Hay Are your guinea pigs picky about their hay? - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**tony891031** · #1 10-28-09, 06:30 pm

I am just wondering whether some of your guinea pigs are picking through their hay and choosing only certain parts of it to eat. It is because my guinea pig, Popcorn, seems to love eating the tips and the leaves while leaving the stems alone. He is currently receiving unlimited hay as I buy my hay in flakes from a local supplier. Is this behavior normal or not?

**akstrohm** · #2 10-28-09, 06:31 pm

Yeah, it's normal.

**Heady** · #3 10-28-09, 06:55 pm

That's so strange that you posted this question (not bad strange, but strange as in I was wondering the same thing!!).

I recently ordered a lot of food and 14lbs of timothy hay from Sweet Meadow and the pigs wouldn't eat it. They would only eat the Kaytee hay that I use in their litter boxes. They're eating it now, but it seems they don't eat as much of it as they did with the Kaytee hay (from Walmart and pet stores).

I was pretty worried that maybe this hay is bad for them or something, but I don't think that's the case. Maybe they were just so used to eating the Kaytee hay that fresh hay was weird...

**WheekiePiggy123** · #4 10-28-09, 07:29 pm

It's normal, my girls make a HUGE mess picking through their hay.

**blackarrow** · #5 10-28-09, 08:12 pm

Only in where they eat it. They only seem to want hay that they've personally selected from their hay rack. Once it's hit the floor, they stick their little pink noses up at it, even if it has obviously not been peed on. The only way to get my guys to eat it from anything other than the rack is to stuff it into a toilet paper roll - then it's back to being fantastic.

Silly boars.

**Jenni_Feathers** · #6 10-28-09, 08:13 pm

My boys do this too. It's normal.

**angiekay** · #7 10-28-09, 08:22 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heady

That's so strange that you posted this question (not bad strange, but strange as in I was wondering the same thing!!).

I recently ordered a lot of food and 14lbs of timothy hay from Sweet Meadow and the pigs wouldn't eat it. They would only eat the Kaytee hay that I use in their litter boxes. They're eating it now, but it seems they don't eat as much of it as they did with the Kaytee hay (from Walmart and pet stores).

I was pretty worried that maybe this hay is bad for them or something, but I don't think that's the case. Maybe they were just so used to eating the Kaytee hay that fresh hay was weird...

Mine do seem to like the Meadow Hay (more like grass) I got from Sweet Meadow better, but they go through some tim hay I got from them too!! Seems it's all gone except a thin layer in the large litter pan I fill up in the evening when I get home and I just filled it that morning, I've put another grid hay rack binder clipped over that too to add to the quantity of hay they have. I fill it twice a day and they are really eating it up!!

**YayPiggies** · #8 10-28-09, 08:24 pm

My pigs are just big pigs. They eat anything and everything. If you stuff it in their mouth, they chew and swallow! When they feel like eating hay they just walk ver and grab the hay nearest to them. However, they are picky about vegetables.

**heartpiggies** · #9 10-28-09, 10:24 pm

Gary goes through a ton of hay because he does not eat the stems at all. I'm looking to buy a higher grade hay that has less stems so I get more actual use out of the hay.

**GizzyandMe** · #10 10-29-09, 12:46 am

It seems my Gizzy is 100% normal! Thanks! She is super picky about hay and will only eat it while sitting on it?!?!

**piggiecrazy** · #11 10-29-09, 03:20 am

My 11 piggies use to do the same thing with their hay that I bought from a horse farm. I recently, about 3 weeks ago got the Sweet Meadow hay and now they go thru their hay in record time. I never knew they could eat so much hay. I ordered 36 pounds of it and the box is almost gone. I just ordered another bale the other day. They are going to break me at this rate. LOL

**Heady** · #12 10-29-09, 03:14 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by angiekay

Mine do seem to like the Meadow Hay (more like grass) I got from Sweet Meadow better, but they go through some tim hay I got from them too!! Seems it's all gone except a thin layer in the large litter pan I fill up in the evening when I get home and I just filled it that morning, I've put another grid hay rack binder clipped over that too to add to the quantity of hay they have. I fill it twice a day and they are really eating it up!!

Because you said to and I ALWAYS listen to what you have to say

I did end up getting 14 lbs of timothy hay, a 10lb bag of pellets and two bags of orchard grass, all from Sweet Meadow. Would the grass be the same as Meadow Hay??

The most awesomest (I know that's not a word, but it makes me laugh) thing is that I spent about $25 for all of that (not including shipping)!! I love it!!! The pigs seem to as well (now, anyway)!!

I apologize for asking a question in this thread, but I felt it would be unnecessary to create a new thread for this purpose...

**xoLauraox09** · #13 10-29-09, 05:43 pm

My guinea pigs are not picky at all when it comes to hay.

**GizzyandMe** · #14 10-30-09, 01:16 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by angiekay

I fill it twice a day and they are really eating it up!!

Jikes Angiekay....are they suppose to eat that much hay? Gizzy will eat about a cup full no more! She has access to unlimited hay but every second day I toss out the old ones and put in new ones and it seems like she has hardly made a dent in it!!

"Thank you, blackarrow, for this useful post," says:
GizzyandMe (10-29-09)

"Thank you, angiekay, for this useful post," says:
Heady (10-29-09)

"Thank you, piggiecrazy, for this useful post," says:
Heady (10-29-09)