Where to get good hay?

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GuineaRanger

GuineaRanger

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Hello all!

I cant really find anywhere good to get hay from, i usually just get what i can from pet shops and super markets and i always check whether its green enough its not great but its not really bad either.
Which hay would you say is best, on a budget, not too expensive but obv good quality and where is the best place to get it online? I did once buy a sack of it online from Sallys but i cant find that shop anymore now! Thanks for your help :)
 
I buy a hay bale to make things more cost effective, its £8 and last the full month and thats for 20 pigs & 4 rabbits.

I also buy a 15kg bag of readigrass as a treat for them which is £11 and this lasts 6 months or so.

I also buy "treat" hay from pets at home, timothy hay is their favourite so they get a little handful each day as well as their hay bale.

If you ring round local farms or even pet shops you can normally pick up a hay bale, I store mine in a christmas tree storage bag it keeps it all in one place and dry, its then put in my cupboard out of the light. Most hay bales are only £3-5 though at farms.
 
Oh wow! I didnt think it would be that cheap! How big is a bale of hay? They arent the size of the big plastic bales you see freshly rolled in fields are they? lol!

Thanks :)
 
emmyk89 said:
Oh wow! I didnt think it would be that cheap! How big is a bale of hay? They arent the size of the big plastic bales you see freshly rolled in fields are they? lol!

Thanks :)
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Its about 4ft long by 2ft wide, I would ask to see the quality before you buy though, I am lucky as my pet shop delivers if I want them too :)

This gives you an idea of the size of it :)

225137_227619417251603_100000106392505_1090512_6810217_n.jpg
 
I get mine from a local farm. I take a single duvet cover with me and the farmer just pops it in the cover and into the boot of my car like it weighs nothing! It's £6-7 a bale depending on the time of year. I then store it in the cupboard under the stairs and just fill a kitchen swing bin up every few days. A bale lasts me 1 month, that's for 4 cages (6 pigs in total) with a big pile of fresh hay every day.
 
I have spent £££'s on hay including American Timothy Western, Alfalfa etc. The piggies just don't seem to enjoy it that much. One of our boys was poorly back in May and we tried almost every brand available including farm bales. Asda and Tesco brands are the ones they like :{ but I didn't think it was suitable for daily use as it is only short.
OH nipped into Jolleys today and bought a bag of their Meadow Hay, it smells absolutely gorgeous and is a nice soft long stemmed hay. The piggies have loved it this evening so hoping now this may be the 'one' for them.
I have thrown huge amounts out ordered from the net - felt awful doing it with sooo many little ones in rescues etc. but it has all been so thick with dust, couldn't even donate it all grrrr
 
I buy mine from a local farm shop they sell bales @ £5 each and are great quality last me ages :)

I recommend contacting a local equestrian store as they should sell bales of various sizes and qualities as well as bedding and readigrass
 
I buy Alfalfa king timothy hay which is lucious and green and smells delicious. I order it from work though and the only other place I know you can get it is the dreaded P@H.
 
I get mine online from the Hay Experts - have previously tried local farms but they will only supply the very large round bales, and I don't have space to keep it. Hay Experts have lots of diff types to choose from and sell in different sizes, and their mountain hay is apparently to die for (according to Caractacus, 7). Not the cheapest, but not dusty, rank, mouldy or anything else undesirable. www.hayexperts.co.uk will find them.
 
My local farm Hay bale £3.50 and it is green, sweet smelling and cheap!
However the farmer has run out for another week they've just got 50 bales of a field but they have to leave it for a few weeks (not sure why?)

So I've kept top up with Dustfreehay http://www.dustfreehay.co.uk/index.html

But can highly recommend http://www.hayforpets.co.uk/products.html which works out cheaper than buying the same weight in pet stores - and its great quality. Cant wait for my £3.50 bales though I'm missing them 8... :)
 
Go to your nearest good pet store. You can order some really cheap stuff form the internet as well.
 
