What good quality and mite-free meadow hay are you currently using? (UK)

RescueBoyMum

RescueBoyMum

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Hi, just wondering if anyone has any recommendations for meadow hay that you currently have that is bug-free!? Hay mites seem to be common again at the moment and it causes chaos in a house with 9 boars and several cages to clean etc! Thanks!

Zuzu and Baby Kiwi for tax - unfortunately he came with hay mites from his previous home, on his beautiful curls 😢.
 

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RescueBoyMum said:
Hi, just wondering if anyone has any recommendations for meadow hay that you currently have that is bug-free!? Hay mites seem to be common again at the moment and it causes chaos in a house with 9 boars and several cages to clean etc! Thanks!

Zuzu and Baby Kiwi for tax - unfortunately he came with hay mites from his previous home, on his beautiful curls 😢.
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Hi

I use Nature's Own farmers' meadow hay and - unlike with industrially harvested international pet shop hay brands, which churn up a lot more soil and are responsible for the often fairly resistant strains of hay mites - I have never had any issues with hay mites (chirodiscoides caviae), nor have any other forum members using them for years as well.
They harvest in a traditional, less invasive way and store their hay in a special way so it cannot go mouldy and smell stale/off. If you order in bulk, you get a free delivery.

Other members may have their own UK farm hay suppliers recommendations. It is quite a fluid scene but not one that is generally ending up with hay mites.

You can find a list of recommended UK providers with links in this guide here: A Comprehensive Hay Guide for Guinea Pigs (incl. providers in several countries)

Here is information on hay mite treatment (as well as mange mites, trixacarus caviae). Please be aware that pet shop products lower in invermectin compared to proper vet grade stuff (even if they say so on the label).
New Guinea Pigs Health Problems: URI - Ringworm - Skin Parasites
 
AidaB said:
We are using Natures Own Hay.
Which we haven’t had any trouble with recently. Currently a bit short & choppy, but hopefully once new season hay comes in, it will be better.
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I’ve just got some from natures own because the new batch from local farmers isn’t the best. They are understandably struggling with weather etc, but the natures own own I have just got seems choppy and very small and fine as well. I have emailed them, unsure what they can do though?
 
I’ve just got some natures own and it’s lovely. Quite fine grass but it smells yummy to me, never mind the pigs! The previous two batches had been short and choppy but this is definitely this years hay. Maybe they’re making the most of what they have as there will be no second cutting this year, unless they water their meadows. My lawn is crispy and brown!
 
Our recent Natures own smells lovely, but your right it’s still quite short and more choppy than usual for this time of year.
I imagine the extremely hot & dry weather has not helped.

I was looking forward to new season hay at the beginning of the summer, now I am scared for how we will all manage throughout this coming year. All the farmers are going to be struggling too feed their own animals this winter too.
 
Nature's Own are currently looking at supplying longer strand hay in boxes. It will be a new product, there was a lot of interest when they mentioned the idea on their Facebook page.
I am currently using Natures's Own Green Hay and meadow hay from a local farm.
 
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