Where do you get your food from? And is it ethical?

[bee1101]

Hi,

I'm just interested in where you buy your guinea pig food from, food like dry food and nibble sticks etc? And, more importantly, is it ethical?

I prefer to buy organic stuff if I can, but in the UK I find little other option than either Pets At Home, or Wilko's etc.

What I'm getting at is, is there somewhere that's like a Body Shop for Guinea Pigs/Small Animal's that is an ethical store. Not just selling organic stuff, but that exclusively and not selling small cages etc?

If you guys could point me in the right direction that would be great!

[aaronmeister]

I'm lucky to have my vet's office sell nearly all the oxbow product that I would need. Pellets, hay (several sizes) and even vit. c pills.

Usually your best bet would be a feed and supply store that doesn't sell animals. In more urban and sub-urban areas this could be difficult to find.

[i-love-nev]

A) Dont buy "nibble sticks" B) Have you tried finding local farms? we usually buy all our pet foods and sawdust from a farm and the prices are VERY reasonable!

[cookie_gal]

Local farms can be excellent for hay.

[Biscuit]

I actually get my oxbow at an animal shelter that sells it. I order my hay direct from american pet diner, and toys and such usually come from individuals on chinchilla forums.

I feel fortunate to be able to buy my pellets at a shelter.

[luvmyzoocrew]

I get my food, hay and carefresh from a feed and supply store that doesnt sell animals but opens up his store to local rescues. As far as toys whatever i dont do with stuff like paper towel rolls, or paper bags, i get at Petsmart, ick i know.

[Jenni_Feathers]

I get all my Guinea Pig supplies from feedstores or Walmart. For 3 reasons 1.) there arent any petstores with in an hour of my house and 2.) its not supporting petstores and pet mills 3.) its so much cheaper
I get 25 ibs bages of Mazuri 5664 for just under $10, I get 80-ish ibs of Brome hay for $5.99 (avg) and I get giant bags of pine shaving(horse stall size) there for $5.50. I have all homemade toys or ones found at hardware stores such as my pvc pipe tunnels, I made hay racks out of grids and I made cozys out of dog beds bought at a Walmart a few towns over. I do have one pigloo though, that was bought at a petstore about 10 yrs ago from when I had my 1st piggy (who is now at the bridge). I get there chew sticks from my yard (where I know they are safe)

[mommyoffive]

I get my pellets and hay from kleenmamas online, and all their veggies from winco!

[bee1101]

Interesting replies!
Basically, I'd rather get my stuff, like houses and toys, dry food etc, not just from a pet store that doesn't sell animals, as they often still sell small cages which in my opinion is not promoting a decent lifestyle.
Those of you that can buy from a shelter are really lucky to be able too!

[jabberwock]

I buy Oxbow pellets online and get hay online as well. I would prefer to get my hay from a local farmer but it's not a great hay-growing area near us (particularly this year) - farmers produce more haylage than actual hay. I buy UK grown meadow hay grown without pesticides or fertilisers and also Timothy Hay that originates in the US (it's shipped, not flown but I realise that's still not ethically perfect). I really don't have to go into petshops at all unless I happen to be passing and want to check how they are looking after their pigs and rabbits.

[rlesko1129]

I buy my Oxbow pellets at the only pet store in the area that sells them, once my piggies are on the adult Oxbow I will be getting them from their vet, for some reason there vet doesn't sell the cavy performance which really is a bummer for me since the vet is closer.

[Guinea_Piggin]

I get all my supplies from a local pet store that doesn't sell animals. The only animals they have in the store are cats up for adoption from a local rescue organization. There is one item I don't get from this place, and that would be my bale of pine shavings. I get that from the local grain elevator for just under $5.

The fresh fruit and veg I try to buy organic from one of the higher end grocery stores near my house. It may cost more, but the veg always looks so nice and fresh and clean, and you can tell that the produce department takes pride in keeping it that way.

[vics2004]

I am in the UK and normally get our food from the vets, but hay I get from bunnybasics (online) but they do sell small cages, but there is no where else near us to get hay

[LonePig]

I'm not sure about pellets, but Sweet Meadow Farms offers an "organic" line of hays.

I don't think I have heard of any pellets that are "organic". Oxbow is certainly one of the highest quality pellet though, as far as fillers and chemicals being kept to a minimum.

Let us know if you find anything else, I am curious as well.

Sorry I just saw that you were in the UK, I'm not sure if these are available over there.

[LonePig]

Sorry for the double post but here is a link to the organic hay I was referring to.

Sweet Meadow Certified Organic Timothy Hay

I'm not sure if they ship internationally. They have a rabbit pellet called Natural Harvest, but I don't see anything guinea pig as of yet. I'm not sure if the Natural Harvest is just another brand name, or if it is their organic line.

Good luck in your search!

[Ly&Pigs]

Oxbow is certainly one of the highest quality pellet though, as far as fillers and chemicals being kept to a minimum.

In my opinion, there is one pellet that out does Oxbow and that is KM's (Kleenmama's Hayloft :: Home) pellets. With so many low quality garbage brands on the market today, she formulated these for our furry friends with high quality ingredients in mind.

[thalestral]

I'm in the UK too

I get my Oxbow pellets and hays from here: The Hay Experts - Natural Products for Rabbits and other Small Animals - The Hay Experts
I get my toys, mountain hay and extras from here which has all organic and natural products: Pampered Piggies Natural Toys and Essential Products
I get my natural shampoos from here: Gorgeous Guineas - Welcome
And anything else I usually get from the Thistle Cavies rescue website: http://thistlecavies.tripod.com/shop/

All are totally guinea pig friendly!