Hay Bags?

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echo

echo

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I've heard about hay bags and I have no idea what they are! What are they and how do y use them? Are the safer than hay racks? I currently use a hay rack, but I've heard about guinea pigs getting stuck in them and dying, so I don't really want to use it anymore. Where can you get a hay bag? Should I buy one or stick with the rack?
 
I've never had any problems with hay racks before, unless you count a faulty one which was replaced. A lot of people use hay racks and I've never came across one that's had a problem with them. Unless they've been damaged or in the possibility of breaking for a reason, I'd just stick with a hay rack. Unless anyone says different.
 
It would depend what kind of rack you have. If its one of the plastic ones that attaches to the outside of the cage and they pull the hay out through the cage bars then they cant climb in it, because its on the outside, and its less messy. as for hay bags i have heartd some people just taking a pillow case and cutting a few holes in, putting in some hay and attaching it to the side of the cage. just be careful there are no loose threads.
 
Hey,

I've heard of incidents with guinea pigs with wire hay racks like this, as they get their teeth caught or push their way through them and get stuck.
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But plastic ones like this are safe and tidy... :)

rack.webp
 
Mine ignored the hay rack but are never away from the bag. FB_IMG_14076940216345922.webp I knocked this up for them really quickly and has gone down a treat.
 
Thanks for your help everyone! I have a metal hay rack right now, but I'm going to make a hay bag, because it'll be easier to make one then to buy a plastic one, hopefully the pigs will enjoy it!:)
 
The only hay bags I use are the big blue ones you can buy on line for storing a bale of hay in. In my piggies runs & cages they have hay everywhere so no matter where they decide to rest there's hay for them to chew on.
 
I use fleecy hay bags but the holes needs to be big enough so that if the pig gets in it it can get out again or so small that they can't get their head in. The metal hay racks should not be used as there were a couple of cases recently of pigs dying after getting stuck in them.
 
Mine have an area of the hutch and run that's covered with hay, but I also like to provide it in another way since it's fresher and cleaner than way. I'm going to make a hay bag later today. Thanks for help everyone. :)
 
MushiiPeas said:
Hey,

I've heard of incidents with guinea pigs with wire hay racks like this, as they get their teeth caught or push their way through them and get stuck.
View attachment 13013

But plastic ones like this are safe and tidy... :)

View attachment 13014
Click to expand...
OOo, got three different racks, one is like the top one, that is coming out.....

I do have a little wooden one which is useful for readigrass.

What a a out hay balls? Hay stuffed loo roll inners?
 
Toffee said:
OOo, got three different racks, one is like the top one, that is coming out.....

I do have a little wooden one which is useful for readigrass.

What a a out hay balls? Hay stuffed loo roll inners?
Click to expand...

Loo rolls are okay i use them, they make a great toy, sometimes i stuff veggies in them so they have to work for them!

There is a really horrible picture of a guinea pig stuck in a wire hay ball so I'd be careful, i never had one so i wouldn't know but i saw this pic on here, be warned it is a little upsetting but the piggie did recover.... http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/hay-veggie-balls-warning.116123/

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/hay-rack-warning.116115/
 
The reasons I don't like hay balls is more that they need to be fairly high up to stop guineas getting tangled in them, but then you run the risk on hay falling in their eyes. (Horses and hay nets, still in my mind!) Hay bags seem like the better idea. I like the external rack which uses the bars of the cage, and the little wooden one, which clips on the bars, and has a solid back. More loo rolls?
 
echo said:
I've heard about hay bags and I have no idea what they are! What are they and how do y use them? Are the safer than hay racks? I currently use a hay rack, but I've heard about guinea pigs getting stuck in them and dying, so I don't really want to use it anymore. Where can you get a hay bag? Should I buy one or stick with the rack?
Click to expand...

I don't see the problem with getting a hay bag they basically work the same as a hay rack. you put the hay in, there's a hole in the bottom and the pigs eat it! I have a hay bag it's horse print and i made it, it was a lot cheaper then buying one online. My girls liked it but once my pig popcorn managed to squeeze herself in the hole and I had to take her out long story short I never used it again. I like to stick with my plastic ones but other people do prefer hay bags over racks! Safety wise it could go either way a guinea pig could be like mine and get stuck in the bag or a pig could get stuck in a rack, also thought I should mention this but I have heard lots of stories where guinea pigs get stuck in those hay balls (you know the round hay racks that spin) so I would not get one of those either. But really its up to you. I would suggest getting both a see which works better for you and your pigs :)

My plastic hay racks
053.webp

you can get some reasonable priced hay bags here-https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/Foryourfurrykids
 
i wouldn't use metal hayracks either. i just put soft hay on the floor in one area, and the stalkier hays in kitchen roll tubes cut down the middle, or in paper bags, or even on a plate. i really want some of the fleece hay bags aswell though. :)
 
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