What does good Timothy Hay look like?

[cara74]

I am a new piggy owner and have just recently bought a big bag of Timothy Hay from the a farm not to far from me. It was $1.50 which I thought was a great deal, (It's probably the size of a kitchen trash bag, 13 gallons) however what is it suppose to look like. Is it suppose to be all green? I know nothing about hay (I'm a city girl).

I just want to make sure that I'm giving my girls the best. If I can get it locally great, but if I have to order it on-line then so be it.

Thanks

 

[Slap Maxwell]

It should be green, smell fresh, and be soft.

 

[Plummie]

Yep and it should have the little seed heads like this:




Store the hay in a cool, dry place in a large cardboard box with ventilation. Large rubbermaid tubs work fine too, as long as there are lots of ventilation holes drilled in. Do not store hay in a plastic garbage bag, because it can mold. Hope this helps!!

 

[Slap Maxwell]

Good hay dosn't always have seed heads. Mine dosn't.

 

[Ly&Pigs]

Usually only 1st cuttings have the seed heads. 2nd and 3rd cuts don't have them.

 

[Slap Maxwell]

I believe first cutting is better for rabbits, as second and third are better for pigs.

 

[pennick]

It should be green, smell fresh, and be soft.

I hope this picture is not an indication of your description of green. I'm laughing here slap. Your picture came out black and grey, sort of looks like pretty bad straw.

 

[Slap Maxwell]

That is KMs timothy hay. This is a better picture.

 

[cara74]

Thanks everyone. I looked again at my hay when I got home and it does have the seed heads, however it's not as green as the pictures. It does have some green, but not alot. I guess I will be checking out a different supply source.

Thanks again

 

[Lost_Soul]

Speaking of timothy, I just a whole bale for 6 bucks...my pigs and buns are in timothy heaven not that they where not before...lol

 

[Slap Maxwell]

$6 is a pretty high price for timothy. Where did you get it? Is it green?

 

[Lost_Soul]

i got it at allies feed store and yes its green...

 

[Slap Maxwell]

What town is that in?

 

[Lost_Soul]

New Kingston...Its a 40# bale...Its near South County..I think? I am still getting to know the areas around here, since we just moved up here...

 

[Slap Maxwell]

I just looked- its about an hour away- which is just a little too far for me. Thanks.

 

[Lost_Soul]

Are there any feed supply stores down by you? Im not sure where you are, I know its Hampton, because we where actually going to buy a house down there, but it was already sold..I was told Hampton is out in no mans land..LOL..Which is what we wanted..HAHa..

 

[Slap Maxwell]

Which house was it? Hampton is pretty small, popualtion about 2000. Here I have a few feed/supply stores. One in Putnam where the hay is so/so, one in Danielson where the hay is not so great, and there is Mackey's in Willimantic, which I am not sure sells hay.. I will have to look.

Hampton is 15 minutes from everywhere, though.

 

[Lost_Soul]

It was a nice piece of property on a lake with I think over and acre of land...There was a mobile home on the prop, but we where going to build a house..The price of it was absolutly amazing! But someone got it before us

Yea Allies has some nice looking timothy, I just found it looking through the phone book...And I go through a lot of hay, because of the bunnies and the pigs...I just converted their upstairs to a hay loft, Starsky isnt sure what to make of his yet...LOL...Hutch loves hers though...

 

[Annaliese]

hi im new at this too, can you ever give your pigs too much timothy hay? is it like a treat or an all the time thing? I got mine at walmart is that okay? i just found out that my momma pig has lice any sugestions there? and the three babies.

 

[Slap Maxwell]

Timothy hay should be fed in unlimited quantities. The hay at Walmart is bad. The best hay is KM's ((broken link removed)) or Oxbow ((broken link removed)) or Sweet Meadow ((broken link removed)).

Post the lice problem on the forums at www.guinealynx.com