Sorry more questions! Timothy Hay

[Mabel]

after trying to look up info about hay, and reading people's posts here and there - Is Timothy hay the better hay to buy for guineas?

Also where does everyone get their timothy hay from or other hay?

I recently got a package of meadow hay for the pigs, but it smells quite musty (dont know if that's the right way to describe it - but it doesn't smell very nice to me and so heaven knows what it smells like to the pigs!) They are eating it tho.

I have been giving them some of the timothy hay herbage stuff - that smells really lovely and they seem to prefer that! It's very expensive though at £4.30 per kg, if i use only this type of hay!

Hope you can help!

Amy rolleyes

 

[Sue G]

I'm definitely not a guinea pig expert, but my three piggies came from my vet nurse, and I just followed her suggestions on piggie care. She recommended Timothy Hay to me as being the best (and I must say it has a lovely smell, seeing they live in my loungeroom, there's always a nice hay smell in the room). I buy it from the vets - at least, they order it in for me. I tried the Timothy Hay with dandelion and other herbs, but they didn't like that. I do have to say though, that the hay I get is expensive. Nothing but the best for the piggies, I suppose!

Sue

after trying to look up info about hay, and reading people's posts here and there - Is Timothy hay the better hay to buy for guineas?

Also where does everyone get their timothy hay from or other hay?

I recently got a package of meadow hay for the pigs, but it smells quite musty (dont know if that's the right way to describe it - but it doesn't smell very nice to me and so heaven knows what it smells like to the pigs!) They are eating it tho.

I have been giving them some of the timothy hay herbage stuff - that smells really lovely and they seem to prefer that! It's very expensive though at £4.30 per kg, if i use only this type of hay!

Hope you can help!

Amy rolleyes

 

[Mabel]

I buy it from the vets - at least, they order it in for me. I tried the Timothy Hay with dandelion and other herbs, but they didn't like that. I do have to say though, that the hay I get is expensive. Nothing but the best for the piggies, I suppose!

Sue

Yes I've looked around to see where i can get it and it seems to be all western timothy from usa! I dont really want to buy it from there and ship it over if it is available over here!

I found a place in South west wales that sells their own timothy hay. Think it has other hays mixed too. but they do timothy hay. But its a good 8 hrs drive away from here! lol. P&P may be quite a lot. but they do a deal which means
it would be cheaper to buy that than to buy the equivalent in the herbage (one with dandelions etc! - mine really like that)

Noticed tonight that the little one is sneezing now! I think it's the meadow hay. I'll take it out in the morning i think, I found some mud and some very hard twigs in it tonight. Removed that straight away!

 

[Sue G]

Yes, I have to say the Western Timothy Hay I get (from the vet) is Oxbow, and it does come from the States, but it's the best I've tried. I think the place in Wales you talk about is probably http://www.willowwarren.co.uk/ and I buy my hay balls from them, they post them out filled with their timothy hay, and it's different in both colour and smell from the Oxbow W.T. hay, but it might be worth chatting to them. They are a small company and friendly to talk to. Good luck, and let us know how you get on. Also hope littl'un stops sneezing.

 

[MemberY]

You could have a look at www.dustfreehay.co.uk

Norman runs it and he grows delicious meadow hay in derbyshire. I get my piggies the finer meadow hay for bedding and eating and he does american timothy hay in large boxes and although it seems expensive, it actually works out cheaper than buying smaller quantities from pet shops. It is every bit as good as the oxbow if not better. Delivery is included in the price and it mostly arrives the next day!

 

[Goldie]

I have also bought Timothy hay from my vet. At approx £5.00 for a smallish bag, it is expensive but smells lovely and my piggies love it!

As has been said above, you can also buy it on the internet. I am going to buy some Oxbow gp pellets and at the same time order some Timothy Hay. I thought it only originated from the USA, perhaps I am wrong.

I was going to try www.thehayexperts.co.uk.

