Best way to provide hay?? Location?

[skinnyguineaus]

I need some ideas on where and how to provide Hay for my little guys... I now have my hay racks made out of a single cube that I bent and zip tied to the C&C wall. It works... but I still feel that i waist a lot of hay. I am attaching picture of it. On the bottom of the hay rack I have a bowl made out of metal that I fill with paper bedding I also provided a little hut that my guys decide they would use as a ramp to get to the top of the hay rack... Wow, they have some great ideas these little stinker The other picture is of a tunnel I made with a cube... They love to just hang out there... Please suggestions and feedback are welcome!


Should I worry about their feet? The rack is always full of hay so I haven't been concern about them getting hurt... What do you guys think?

[skinnyguineaus]

here is a picture of the clean cage

[skinnyguineaus]

Oh... I tried the bird feeder as a hay rack and my guys were not eating as much hay from it... Has anyone ever use those?

[pigimama1999]

I actuly think your original way was great and i will try that myself!

[HannahlovesFern]

That is how I have my hay rack and she seems to like it (just build my c&c last night though). I don't know if I will have any issues later, but I guess i'll look back here if I do! Good luck!!

[bpatters]

You got guinea pigs? You're gonna waste a lot of hay!

Yes, you should worry about their feet in those racks -- several posters on other boards have had pigs with broken legs or dislocated hips from those bent grids. You can modify them by bending them more tightly together and ziptying coroplast to the end to keep them from jumping in. You can also do it without bending the grids -- put coroplast on the wall of the cage, ziptie the full grid at an angle to it, and put coroplast on the end.

I had something similar to the seed and suet block cage, and my girls didn't eat a lot from it either. I think the holes were too small for them to get their noses in. After I filled it, they'd eat whatever strands were sticking out, and then quit.

I use round, heavy utensil holders from Bed Bath and Beyond, and have been very pleased with them. But you can get lots of hay rack ideas from the Photos section of this site.

[skinnyguineaus]

do you mind sending me picture of your utensil holders?

I have also purchased some timothy hay cubes... I know that studies have shown them to be ok as a supplemental to the regular hay as the piggies do need to be able to grind their teeth and the cubes will not provide the same grinding experience... But I am hoping it wont as much waste.

[skinnyguineaus]

Thanks!

[skinnyguineaus]

Yes, you should worry about their feet in those racks -- several posters on other boards have had pigs with broken legs or dislocated hips from those bent grids.

Do you think that even with the hut next to the grid I may have a problem? They really only go up and down by using the hut. I left my web cam on all day yesterday and they NEVER once jumped from the front... What do you think?

I switched the hay rack to a vertical position and they did not eat at ALL! I got really worried and moved it back

[piggypuppylove]

I just recently purchased a toilet paper roll holder made out of metal. I've got it zip tied to the cube wall for stability and so far so good. I've got it suspended high enough that the piggies can go under it and they seem to me loving it! Plus the spaces are big enough that they don't have any trouble getting the hay out, and it's bigger than the utensil holders that I've seen recommended. I'll get a picture of it posted when I can.

[skinnyguineaus]

I use round, heavy utensil holders from Bed Bath and Beyond

Is this what you use?

[firebirdjones]

We have a wooden "trough" that we fill w/ hay and the pigs eat from both sides at once.

[bpatters]

@SkinnyGuineas , yep, that's it. I love it.

And the problem with them jumping isn't so much them jumping from a hut like you have into the hay rack, it's that their leg(s) may get caught or bent the wrong way if they get startled and try to get out in a hurry.

I also use the hay cubes occasionally. I don't put them in there all the time, but once a week or so I'll give them a half of one. Sometimes they'll stay in the cage for several days without the pigs touching them, other times they'll nibble a little along for several days.

[pinky]

I use corner litter boxes for hay. I attached velcro to the sides so it sticks to the velcro I stuck to the coroplast. I line it with a piece of newspaper I fold in a triangle and trim off the two ends. They jump in it sometimes but it's safe and if they soil it, it's easy to clean out with the newspapers in it. I empty it out once a day and add fresh hay as needed.

[partygirlha]

I use wooden boxes with large holes cut into one side. They work well. I have NO woodworking skills but found a bunny rescue that makes them. they cost a lot but were worth evey penny as they really hold the hay and keep it off the cage floor/liners. but are also super easy for the boys to eat out of.

they made me ones with a single hole (the one with 2 holes is great but they climb inside and pee on the hay)

[pinky]

Do they crawl inside?

I use wooden boxes with large holes cut into one side. They work well. I have NO woodworking skills but found a bunny rescue that makes them. they cost a lot but were worth evey penny as they really hold the hay and keep it off the cage floor/liners. but are also super easy for the boys to eat out of.

they made me ones with a single hole (the one with 2 holes is great but they climb inside and pee on the hay)

[skinnyguineaus]

I use wooden boxes with large holes cut into one side. They work well. I have NO woodworking skills but found a bunny rescue that makes them. they cost a lot but were worth evey penny as they really hold the hay and keep it off the cage floor/liners. but are also super easy for the boys to eat out of.

they made me ones with a single hole (the one with 2 holes is great but they climb inside and pee on the hay)

Very cute too! I wonder if i could find something like that in chicago

[skinnyguineaus]

Do they crawl inside?

Mine would now that you mention... It probably would not work for me

[bpatters]

American Pet Diner makes a cardboard box like that -- here's the link:

http://www.americanpetdiner.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=americanpetdin er&Product_Code=7301&Category_Code=

I've thought about trying some of those out for my two, just for a change of pace.

[skinnyguineaus]

American Pet Diner makes a cardboard box like that -- here's the link:

http://www.americanpetdiner.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=americanpetdin er&Product_Code=7301&Category_Code=

I've thought about trying some of those out for my two, just for a change of pace.

I am ordering now! This is a fun toy, I am sure my babies will love it! Thank you