I get a locally grown meadow hay, £1 a bag or £5 a bale. I usually get two bags and that lasts me about a fortnight for 12 pigs and a rabbit. I tried getting a bale before but I didn't get half way through it before it was going mouldy and I had to chuck a lot away so it's probably best, if you don't have more than about 6-8 pigs, to get small bags instead so you won't waste any if bales haven't been kept fresh in the stores or if you don't store it properly at home.

I'd ask around any local stables or farms near you that might have some suppliers you could contact? Maybe they'd know of smaller pet stores which have locally grown hay?

I used to use Norfolk Pastures Hay but I don't know if it's something people out of the area can get also, but you never know. It's not the most brilliant of hays as it's quite dusty and chopped up quite a bit but my pigs used to enjoy it.
 
CiaraPatricia said:
My friend just got me 6 bales of hay, for €3 each :) Hopefully that will last me the year for 5 piggies 5 bunnies and a chinchilla :))



I used to get my hay from zooplus, it's like £18 for a big box, that's 14kg. And it's really good and it's green and they love it. :) http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/snacks_supplements/hay_roughage/48095
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oooh thanks. i had a bag of this that came with my cage and t was super hay! didnt realise you could get a massiv eone!
 
Can anyone tell me how big the box and/or hessian sack from dust free hay is? like...physical dimensions... ?
 
Amanda1801 said:
Can anyone tell me how big the box and/or hessian sack from dust free hay is? like...physical dimensions... ?
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Do you want Dimensions of the large 2 string bale or the smaller 2.5kg bags?

I have the dimension of the smaller bag, 50cm x 15cm

:)
 
Salt n Peppers mum said:
Do you want Dimensions of the large 2 string bale or the smaller 2.5kg bags?

I have the dimension of the smaller bag, 50cm x 15cm

:)
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I dunno to be honest lol - which one is the smaller one (like what do they call it on their site?) - I think I have room to store one of them! lol I'm having severe space issues since moving house!
 
dustfreehay.jpg

These are the small ones, the minimum you can buy is 2 and they do work out expensive for 2, the more you buy the cheaper it gets, you can also buy 5 and 10. You can buy them in either hessian, breathable plastic, or the plastic pet store type. Each bag weighes about 2kg to 2.5kg and measures about 50cm by 15cm

THE 2 STRING BALE IS THE NEW SEASON HAY, AND i RECON IS HALF THE SIZE OF MY BALE OF FARM HAY.

http://www.dustfreehay.co.uk/store/large-two-string-bale-new-season-hay-p-37.html


I have to compare because I'm a bit of a hay demon and have tried every hay on the market, and in my option these guys 'HayforPets' do a fantastic hay, and a bit cheaper than dust free http://www.hayforpets.co.uk/products.html
I love their hay :)

I love my local farm hay too but it wont be ready for another week ... cant wait!
 
Salt n Peppers mum said:
My local farm Hay bale £3.50 and it is green, sweet smelling and cheap!
However the farmer has run out for another week they've just got 50 bales of a field but they have to leave it for a few weeks (not sure why?)

So I've kept top up with Dustfreehay http://www.dustfreehay.co.uk/index.html

But can highly recommend http://www.hayforpets.co.uk/products.html which works out cheaper than buying the same weight in pet stores - and its great quality. Cant wait for my £3.50 bales though I'm missing them 8... :)
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Can also recommend Hay for Pets as above.
 
Hey guys! Cheers for your replies I just have another question!
Is redigrass ok to give to them? As a constant supply as I know a few of * said * give it them as a treat is it not suitable as a constant supply? I have found a cheap supplier n its so green and smells lovelyyy!
 
i get hay from hay for pets. it's great quality, you get alot for your money and the people who run it are lovely. :)

i've also used dust free hay in the past which are ok and willow warren hay is great but expensive unless you buy in bulk. :)
 
For anyone in Liverpool theres a new veggie shop in bell vale shopping centre selling bales of hay for £3.50. I spoke to him and he said he can order them in for you.
 
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