alfalfa

**rlesko1129** · #1 10-21-07, 04:17 pm

my piggies are still young and are on alfalfa hay.... im waiting for my first shipment of alfalfa from kleenmamas and while waiting we have been givng them pet store hay. my questions is, is alfalfa supposed to be dusty?
We use hay racks and the hay dust get everywhere... if alfalfa is supposed to be dusty and my higher quaility hay will be dusty i will consider getting something different for the hay

Thanks
Renee

**Ly&Pigs** · #2 10-21-07, 04:27 pm

Generally, all hay will be somewhat dusty. Are you giving just alfalfa or are you giving both alfalfa and grass hay. Grass hay is more important than alfalfa. Alfalfa is just a supplement in young cavies.

**PhoenixFeather** · #3 10-21-07, 04:57 pm

We ordered some alfalfa hay from KM and it's very... crumbly -- definitely more messy than grass hay. I hope you ordered some bluegrass from KM while you were ordering. It is Frisky's favorite!

**rlesko1129** · #4 10-21-07, 06:39 pm

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate the advice.

To phrase my question more accurately, is there supposed to be significant excess dust? The bag I purchased from the store was 1lb, and I'd say about 20%-25% is dust. At the end of the bag now, there is at least 3 handfulls of pure dust.

I'm just wondering is this is because its store-bought and KM will be much better, or is all alfalfa VERY dusty?

**Ly&Pigs** · #5 10-21-07, 06:49 pm

Hay shoved into small bags will probably be significantly more dusty than hay stored in bales and then packed when ordered. Those small bags get tossed around then packed into a box, shipped, unpacked at its destination and put on the shelf. All this handling and moving will most likely make it break down into smaller bits making much of it very dusty. I've had bags of Kaytee timothy like that.

KM's hays are a bit dusty but not nowhere near as bad as what you are experiencing now.

**SimplyRachael** · #6 12-01-07, 01:07 pm

I have a question about alfalfa...I have heard that you should only feed alfalfa if your cavy is less than 6 months old (and that it is important for them at that age). Does it have a negative effect on older pigs? I have a 2 month old and a 3.5 y/o. Do I need to make sure that the 3.5 y/o does not eat the alfalfa?

**Ly&Pigs** · #7 12-01-07, 08:34 pm

Afalfa is high in calcium. Therefore older pigs shouldn't get it often. It can be fed as a very occasional treat to pigs over 6 months. If older pigs eat too much of it, they can end up with bladder sludge/stones.

**aaronmeister** · #8 12-01-07, 09:35 pm

Would that be the same for alfalfa-based pellets?

**Ly&Pigs** · #9 12-01-07, 09:47 pm

Alfalfa based pellets can be fed although timothy is better. If you do choose to feed a high quality alfalfa based pellet such as Mazuri, it has to be limited to no more than 1/8 cup per pig per day.

I feed Mazuri myself and have done so for over 2 years, so far, no sludge nor stones.

Thank you Ly&Pigs for this useful post, says:
rlesko1129 (10-21-07)

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