The Hay Debate! - What to try

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claire8234

claire8234

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Hi

My two boars currently have burgess excel forage hay, which I get in 1kg from my local pet store. They seem quite happy with it and I need to fill their rack up twice a day but I was wondering if there was something else I could try that is a better quality that I could also get in a bigger bag as 1kg doesn't last long.

I have looked on the hay experts website and they seem to sell every hay possible! Has anyone used them, would like to know what you tink of them and what hay you use

They do a sample selection which looks good but not sure if to order one or not

Thanks
 
My lot love different hay - I normally buy the bales from the local farm/horse merchants, but always sniff and feel them first (and pull out some from the inner to sniff!) - some can be very rough and stalky and smell stale so I avoid them. They are cheap, normally about £5 - £6 a bale and I split it and bag it up, but because it only lasts 2 weeks max with the boarders going through loads, its fine kept in a dry place for that time. You may find it a bit big with just 2 piggies :)

Hay for pets do a 9kg bag - it's a good 9kgs - about 1/3rd of a bale and is always excellent quality. I also buy "special" hays from all the other places in small amounts - that is their "treat" hay but they still pull it out and trample and pee on it :)) but they do enjoy a change, even the change from one bale to another gets them all excited. Mine also love the Ings hay from Hay for Pets - that has to be a favourite of all time drool but they only get it in limited amounts.

Jo x
 
Gosh dont get me started on hay * obsessive*

Piggies love a change I agree.

Posh hay/expensive can be used in hay racks so certainly cuts down on waste, I buy most then alternate it so they get a different one each day

Oxbow Timothy
Oxbow Orchard Grass
Oat, Wheat & Barley hay etc

I did try the sample packs a few years back and I loved watching the piggies response, the paper bags they come in are fun for them too!

The Hay Expert selection offers 6 varieties
Readigrass (pure dried grass) - Friendship Estates
* Oat, Wheat & Barley Hay - Alfalfa King
* Meadow Hay - Pure Pastures
* Alpine Meadow Hay - Bunny Nature
* Western Timothy - Oxbow
* Orchard Grass - Oxbow

Nom Nom
 
Getting decent hay is such an on going problem. :(

I had the samples you mentioned and ended up buying their favourite but it's so expensive and with 4 Piggys doesn't last long. I buy the odd bag from Sainsburys and telcos and fill our hay bin up but it's not very good.
I have been told of a local farm who sells a couple of different types of bales so I'm going to have a look at it. I pray its good stuff because I'm at a loss.
 
I just use wilkinsons meadow or timothy , its good, they like it and its cheap
 
Amysmom said:
Getting decent hay is such an on going problem. :(

I had the samples you mentioned and ended up buying their favourite but it's so expensive and with 4 Piggys doesn't last long. I buy the odd bag from Sainsburys and telcos and fill our hay bin up but it's not very good.
I have been told of a local farm who sells a couple of different types of bales so I'm going to have a look at it. I pray its good stuff because I'm at a loss.
Click to expand...

There is a shop on the Warstones road in Wolves that does amazingly good hay for £1.99 a bag.... the girls love it.
 
Yes, it sells pet food, mainly dog and cat stuff but has hay and guinea and rabbit food at the back...
 
We used to but a large bag for £11 from Shipley (Doolittles) but the last batch was musty so complained - they have cancelled their order as the shop stated the company had put their prices up so much and was a poorer quality :(
We panicked a bit as the piggies loved it so tried a farm shop a few miles away we had noticed and they do a huge bale for £6...success :(|)
Lovely long stalky hay and the piggies love it so much, need to buy another tomorrow as it has lasted 2 weeks but we do have 18 nom monsters rolleyes

http://www.tasteofstaffordshire.com...ype=0&SearchLocality=0&PageID=0&RecordCount=4
 
We used to have bales of straw from Roberts years ago-that was when we kept Piggies on straw. They got a serious case of mite which resulted in them losing their fur and having daily injections at the vets. Unfortunately our gorgeous Peanut had a reaction and died. :(

I'm not saying their bales of hay would be the same but it's always put me off buying bales from there because I wondered if it was how they were stored. We bought a bag of their hay but it wasn't very good and the piggies weren't interested in it. I have to go to go there today so may take a look at the bales.

