Oxbow/Kleenmama in oz?

[kiss_liss]

All I'm using now is this ugly looking Peter's pasture hay. It is a grass hay, and my piggies seem to like it, but Oxbow and Kleenmama's look so nice! Has anyone been able to aquire it in Australia? Also what pellets does everyone use? I get pet shop pellets but they don't have any nutritional labels on them so they are probably not that good.

[Aertyn]

Oxbow and KM's are most definitely not available in Australia.

I use a pellet made by Barastoc feeds, and it's Lucerne based. As for Hay I also use the Peters Hay. You really would have to call around in your local area for hays, try feed stores or look under 'Stock feed' in the Yellow Pages, also try your local paper if you live in a country area, as you can sometimes buy Hay straight from the growers.

[Fluffball]

Personally I dont feed mine pellets or grain based feeds.

I opt for a HAFF (Hay and Fresh Foods) diet.

Heres a thread on guinealynx about it and about pellets: Guinea Lynx :: Topic - No pellets in Australia, what to do? Are mixes safe?

It contains a good variety of vegetables and fruits and grass hay. If I can't get grass hay I give lucerne. But try ring some produce stores, ask for any other hay except lucerne. Sometimes they can ship it in.

Here is a ist of vegetables: http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...heir-care.html

Guinea pigs must have at least one cup of fresh vegetables each day each. Good veggies to offer daily include:

Lettuces - all types but iceberg (contains mostly water and very little nutritional value), Good lettuces are Romaine, Green/Red leaf, butterhead/boston, curly or belgian endive, raddichio and others.
Cilantro (coriander)
Peppers - all colours, no seeds
Baby carrots - one small/medium per pig or same equivalent of regular carrot.
Chard, Red or Swiss is most commonly preferred
Zucchini (Courgette)
Corn husks and silks
Cherry/grape tomatoes (no more than 1-2 per pig)

Good every other day foods:

Parsley
Celery - chopped up small plus leaves
Cucumber
Broccoli leaves
Dandelion greens
Green beans
Summer and Winter squash (all varieties)
Chicory Greens

Some fresh foods should be limited to twice per week:

Fruits - apple, plum, apricot, melon, cucumber, peach, grapes and a few others.
Cabbage
Broccoli
Herbs such as Dill, Chives, Basil, Mint, Thyme
Collard Greens/Turnip Greens/Mustard Greens
Kale
Spinach (in small amounts)
Asparagus
Beets
Brussel Sprouts
Cauliflower
Sweetcorn on the cob
Pumpkin
Turnips

Other foods, such as radishes, banana, sweet potato and beet greens should only be given as occasional treats, say once or twice a month.

Vegetables are important to provide essential vitamins, and if provided with a good variety of fresh foods daily, there is rarely a reason for supplements of any kind to be given.



Further reading on diet: Guinea Lynx :: Guinea Pig Care Guide

[Aertyn]

Oh, and just to add to Fluffball's post

Romaine Lettuce = Cos Lettuce
Peppers = Capsicum

[kiss_liss]

Wow thanks for all that info. I tracked down a produce store with some different types of hay, they had lucerne, millet and a grass hay (can't remember the exact variety, possibly Rhode's grass). Which type would you recommend? I figure the grass would be the best?

[Fluffball]

Hey kiss_liss,

Yes opt for the grass hay. If you follow these guidelines in selcting hay and it meets the criteria it should be fine:

It is important that you purchase a hay that is of the highest grade and quality you can find.


Hay should:

Smell clean and fresh
Be soft and flexible
Leafy and lush
Have a natural green colour

Hay should not:

Smell musty, moldy or burnt
Be very stemmy
Have sticks, weeds, dirt or foreign material
Be dark brown/lack all colour
Contain pests/insects
Contain rubbish
Been exposed to rain

Sometimes my hay lacks colour but its still smells fresh and still bends and the pigs love it. If it doesnt have pests e.t.c in it, it will be okay. Heres another link on selcting hay: Guinea Lynx :: Hay

Im sure your piggies will love their new grass hay.

[kiss_liss]

Thanks again Fluffball, you sure know your stuff! I will have to track down a big cardboard box to hold it in (they only sell the grass hay in a bale), and one of those flattish crate things to sit it up on. I'm planning on putting it in a small closed shed out the back, so if it's in a box should it be safe from any bugs? Sorry for all the questions!

[Fluffball]

Hey Kiss_Liss, no its fine asking questions its what we are here for.

Hay should always be completely dry and not moist when being stored in closed container storage. If hay is moist it can be stored in a cardboard box which absorbs some of the moisture, allows air flow, and can be left with the lid open to provide adequate curing. You can place and tape some fly screen over the top of the box to prevent any insects getting in, however if your hay is dry it should be fine. The crates will allow air flow to the bottom of the hay preventing mold.

Make sure the shed is climate controlled, not humid, allows air flow, dry , free from direct sunlight and mice, rats and other pests. With a bale break off small pieces at a time to keep it compact. This prevents air from entering the bale and ensures it keeps its quality.

For more information on storing hay see: Guinea Lynx :: Hay Storage