Where People & Piggies Thrive

Newbie or Guinea Guru? Popcorn in!

Register for free to enjoy the full benefits.
Find out more about the NEW, drastically improved site and forum!

Register

Hay storage and keeping the floor clean!

tinutbutter

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Aug 23, 2012
Posts
54
Joined
Aug 23, 2012
Messages
54
This is a 2 part question, mostly spurred on by the millionth lecture about keeping the floor clean from my mom.

Question one: How do you keep the hay from getting all over the floor when you give it to your pigs? I have a really hard time with this and I tried putting a bed sheet down under the table their on but it somehow still gets EVERYWHERE. Plus they're on carpet in the living room so it's ridiculous to try to vacuum it, it doesn't do much for that. Anyone else have this problem? My mom is convinced we have mice in the house because of the hay on the floor. I don't think so but who knows.

Second question: I want to buy hay in bulk, (thanks to an awesome website spotted here! I forget who posted it but thank you lol) because it's more cost effective, it'll be fresher, plus it'll be harder for me to run out so quick if I have 25 pounds of it!!

Any tips for this? My mom's worried about mice, and the mess of having hay. I live in upstate NY so I can't really keep it outside. I was thinking in the basement or the garage but that will one be a big pain to run downstairs everytime the piggies need to eat and two will effectively be like keeping it outside if I put it in the garage.

Any help would be great!!! It'll save me a couple of earfuls! haha
 

Colorado Cavies

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Aug 21, 2012
Posts
733
Joined
Aug 21, 2012
Messages
733
The sad reality of having guinea pigs is that hay is going to get pretty much everywhere. I have given up on it. Other then what you are already doing you pretty much just have to clean every time if you mom is that upset by it. I don't know how big of a bag you are using but if it is small enough you could hold it over the cage when you feed them that way all the extra would fall into the cage rather then on the floor.
 

xXMaggieXx

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Feb 20, 2012
Posts
844
Joined
Feb 20, 2012
Messages
844
My girls are also on carpet, Do you know the mats people use under their computer chairs that are plastic? I put one of those under the table where my pigs cage is and the hay lands on that so I can easily sweep it up into a dust pan.

Hay needs to breathe, and cant be kept in damp conditions or it will mold. My aunt it in upstate new york, and her basement gets pretty damp so, if she had any hay-eating animals, she wouldnt be able to keep her hay down there. You could keep the hay downstairs and get a bucket/trashcan/big bin and fill that with hay. Keep the bucket by the pigs and use the bucket until it is empty then refill it. That way you wont have to go downstairs often, only when you need to re-fill the bucket :)

Hope this helps!
 

Colorado Cavies

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Aug 21, 2012
Posts
733
Joined
Aug 21, 2012
Messages
733
Depending on the size of the table a chair mat is a great idea! If the table is larger though they can be VERY expensive. I used to work at staples and our larges, really not that big, was like 70 bucks! Maybe target has them cheaper. Or maybe you can find one on craigslist or a site like that.
 

tinutbutter

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Aug 23, 2012
Posts
54
Joined
Aug 23, 2012
Messages
54
@(broken link removed) you make a good point! I usually get a small bag but they go through it in like 3 days! hence why I want to get it in bulk form

@(broken link removed) such a good idea!!! Holy cow I didnt even think of that! Oh man thank you for the great tips! Do you think the hay would be okay in like a closed storage container? Like I said my moms scared about the mice
 

pinky

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Feb 11, 2010
Posts
10,837
Joined
Feb 11, 2010
Messages
10,837
This is a 2 part question, mostly spurred on by the millionth lecture about keeping the floor clean from my mom.

Question one: How do you keep the hay from getting all over the floor when you give it to your pigs? I have a really hard time with this and I tried putting a bed sheet down under the table their on but it somehow still gets EVERYWHERE. Plus they're on carpet in the living room so it's ridiculous to try to vacuum it, it doesn't do much for that. Anyone else have this problem? My mom is convinced we have mice in the house because of the hay on the floor. I don't think so but who knows.

Second question: I want to buy hay in bulk, (thanks to an awesome website spotted here! I forget who posted it but thank you lol) because it's more cost effective, it'll be fresher, plus it'll be harder for me to run out so quick if I have 25 pounds of it!!