 

[Mabel]

From what i can gather, Timothy Hay is a european grass. But they dont grow it very much in the uk now. (well it's harder to locate i think). They grow it in the USA and lots of people seem to be buying it from there.

I dont mean to be a stick in the mud, but I guess I'd just like to get it locally or at least in the uk (&produced here if poss). I'd like to see air miles cut down! lol.

I found some timothy hay at PAH yesterday - It sems to be going down quite well, But no idea whether they have it imported or not! I'll keep searching, but think I might check out the sites you guys have suggested - THANKS!

Amy

 

[Sue G]

I have also bought Timothy hay from my vet. At approx £5.00 for a smallish bag, it is expensive but smells lovely and my piggies love it!

As has been said above, you can also buy it on the internet. I am going to buy some Oxbow gp pellets and at the same time order some Timothy Hay. I thought it only originated from the USA, perhaps I am wrong.

I was going to try www.thehayexperts.co.uk.

My vets gave me a bag of the Oxbow Cavy Cuisine pellets to try yesterday, and guess what, my gang don't like them. It's a 5 pound bag, with just a few taken from it. I don't know if you've bought your Oxbow pellets yet, or what they charge for postage to send it to you. If you are interested in having these ones you are welcome, only I'd have to ask you to pay the postage, and as it's a big bag, I know the postage might be in the region of £6+. Plus I've got my free sample (250g) bag of the Burgess food which I'd "throw in" too. Let me know if you (or indeed anyone else) is interested.

(And I'm pretty sure you're right about the Oxbow timothy hay coming from the USA)

 

[Goldie]

Went to P&H today to get a bag of Timothy Hay and noticed, just before I paid for it, that it said suitable for rabbits and didn't mention guinea pigs. So I put it back.

I have to say that it certainly didn't look at all like the bag I bought from my vet which was the USA version. The colour was different and the texture.

I bought Timothy Hay with Herbs instead as that said for gp's and rabbits. I have bought this before and they liked it.

 

[Angeladeedah]

I normally buy mine the Excel Herbage hay - but yes, it is quite expensive. I got my last order from Pampered Piggies though and got them some different stuff for a change - meadow hay. They don't seem to like it as much though.

Just ordered some more Megazorb from some company and they also sell readigrass (which they've never had before) so hopefully they'll like that too.

 

[Mabel]

We have readigrass at work, and I use it too, but only small amounts as I'm told it's not really as good for them! They love the readigrass even more! Something to do with nutrient levels etc. I dont know. Mabel and Peggy really like this herbage stuff - but eat it like it's going out of fasion! The PAH timothy hay i got is quite coarse in texture but it seems to be being eaten! And is going down better than meadow hay I've had previously.
I've just got some new meadow hay - comes from the north east - Lanchester. It has some dusty bits in the bag - but after shaking it and putting it in it seems ok.
I might also get a sample of the timothy hay from the willow warren place - In wales, just to try.

 

[Jane]

Readigrass is only dried grass so I would assume it's not much worse for them than fresh grass!

I think that most hay is fine aslong as it's not alfalfa hay which has too much calcium for adult pigs

 

[Hay-a-holics]

Sometimes local farmers have better hay than in the pet shops. With a bale being around 5 Euro (less in sterling) which would last us ages with 2 pigs. Yet the pet shop sells a bag of meadow hay produced a few counties away which is awful stuff and it's over 5 euro for a bag that would last a week.

The only other hay I can find in the shops is either Plospan or Wiesenhau I think one is from Holland and the other Germany or both from Holland not sure either way they smell a lot better than the meadow hay in the shop.

Have tried Ox Bow Timothy hay before and they love it but it's so so expensive here, I get it very occasionally if I am in near the place that sells it. Have tried the dried grass from Burgess and they loved it but after a while thought what's the point when we have a garden full of it lol.

I just wish Timothy hay was easier and cheaper to get there could be a market out there for a farmer looking for an alternative crop to sell to pet owners even online.