Oxbow Botanical Hay?

[Animat]

I was wondering if anyone has ever used it for their cavies. Also, would any of the flowers hurt my two guineas?

[SIZE=3]Oxbow Botanical Hay for Small Pets[/SIZE]

Timothy Grass Hay and three of the following herbs depending on seasonal changes: Chamomile, Lemon Verbena, Hibiscus, Lavender, Rose Hips, Comfrey, Borage, Red Clover Blossoms.

[Ly&Pigs]

It's a hit in my house. The piggers can have it but not on a daily basis. It's a treat type hay. You can give it in small amounts a couple times per week to supplement their unlimited grass hay.

[Animat]

I am ordering new hay for my boys and it seems interesting. Just want to make sure Eien and Kis can eat it. I am ordering orchard and regular timothy hay along with it.

[willowfaery]

Originally Posted by Ly&Pigs

It's a hit in my house. The piggers can have it but not on a daily basis. It's a treat type hay. You can give it in small amounts a couple times per week to supplement their unlimited grass hay.

LY, could you list (or send me a link to a list) of treat type hays and grass hays. I've fed oat hay and orchard grass to my piggies. Are these grass hays or treats?

[Ly&Pigs]

I don't have a list but you can ask about any type of hay and I can give you info on it. Oat hay is more of a treat hay because it's a grain hay. Grain hays shouldn't be given on a daily basis as cavies have a harder time digesting grains. Orchard grass is a grass hay and can be fed daily.

[willowfaery]

Timothy hay is ok I guess...considering everyone always talks about it. What about brome hay, bermuda grass, and bluegrass?

[Ly&Pigs]

Timothy is one of the most popular of the grass hays. Bluegrass, brome and bermuda grass are other types suitable for feeding daily.

Treat type hays can be fed a couple times a week. A nice big handful can be added in with their grass hay.

[pigsforlife]

Oat hay is the same as Oaten hay, right? If it is, that is a pity as it is all I can get.

I can get Oxbows Timothy Hay, and the girls absolutley LOVE it, but at $17 for a 15oz bag (which wouldnt last me more than 2-3 days and you can not get a bigger bag) I simply cant afford to feed it every day as the only hay they get. Instead I give them a couple of handfuls every other day, with unlimited amounts of oaten hay.

[Ly&Pigs]

From what I understand in Australia there isn't really much in the way of resources for grass hays. I did some searches and Lucerne (alfalfa), oaten hay, clover hay and a mix of clover/rye grass called permanent pasture hay is about all that you get in Australia. Out of these 4 hays, the oaten would be the best choice for you. I know that Oxbow hay is available there but it does seem pretty expensive for less than a pound of hay. Grains from what I understand are a bit harder for cavies to digest. If your pigs eat the oaten hay well and are tolerating it ok then I don't see no reason not to give it to them in unlimited amounts. Is the oaten hay you get nice and green or is it more like a straw quality?

Piggersrule had sent me a sample of some of Oxbow's Oat hay and it was rather course and stemmy. In comparison to the Oxbow botanical hay the oat hay was like straw.

[pigsforlife]

It varies. Sometimes it is quite hard and stemmy with bits of green here and there, other times it is alot softer and greener. Most of the batches I have got so far are like the latter.

I have seen straw before and the Oaten Hay doesnt look anything like what the straw did. The straw was yellow and all stems.

They dont have to much trouble I dont think. I did see awhile ago that some of the poops were like 2 joined together, I didnt know if it was a problem so I asked on GL but didnt get a reply. As of late I havent seen any of the said poops, just normal, formed poops.

[paperlady]

Originally Posted by Ly&Pigs

It's a hit in my house. The piggers can have it but not on a daily basis. It's a treat type hay. You can give it in small amounts a couple times per week to supplement their unlimited grass hay.

Oops, back to the feed store tomorrow--I bought the Oxbow Botanical because I remembered reading that Oxbow's the best and that Botanical's fine, but I forgot that it was a treat hay, not all-the-time hay. Then again, I did get it because I thought something special would be good to help win my new girls over

[pigsforlife]

paperlady - Have you tried or looked into KMs? Their products are apparently even better, if you can imagine! Often, even with shipping added, it works out cheaper but it does depend on each individual.

The only downsides are that they dont ship out of the US, and her products must be brought online.

Kleenmama's Hayloft :: Home

[paperlady]

Right now, I need to pay cash for everything, but I'll keep Kleenmama in mind for later.