The stables down the mile flat where we get our Reddi grass told us about some farm down Highgate common which sells a couple of different types of bales of hay. I'm going to see if I can look their telephone no up because she said they don't seem to have opening times-you have to wait at the gate but I want to make sure the hay is good enough for piggies before I turn up.
 
LittleEskimo said:
https://www.thehayexperts.co.uk/Hays%2C+Grasses+%252526+Herbs.4/Select+by+Hay+Type.130/Timothy+Hay.21/Timothy+Hay+-+Animal+Dreams.734.html

I use this one. McMac and my rabbits love it so two birds with one stone :))
And it is really tightly compressed so you get quite a bit out of it. Although it is usually easier to empty the bag out into a box and loosen it up a litte. Less pulling and tugging at getting it out of the bag then lol
Click to expand...

That looks reasonable.
Do they charge p&p?
 
Amysmom said:
Is it the small shop across the road from the hairdressers Kenchez?
Click to expand...

No, it's on Warstones Road just round the corner from the old Sommerfield, next to the cats protection league charity shop. Think it's called pets and patios.
 
sport_billy said:
No, it's on Warstones Road just round the corner from the old Sommerfield, next to the cats protection league charity shop. Think it's called pets and patios.
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Thanks for that, I know where you mean now and I will go and get some to try next week. :)
 
Amysmom said:
We used to have bales of straw from Roberts years ago-that was when we kept Piggies on straw. They got a serious case of mite which resulted in them losing their fur and having daily injections at the vets. Unfortunately our gorgeous Peanut had a reaction and died. :(

I'm not saying their bales of hay would be the same but it's always put me off buying bales from there because I wondered if it was how they were stored. We bought a bag of their hay but it wasn't very good and the piggies weren't interested in it. I have to go to go there today so may take a look at the bales.

The stables down the mile flat where we get our Reddi grass told us about some farm down Highgate common which sells a couple of different types of bales of hay. I'm going to see if I can look their telephone no up because she said they don't seem to have opening times-you have to wait at the gate but I want to make sure the hay is good enough for piggies before I turn up.
Click to expand...

Oh that's awful - tbh, I was a bit wary of buying a bale from anywhere and bombarded them with lots of questions about it beforehand.
We are always happy to try new suppliers and these were one that we knew of locally so thanks for the alert...will keep an eye on things :)
They've scoffed their way through one bale with no problems so am happy atm ;)
 
I have been ordering hay from zooplus lately and I am very impressed. Most of their hays are from Germany and excellent qualitity. Also there is no charge for shipping over £19. May be worth a try? www.zooplus.co.uk
 
phalloween said:
I have been ordering hay from zooplus lately and I am very impressed. Most of their hays are from Germany and excellent qualitity. Also there is no charge for shipping over £19. May be worth a try? www.zooplus.co.uk
Click to expand...

I used this for months until I had cause to complain about a batch that was really damp and musty :( The piggies liked their hay and I was gutted as it is so convenient to have it delivered to your door.
Zooplus refunded me in full within three days so was pleased with their customer service :)
 
sport_billy said:
No, it's on Warstones Road just round the corner from the old Sommerfield, next to the cats protection league charity shop. Think it's called pets and patios.
Click to expand...

I know the one - we drove past there a couple of weeks ago on the way to the farm for the piggies hay mallethead
Going to have to pop in I reckon rolleyes
 
phalloween said:
I have been ordering hay from zooplus lately and I am very impressed. Most of their hays are from Germany and excellent qualitity. Also there is no charge for shipping over £19. May be worth a try? www.zooplus.co.uk
Click to expand...

Mine are loving the different hays from there at the moment. The dandelion one is probably their favourite but it's only given as treat hay. All the hays I've had smell wonderful (so far) but it is expensive - still, the piggies are worth spoiling at times x>>
 
sport_billy said:
There is a shop on the Warstones road in Wolves that does amazingly good hay for £1.99 a bag.... the girls love it.
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I bought 2 bags of their £1.99 hay and they love it-it's got some lovely green bits in it too. I'm suprised how big the bags are for the money too and they had a load of the bags so must sell a lot if it.

Hopefully I know where to get my hay from now. :)

Thanks for letting me know about it.
 
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