dumb question about hay

[messie47714]

I went to tri state feed and vet supply store for hay they had a pile of bales marked straw and one marked hay. I did not see much difference except the "hay" pile looked wet and moldy (it did not smell yukky). Please advise me on the difference.

[Maisiepaisie]

Straw shouldn't be used for guineapigs as its less soft than hay and likely to poke them in the eyes. I wouldn't give them wet hay either. If the hay was wet and moldy I would go somewhere else to buy it.

[BabyGrl]

If you are looking for bedding straw is a bad choice. If you are looking for something for them to eat straw is definitly a bad choice. Get the hay. Hay is for chewing not straw.

[Rachel's Cavy Cove]

Ok, now I have another dumb question about hay to add to this thread. My pigs, which will be here in two weeks will be about 3 months old when I get them. Should they be on alfalfa or can they move straight to timothy? I just want to make sure I am doing right by our new piggers! Any advice is much appreciated!

[PiggieMom]

I would free feed them a grass hay (i.e. Timothy, Bluegrass, Orchard Grass...) and feed them alfalfa based pellets from either Oxbow (www.oxbowhay.com) or www.kmshayloft.com. At around 6 months of age switch them to a timothy based pellet from the same place.

[Rachel's Cavy Cove]

That makes much more sense. Thanks so much!

[messie47714]

I sorry to ask the same question only reworded but I want to make sure I am buying good hay and not bad hay or straw. I suppose I will just have to take the stores word for it. I want to do right by the pigs and after reading different entries around the web and this site (which I much prefer this site) I am afraid of making the girls sick or not feeding them right or providing a toy to suitable, etc.--I did make a wire cage 2 X 3 with a single cube on the a second story.

[Sviega]

I wouldn't buy wet hay. I don't think that I would use it fast enough that it wouldn't mold. I suppose if you bought it for a horse or cow or lama or something really big it might get eaten fast enough not to spoil but I really don't know enough about farm animals to say that.

I just know that a bale of hay would last me at least 2 months if not longer and with the heat and humidity of summer I wouldn't trust it not to mold up on me.