Any tips for this? My mom's worried about mice, and the mess of having hay. I live in upstate NY so I can't really keep it outside. I was thinking in the basement or the garage but that will one be a big pain to run downstairs everytime the piggies need to eat and two will effectively be like keeping it outside if I put it in the garage.

Any help would be great!!! It'll save me a couple of earfuls! haha


I just posted a thread, asking about storage myself. The last time I bought a 30 lb. bale of hay, I divided it up into yard waste bags and kept it in my finished lower level. I have an armoire with the back open so there's ventilation in there. I'm buying two bales tomorrow so I plan to put half downstairs and the other half in the garage. I think I'll also put the garage hay into yard waste bags and cover them with fabric to keep out bugs but allow for ventilation. I have a really large wicker trunk (about 30L x 18W x 18H) I keep near the guinea pigs. I lined it with a yard waste bag and can fit about 2 weeks' worth of hay in it. I bought it at a garage sale for $5 and it looks nice, has good ventilation since it's wicker and it holds a lot of hay. When I use up the hay in there, I just refill it from the yard waste bags.
 

tinutbutter

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Aug 23, 2012
Posts
54
Joined
Aug 23, 2012
Messages
54
do you think the waste bags will keep it from molding in an unfinished basement? The wicker basket is such a great idea!! Do you think if I keep it covered mice will stay out of it?

this is the only thing I need in order to convince my mom about, the mice thing. I really really think that the bulk hay is a good idea just need to convince her. Anyone else have this problem?
 

Nix16

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
May 18, 2012
Posts
371
Joined
May 18, 2012
Messages
371
I just bought a couple of kids storage bins yesterday with flip top lids. I haven't tried them out yet but I plan to keep my hay in them and keep them under the table the cage is on. Also perhaps you could get a large off cut of vinyl from a flooring shop, it would probably be cheaper than the clear mats, you would just have to get something that matches your living room colour scheme.
 

lissie

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Jan 25, 2009
Posts
8,190
Joined
Jan 25, 2009
Messages
8,190
If you're buying the 25lbs box from KMS, it can fit under the cage. This is how I used to store mine. Just remove the plastic bag they ship in, and poke holes on the cardboard box.

5073.jpg

5072.jpg
 
Last edited:

pinky

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Feb 11, 2010
Posts
10,837
Joined
Feb 11, 2010
Messages
10,837
My lower level is finished and it's always been dry so I've never had any molding with my hay. Keep it off the floor by propping it up on a table or anything that keeps it off the concrete. Craigslist usually has a lot of wicker hampers that would make a good hay bin. I almost bought a hamper but found the trunk and bought it instead. It's as long as my couch is wide so it's pretty big and holds a lot of hay.

https://s738.photobucket.com/albums/xx28/kavykeeper/?action=view&current=IMG_9186.jpg (<div class="bbImageWrapper js-lbImage" title="th_IMG_9186.jpg" data-src="/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fi738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx28%2Fkavykeeper%2Fth_IMG_9186.jpg&amp;hash=544deec55c288df2c3284f1b9c482429" data-lb-sidebar-href="" data-lb-caption-extra-html="" data-single-image="1"> <img src="/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fi738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx28%2Fkavykeeper%2Fth_IMG_9186.jpg&amp;hash=544deec55c288df2c3284f1b9c482429" data-url="https://i738.photobucket.com/albums/xx28/kavykeeper/th_IMG_9186.jpg" class="bbImage" data-zoom-target="1" style="" alt="th_IMG_9186.jpg" title="" width="" height="" loading="lazy" /> </div>)

https://s738.photobucket.com/albums/xx28/kavykeeper/?action=view&current=IMG_9185.jpg (<div class="bbImageWrapper js-lbImage" title="th_IMG_9185.jpg" data-src="/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fi738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx28%2Fkavykeeper%2Fth_IMG_9185.jpg&amp;hash=7a20f6405254dbb27b4c76c9ba26921c" data-lb-sidebar-href="" data-lb-caption-extra-html="" data-single-image="1"> <img src="/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fi738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx28%2Fkavykeeper%2Fth_IMG_9185.jpg&amp;hash=7a20f6405254dbb27b4c76c9ba26921c" data-url="https://i738.photobucket.com/albums/xx28/kavykeeper/th_IMG_9185.jpg" class="bbImage" data-zoom-target="1" style="" alt="th_IMG_9185.jpg" title="" width="" height="" loading="lazy" /> </div>)
 
PiggieAddict
  • Post hidden due to user being banned.

