The Great Hay Experiment concluded!
Posted 03-01-09 at 09:15 pm by Somanypets
It has now been a full week of the Great Hay Experiment. Tada!
I'm feeling a lot better, still a wee bit stuffy but not to the extent that I was last weekend. I don't know exactly what was the main contributing factor since out of desperation I changed a bunch of things all at the same time. Not that I really think it matters at this point.
I felt too sorry for the pigs to make them go a full week without hay. I think it was Wednesday when I gave them some Alfalfa. OOhh the popcorning! Now they have Orchard grass which I thinks works best until I can figure out how to get some blue grass.
So here is what I have figured out has worked best for me:
1) Being masked when cleaning the cage.
2) Using Loratadine for allergy meds
3) Washing hands EVERY time after handling the pigs.
4) Keeping them on my lap. While snuggling them close to my face is enjoyable, I'm a mess for hours after!
5) Giving the boys Orchard grass not Timothy.
Pigsmakemesmile: I plan on getting an air purifier at some point and get a handvac with a hepa filter to use just for the cage. I'll look at the oreck. Thanks!
Otherwise the weekend was pretty good. It was nice to have a break from work. Hopefully this next week won't be so crazy busy. Brush Floss Smile!
We are having a tv free week here at home. I'm loving it! My daughter is doing really well with it too. She is doing more drawing and just being more social. My only concession to the no tv rule is our sunday afternoon movie (Big Fish this weekend) and K is in love with AFV so I'm letting her watch that on sunday eve only.
Have a good week everyone.
I'm feeling a lot better, still a wee bit stuffy but not to the extent that I was last weekend. I don't know exactly what was the main contributing factor since out of desperation I changed a bunch of things all at the same time. Not that I really think it matters at this point.
I felt too sorry for the pigs to make them go a full week without hay. I think it was Wednesday when I gave them some Alfalfa. OOhh the popcorning! Now they have Orchard grass which I thinks works best until I can figure out how to get some blue grass.
So here is what I have figured out has worked best for me:
1) Being masked when cleaning the cage.
2) Using Loratadine for allergy meds
3) Washing hands EVERY time after handling the pigs.
4) Keeping them on my lap. While snuggling them close to my face is enjoyable, I'm a mess for hours after!
5) Giving the boys Orchard grass not Timothy.
Pigsmakemesmile: I plan on getting an air purifier at some point and get a handvac with a hepa filter to use just for the cage. I'll look at the oreck. Thanks!
Otherwise the weekend was pretty good. It was nice to have a break from work. Hopefully this next week won't be so crazy busy. Brush Floss Smile!
We are having a tv free week here at home. I'm loving it! My daughter is doing really well with it too. She is doing more drawing and just being more social. My only concession to the no tv rule is our sunday afternoon movie (Big Fish this weekend) and K is in love with AFV so I'm letting her watch that on sunday eve only.
Have a good week everyone.
Total Comments 4
Comments
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Thats so good to hear!
And I don't know how your ould live without teve..actually i don't watch it that much..what promted you to set it up?Posted 03-01-09 at 09:23 pm by AnimalHouse36
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Thanks AnimalHouse36.
The TV free week came from my daughter not doing her chores, homework or wanting to do anything that would interfere with the show she was watching. TV can be such a scurge. I think of all the things that people accomplish without TV. I'm hoping that she will see that she can have more fun without the telly. In fact right now she is watching AFV but is working on the hidey house she started making this afternoon for the pigs. Good to see!Posted 03-01-09 at 09:38 pm by Somanypets -
There are ways to reduce your amount of time spent with hay. Like having your daughter put hay into brown paper bags and then all you have to do is put a bag into the cage. They get hay and a toy all in one. You could also have your daughter put hay into the cage for you so you don't have to handle it.
The bluegrass KM has is actually blue orchard grass (hybrid) so orchard should do better with your allergies.
I have quite a few allergies myself but fortunately, hay has not been one of them.Posted 03-02-09 at 01:51 pm by Ly&Pigs - Thanks Ly! Those are good ideas, I really like the brown/toy idea. Do you tie close the top so they have to rip open the bag or just leave it open?
I really should make the hay K's job. Since I do everything else with them I don't think she would mind.
Thanks too for the tip on the blue grass/orchard grass. I was wondering how I would store a bale if I got one from a farm by here as I live in a very small apartment with minmal storage. As it is the pigs literally have 1/3 of my living room!
Looks like now I can just keep buying the small Oxbow bags. Not the best price wise but until we move to a bigger place it will have to do.
BTW if anyone is interested. The TV free week is going great still. K is laid out on the couch right now with a Narnia book!! She hasn't even asked for the TV. I'm so happy!Posted 03-02-09 at 07:43 pm by Somanypets
