Finding hay from local farms?

**Sierra** · #1 09-30-04, 09:14 pm

How would I go about finding timothy hay from local farms? I have checked in the newspaper, but they don't have anything for hay.

**NoVeil** · #2 09-30-04, 09:34 pm

Call feed stores, stables, vets who treat livestock....

I started calling feed stores today. I asked if they carried grass hay and if they said no, I asked if they knew anyone who did. My second call got me the name and number of a local farmer. He sells bales of orchard grass hay for $2.75. That is a heck of a lot better than the +$40 I was paying to have less than a bale of timothy shipped here. Timothy is not grown in my area at all.

**Sierra** · #3 10-01-04, 04:13 pm

Ah, I see. Does Orchard Grass have the same benefits of Timothy? Are there any that do? (Just in case I can't find Timothy).

How would I find a feed store?

**Erin8607** · #4 10-01-04, 04:56 pm

Look in the phone book under Feed & Supply stores.

Orchard grass is fine!

Only thing you may run into is finding a quantity that you are able to use before it goes bad. When you call, ask if you can buy by the flake instead of the bale. I get 60-80 pound bales of a grass hay mix for $5.00 - but with over 50 pigs it doesn't last long. ;-D

**Sierra** · #5 10-01-04, 05:51 pm

Man, these bales sound pretty big, how big would a bale be?

**Erin8607** · #6 10-01-04, 09:15 pm

I don't have a whole bale on hand now to measure, but I'd say about 4' long, 2' wide, 2' deep.

**kennethlhm** · #7 10-02-04, 04:41 am

I can't find local farm of feed store in Malaysia. There is no "feed store" in phone directory. I manage to find 1 place which is for horse ridding. They got meadow hay only but not for sale. And I can't find farm in town area.

**ice_on_fire** · #8 10-02-04, 07:46 am

just one question guys.. what exactly is pasture hay..? cuz that's the only type of hay that i feed to my piggies..

**Sierra** · #9 10-02-04, 09:03 am

I would say it is some kind of grass hay mix.

**Denise** · #10 10-04-04, 03:35 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin8607

Look in the phone book under Feed & Supply stores.

Orchard grass is fine!

Only thing you may run into is finding a quantity that you are able to use before it goes bad. When you call, ask if you can buy by the flake instead of the bale. I get 60-80 pound bales of a grass hay mix for $5.00 - but with over 50 pigs it doesn't last long. ;-D

I bought a bale of second cut Timothy Hay from a vet in Wellington for $2.50 and it was brown and looked more like straw than hay. Were do you get yours?

**loves2travel** · #11 10-04-04, 06:05 pm

how about field hay? is this ok? just curious, i have other hay, but i wanted to know. this is what is fed to sheep and llamas, and is it ok for guinea pigs?

**Erin8607** · #12 10-04-04, 07:46 pm

Denise - I buy from the Randolph Feed & Supply. It's right off 224 on 44, you make a right and it's about 3 buildings down on the right side of the road. The hay has been fabulous there all summer. It does go down in quality a bit for winter, so I try to stock up. I bought three bales on Saturday, that will last me a whole few weeks. LOL

**Loveheart** · #13 10-14-04, 10:07 pm

just wondering if u buy a bale from a farmer dont they have mites in it or something also is straw good for guinea pigs or not

**Erin8607** · #14 10-14-04, 10:11 pm

It's not known really where mites come from. I feed my pigs local farm hay, have not had a problem with it thus far, but I do treat my pigs every once in awhile for mites since I have rescue pigs coming in and out that may have them.

As for straw, no, it's not something that you want to give to guinea pigs. Some people use it as bedding, but it's rough and can easily cause eye injury. It's also not absorbant as a bedding material, it's pretty useless for guinea pigs. In my opinion.

**Loveheart** · #15 10-15-04, 01:43 am

weird cos alot of people tell me that mites come from untreated hay then some people tell me it comes from outside, very confusing is it alot of money to get them treated??

**piggylover101** · #16 10-15-04, 09:55 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loveheart

weird cos alot of people tell me that mites come from untreated hay then some people tell me it comes from outside, very confusing is it alot of money to get them treated??

As a general rule mites to not come from hay or bedding. But certain mites, called Walking Dadrift can be spread by bedding and hay. And can also be spread to cats and dogs too. But the only way that can happen is if the hay was exposed to a sick guinea pig or animal that had Walking Dandrift(within three weeks though, after three weeks without a host the mites will die). Which I highly doubt will happen. Otherwise the only way for your guinea pig to get mites is from a carrier (a sick guinea pig with mites) of mites. And only by direct contact. That is why before introducing a new guinea pig you are supposed to quarentine it because it may carry deseases. So I am sure it is fine to get a bale of hay. No it is not confusing to get them (mites) treated you can actually do it your self, and if you do it your self it is alot cheaper too. I won't get into how to treat mites yourself seeing as this a Hay thread.

**Erin8607** · #17 10-15-04, 11:02 am

mites come from untreated hay

You should avoid feeding your pigs anything that is chemically treated!

Check out the guinealynx.info forums, there is a ton of information on mites and treatment there. You can get them treated at a vet, or it's easily done at home.

**Denise** · #18 10-15-04, 12:55 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin8607

Denise - I buy from the Randolph Feed & Supply. It's right off 224 on 44, you make a right and it's about 3 buildings down on the right side of the road. The hay has been fabulous there all summer. It does go down in quality a bit for winter, so I try to stock up. I bought three bales on Saturday, that will last me a whole few weeks. LOL

Thanks Erin! I will have to give them a try!

User Name		Remember Me?
Password