Grass

**Slave to the Rose** · #1 05-03-07, 02:10 pm

Ok I was wondering. Which is better? Natural fresh grass or the grass bought in stores?

Also what is the nutritional value of Kaytee Natural Orchard Grass, Kaytee Brome Grass, and Kaytee Natural Bermuda Grass? Are they worth buying? How much should be fed at any one time? Are they even good for the pig?

**Ly&Pigs** · #2 05-03-07, 02:33 pm

Quote:

Also what is the nutritional value of Kaytee Natural Orchard Grass, Kaytee Brome Grass, and Kaytee Natural Bermuda Grass?

These are all types of hays, which is dried grass. Both fresh grass and hay are good for guinea pigs. Hay is essential and should be given in unlimited amounts daily. The orchard or the burmuda would be good choices but brome shouldn't be fed daily.

Fresh grass when available is one of the best forages you can give. You just have to make sure that it is from a yard or field where there are no other animals using it as a restroom and that it is free from pesticides and other chemicals.

**gpigluver14** · #3 05-03-07, 03:38 pm

Just adding...If you do give grass to your pigs and you give it to them in unlimited amounts, you should always keep timothy hay or another hay available- grass doesn't provide as much roughage as hay since it's softer. And you should give them small amounts first, so their stomachs can get used to it.

**jabberwock** · #4 05-03-07, 03:39 pm

I'm in a complete panic now because recently my piggies have been having brome every day - it's their favourite hay, though they always get it mixed with meadow hay too. I will reduce the frequency of brome at once but could you explain the problem with it? Should I be looking out for calcium deposits or is it a different problem? If I reduce it to occasionally now will any lasting harm have been done?

**Ly&Pigs** · #5 05-03-07, 03:47 pm

Jabberwock, let me do some looking into the brome thing. If I remember correctly brome shouldn't be fed everyday. I'm going on my memory here so I may be wrong.

Edit: I was wrong and I admit that, ha ha. I don't know why I remember brome not being a good everyday hay. Maybe I read something on gl a long time ago about it but I can't seem to find any evidence not to feed it daily. I may be confusing it with another type or thinking it's a grain hay. Go ahead and feed all they will eat. I did read on gl that many pigs don't like brome hay.

**Slave to the Rose** · #6 05-03-07, 03:56 pm

Thanks for all your help! I will probably get some sooner or later!

**Ly&Pigs** · #7 05-03-07, 03:58 pm

Shadow, I hope you have some type of hay already as it is an essential part of their diet.

**cookie_gal** · #8 05-03-07, 04:03 pm

Mine hate the brome hay and I can't say i blame them as its really coarse.

**Slave to the Rose** · #9 05-03-07, 06:54 pm

Don't worry my baby has unlimited access to Timothy hay. She has piles to run through and piles and piles. She loves it.

**jabberwock** · #10 05-04-07, 04:57 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by cookie_gal

Mine hate the brome hay and I can't say i blame them as its really coarse.

Out of all the hays I've tried the one that I would have chosen if it were for me to eat would have been orchard grass as it looked and smelled lovely. But that's the one the piggies almost totally ignored. They have always eaten their hay but probably with 75% wastage. They like the meadow hay because they get loads on the floor of their cage and they like to burrow underneath it and sleep. But the only hay they have ever been really excited about to eat has been the brome.
So this morning they are cross with me. Still I have ordered a whole new set of hays to try and maybe they will find another favourite.

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