I’ve never had teeth issues from feeding soft cut Timothy but I do try to rotate the types of hay I feed more for enrichment than anything. I’ve found the more coarse hay less popular though

 

[Namida]

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences -- these are all super helpful tips! I didn't realize soft-cut timothy could upset their tummies. Next time I might try blended timothy with a higher portion of soft-cut, or orchard hay + soft-cut timothy. Rotating does seem like a great way to see what they like best.

 

[pepperpots]

My guineas adore it. I give a base of ings hay with a couple of big handfuls soft cut a day.