Brands: Which hay is best?

[Noodles]

For all the years I've had my guinea pig, I've been feeding her fresh Kaytee brand Timothy hay. So far, she likes it and it seems good quality. But, like most things I had been doing before finding this sight, I'm not sure if this is the best quality hay out there. I have switched her over to Oxbow's Cavy Cuisine and since my store has started carrying Oxbow's Botanical Hay, I was wondering if this is better for her than Kaytee Brand. Is there a difference? I don't mind paying a little more if it means better nutrition for her.

[PrayerWarrior]

Yes, yes, yes. Oxbow is way better than Kaytee, you will soon find out. Although I would bet you're going to pay an absolutely outrageous price buying it in a petstore. My 50lb timothy hay order got here a day or so ago, and it was $63 or thereabouts. That seems like a lot, but it'll last me way longer than buying from a petstore and paying $15 for 15oz. Which is what one petstore wanted to charge me.

Oxbow Pet Products | Welcome

Kleenmama is great hay, as well. Some say better than Oxbow, even. Kleenmama's Hayloft :: Home

[rabbitsncavyluv]

Just get regular timothy or orchard grass hay. Oxbow or KM is better than kaytee.

[Ly&Pigs]

The botanical hay can be fed but it should be more of a treat hay given once or twice a week because of the calcium in the added forages. Regular timothy hay or orchard is what you want for daily use of the Oxbow brand.

[Noodles]

Thank you so much for your replies. I was pretty sure what the answer was going to be, but I wanted to know from personal experience. I also appreciate the link to that other website, but since I only have one piggy, it wouldn't make much sense to buy in bulk. Plus, I live in a tiny apartment and would have nowhere to store it. I still have some Kaytee brand left, but once I use that stuff up, I'll definately switch over to Oxbows Timothy hay.

[Noodles]

Thank you so much for your replies. I was pretty sure what the answer was going to be, but I wanted to know from personal experience. I also appreciate the link to that other website, but since I only have one piggy, it wouldn't make much sense to buy in bulk. Plus, I live in a tiny apartment and would have nowhere to store it. I still have some Kaytee brand left, but once I use that stuff up, I'll definately switch over to Oxbows Timothy hay. Also, my petstore isn't charging ridiculous prices: it's only a few cents more than the Kaytee brand.

[petal]

Okay, I live in South Australia and the only hays we have are meadow hay (which piggies get seeds in their eyes) oaten hay and lucerne hay. we do get size of loaf of bread timothy hay from Oxbow but this is $24.95 a bag and we cut this up with scissors and add to pellets. So which out of the 3 hays mentioned is better? Must also tell you the meadow hay here is not very clean and all the hays are dusty too.

[suzilovespiggie]

I ususally buy timothy hay at my local feed store as to buy it online for where I live is way beyond my budget. This summers crop did not do well. The bales were more brown than green. The bermuda grass bales were green and smelled so sweet. Silly piggies that I have do not like the bermuda as well as the timothy. To buy hay in the petstore can also be expensive. I pay about $15.00 dollars for a bale and the petstore wants $15.00 for a medium size.

[PiggieMamaKelly]

I so wish I had a way to get a bale of hay for 15.00. That's fabulous