Inle_Rabbit

Moderator / Cavy Star, Photo Contest Winner
Cavy Gazer
Joined
Sep 13, 2011
Posts
4,156
Joined
Sep 13, 2011
Messages
4,156
I'm in Texas and keep the hay bail in the garage. I use a refrigerator box with some holes stabbed into it to keep it ventilated. I have a trash bag I refill and bring into the house to fill up their hay racks. I use these hay racks with coroplast on the backs and one side to keep the hay contained in the cage. I do not have any problems with hay getting on the floor with this set up.
 

lemonham

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Aug 18, 2011
Posts
231
Joined
Aug 18, 2011
Messages
231
Honestly the best solution we have found is a robot vacuum cleaner. I know it is expensive but I bought my husband a roomba for Christmas a few years ago and it is awesome. We have it set to go every morning after we go to work and when we come home each day the floor is clean. This is what works for us. :)
 

tinutbutter

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Aug 23, 2012
Posts
54
Joined
Aug 23, 2012
Messages
54
@(broken link removed) the cutoff vinyl may be a great idea! thanks! I'm going to look into storage bins for this too.

@(broken link removed)(broken link removed) I was going to buy the 15lb's of hay from KMS so that would work out perfect!! stupid question but you dont have a mouse problem at all right?

@(broken link removed) I'm going to look for a hamper for the upstairs part where the piggies are to make my life a bit easier!

@(broken link removed) no worries! I do that but they're such small bags and so much is packed in! thank you though :)

@(broken link removed) thank you for the link! I'll try that out!

@(broken link removed) we have one of those too! we named it Wall-e and I'll see how it does with the mess! thanks!
 

tinutbutter

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Aug 23, 2012
Posts
54
Joined
Aug 23, 2012
Messages
54
thank you all! you're all wonderful and so helpful!!!
 

kananaka

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Feb 18, 2012
Posts
902
Joined
Feb 18, 2012
Messages
902
Well I also buy mine in bulk and I make a few paper bags full (usually 8-10) when it comes in, so when I go to refill they hay I can lift the paper bag into their cage and it helps keep the mess off the floor. I store the remainder like @ (broken link removed) . When I start to run low on paper bags I drag the box out to the garage and refill the bags etc... This helps keep down the mess but it still does get every where just not as much and not as quickly. I usually only have to do hay clean up 1x a week and it isn't bad.
 
Last edited:

Kelly9

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
May 15, 2012
Posts
699
Joined
May 15, 2012
Messages
699
If it is inside your house I wouldn't think it would attract mice if you keep the hay in something. I wouldn't think a mouse would come in your house just for the hay. Perhaps someone else has more experience with the mouse issue.

As for the mess (gets to me too) I take a cereal box with one side cut off and put a hunk of hay on it and carry it to the cage. I have my KMS box (with holes) in my dining room because I am in MI and we have humid weather for a garage or basement. But the box keeps the hay contained as I walk over to the cage.
 

ellisa

Cavy Star, Photo Contest Winner
Cavy Slave
Joined
Mar 29, 2011
Posts
2,009
Joined
Mar 29, 2011
Messages
2,009
I keep our big box of hay under the piggie cage so I can just slide it out and put handfuls in the cage. I vacuum around every second day when I clean the cage to pick up any bits of hay/hay dust.
Our chinchilla is a messy little thing so we keep her cage on plastic mats and sweep around the cage daily. She is so messy compared to the pigs! Her little poops go everywhere! I guess it's because she has multiple levels in her cage.
 

ThePigSlave

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Sep 5, 2012
Posts
210
Joined
Sep 5, 2012
Messages
210
Personally, I too have given up on stopping the mess entirely and am focusing on containing the mess. The chairmat idea is good and will be easier to vacuum or even sweep the hay off. In terms of storage, I buy the sort-of-bulk 3kg bales from Kaytee brand. I keep my hay in the bags, but you could try getting one of those huge flip top dog food containers and put it in there.
I use the dog food containers for my pellet food too, and then a kitchen oranizational container for treats.
 

Lilathandra

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Jul 8, 2012
Posts
242
Joined
Jul 8, 2012
Messages
242
Hay needs to breathe

Hope this helps!

I leave my hay in the box that it came in under the guinea pigs cage. Is that bad for it? Its not in a damp place. But I also can't say that it is able to breath.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.
Top