Timothy Hay

TraceyE · Mar 3, 2014

Hi all, i am new to the forum and wanted opinions on a Timothy hay chop that i have found. Has anyone had experience using the Simple Systems timothy chop? & if so what did you think of it?. This is a link to their page http://www.simplesystemhorsefeeds.co.uk/products/viewhorsefeed.asp?id=9&name=Timothy Chop
Thanks in advance for any help.

Hazelcroft Rescue · Mar 3, 2014

Hi TraceyE, yes I have started using it here in the rescue after doing a lot of research into guinea pig foods (pellets and dried grasses/forages). I am impressed with it and the guinea pigs like it. The biggest positives are that it has low calcium and low protein levels, a good calcium phosphorous ratio and is free from ryegrass. The only downside I would say is that you get quite a lot of powdery small bits (wastage) from where the grass breaks up. You also have to buy a 20kg sack!

TraceyE · Mar 4, 2014

Hazelcroft Rescue said:
Hi TraceyE, yes I have started using it here in the rescue after doing a lot of research into guinea pig foods (pellets and dried grasses/forages). I am impressed with it and the guinea pigs like it. The biggest positives are that it has low calcium and low protein levels, a good calcium phosphorous ratio and is free from ryegrass. The only downside I would say is that you get quite a lot of powdery small bits (wastage) from where the grass breaks up. You also have to buy a 20kg sack!

Thanks for your reply, i'm glad to hear you are impressed with it as i wasn't sure if it was as good as non- chopped Timothy hay or if the piggies would enjoy it as much. Have currently been using Pets At Home Timothy hay but not sure about the quality- it has thick/coarse strands and is not very green. Not to mention the price which is £4 for 1kg!

Hazelcroft Rescue · Mar 4, 2014

I wouldn't use it instead of non-chopped timothy hay or other types of hay. Guineas need to eat hay for their teeth and for roughage. This is just an addition to their diet to give them variety.

TraceyE · Mar 4, 2014

Hazelcroft Rescue said:
I wouldn't use it instead of non-chopped timothy hay or other types of hay. Guineas need to eat hay for their teeth and for roughage. This is just an addition to their diet to give them variety.

Thanks for this. I have been trying to get to the bottom of whether this would be a good substitute for their current Timothy hay, as had heard Timothy was particularly good for them. They have a dedicated hay room (made using corex which forms an upper level in their cage) which i fill with meadow hay as bedding & they obviously eat a certain amount of, but i also give an unlimited supply of Timothy to, but as mentioned my current Timothy seems both of not great quality & high cost so looking to possibly buy larger bags/sacks in order to hopefully get a better quality & price.

Dindypig · Mar 5, 2014

We have just got some from here, it's really nice and green.
http://www.timothyhay.co.uk/

TraceyE · Mar 6, 2014

Dindypig said:
We have just got some from here, it's really nice and green.
http://www.timothyhay.co.uk/

Thanks for the recommendation, i will check it out :0)

MushiiPeas · Mar 7, 2014

I just bought a bale of the timothy and rye hay from hayforpets and the piggies absolutely love it, I got it on Monday and the pigs have eaten more have than i thought possible!