Hay How do I select a good bale of Timothy hay?

[CavyChrissy]

Today I'm driving to a (somewhat) nearby feed store to buy a bale of Timothy hay. My mold allergies (the type of mold that grows in hay bales) have gotten pretty bad and so I'm on a quest to find a hay without mold. Honestly, my symptoms are to the point that if I cannot find a hay that doesn't irritate me, I will have to rehome my pigs. Myself and my kids would be heartbroken to do that, but I cannot live with eyes that are swollen and itchy and headaches all the time (and yes, I've done many thing to reduce my exposure to the pigs, keep them in a separate room, bought an air purifier, wear a mask when cleaning, take allergy medication every day, etc.).

But anyway, what are some tips to picking out a good bale of Timothy hay? Should I expect it to be all green, mostly green? What are the signs of mold I should watch out for? Other tips? Thank you!

 

[magicpiggie]

It's most likely you are allergic to the hay, rather than the pigs. Timothy hay is one of the worst offenders. Have you tried a different type of hay, such as orchard or bluegrass?

 

[CavyChrissy]

Good questions [MENTION=34772]magicpiggie[/MENTION] . However, I think that is a common misconception. I had allergy testing done a few months ago, so I know for sure what my allergies are. I am not allergic to the pigs. I'm strongly allergic to a few types of mold that grow in hay. I'm mildly allergic to Timothy. I'm moderately allergic to Orchard and Bluegrass.

I started with Timothy and had symptoms. Then I switched to Orchard and still had symptoms. That's what led me to allergy testing.

 

[magicpiggie]

Oh, I'm sorry. I read your post wrong. My apologies.

 

[bpatters]

The hay should be dry, and should never have been gotten wet, if you can determine that. And it should be mostly green, although there will always be a few brown strands in it.

 

[CavyChrissy]

Good tips, thanks. It's actually raining lightly today, so it's good that I will be able to confirm if it is actually stored in a dry place!