Hay Question

[Char-x]

Right now my lot have hay from the field where my horse used to be kept, we get it for £1 for a large bale because my mum is good friends with the owner and they have more than enough. It isn't as 'green' as some of the hays I've seen people feed though. We also give them Pets at Home timothy hay but they dont seem to like this, they LOVE the cheap hay .

The thing is there has been some sharp leaves in there with "thorn" type prickles and it hurts if I catch myself on them and I try and get any out by squeezing the hay before I put it down (so basically I get hurt and know where they are and can remove them). It most likely is just this bale as it's only happened once before.

I was just wondering what hay isn't too expensive (I have to try and persuade a mum) but very good for them and they usually like? There just seems to be so many orchid/meadow/Timothy and I dont know which is the best, or prehaps two should be mixed? Suggestions needed!

Thanks

[newpiggiemommy]

I order from KM and I was told their 3rd cut timothy hay/bluegrass mix is like piggie catnip. So, I am ordering that next!

I have tried timothy (they love it) and I have tried orchard (they like it a bit, not their favorite). I have not tried brome, bluegrass, or medow yet, so I don't know about these!

[jabberwock]

The hay that my piggies seem to like best is Pure Pastures Meadow Hay, it costs £2.79 for 1.8kg from the Hay Experts (www.thehayexperts.com). Having tried lots of different hays, and somehow feeling that they ought to have Timothy, it seems that they like this one best. They still get some Timothy in their hayrack but they don't generally eat from that at all. (My pigs like to get right inside their hay and eat their way out.) You can't get KM's hay in the UK, so you're prohably best off not thinking about how good it sounds!

[Char-x]

Thanks I've just been looking through that link, love all the toys they do aswell!

Does anyone know if this hay is okay to be part of a hay mix?

https://www.thehayexperts.com/produc...roducts_id=168

I know I can get that local!

[Ly&Pigs]

Originally Posted by Char-x

Does anyone know if this hay is okay to be part of a hay mix?

https://www.thehayexperts.com/produc...roducts_id=168

I know I can get that local!

You can use this as a treat a couple times per week but not on a daily basis because of the dandelion. It would be similar to the oxbow botanical hay which isn't suitable for daily feeding either.

There really isn't one type of grass hay that is "best" over the others. It's mainly your pigs personal preference. Most grass hays are very similar in nutrition. You don't have to mix hays, that is also personal preference. Variety is always good but with hay it isn't absolutely necessary.

[Char-x]

So really my best bet is too do a trial with all of them over a period of a few months, get to know my piggies favourite, then have a constant supply of a few to vary throughout the week on top on their cheap hay. Which hays can be fed daily, just plain timothy hay/cheap hay or any other hays too?

I can get the Excel plain one locally too.

Thanks for the replies!

[Ly&Pigs]

Hays that are suitable for daily feeding are grass hays. Treat hays are botanical/herb hays, grain hays like oat and wheat and legume hays like alfalfa. Grass hays are timothy, meadow, bermuda, brome, orchard, bluegrass, etc.

[Char-x]

Thank you, thats really helpful!