Hay or Straw?

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Rustybike

Just wondering which is better for the Guineas?

Hay or Straw?

The books I've read say Straw because it is warmer, especially when you line the hutch (and in my case the upstairs compartment (see pic), because downstairs is grassy) with newspaper, then sawdust on top of the paper, then straw on top of that (although the straw is only in the bedroom section) which is what I've done. Plus, Guineas don't eat it unlike Hay.

However, the lovely lady who owns the rescue centre said that straw is a no no as it's too sharp and not very nice, so instead use Hay? But they eat Hay and I don't really fancy them pigging out on Hay which is meant to be their bedding.

Any ideas?

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Hi Rusty, in my book straw is definitely a no no - far too sharp as piggies like to burrow in their hay. For that matter I don't use sawdust either as it can cause respiratory problems in piggies - have a read through the housing section for more ideas.

I tend to line my cages/hutches with a thick layer of newspaper (and yes some piggies do like to nibble on this, but it's fine, just double check that all staples are removed), then a layer of Megazorb (horse bedding available from animal feed stores, liveries or on line) and then a nice thick mountain of fresh hay.:) My lot go mad when I put them back into their houses, they all make a dash for the hay and once the initial face filling is over they all snuggle down for a snooze in it! Just remember to change it daily even if you aren't planning on doing a full cage cleanout. Piggies are supposed to consume a large amount of hay each day, as a guide make a pile about the size of your pig and this is what they should munch each - obviously more will be needed for bedding. Hope that helps.
 
completely agree with Caviesgalore,Straw is way to rough for piggies and can poke them in the eye which can lead to infections,sawdust also can cause respiratory issures which are not good at all for piggies.
Hay needs to be given in unlimited amount to keep teeth down,i have one cage which is hay and newspaper and my other cages are fleece,towels and newspaper,Megazorb is very popular and cheap from what i hear x
 
i line my huts with newspaper and use hay in there living comparment and soft
barley straw in there sleeping compartment they dont eat straw so i find it better for there bedding wereas they need to eat the hay i have never had any problems and have brougt hay before which has been much rougher than the straw
 
You could try newspaper and carefresh for bedding.
Back before I used fleece, I used to fill their bedding areas with carefresh and they loved it.

Them eating their bedding isn't a bad thing, although I can see why it would be a pain.
Straw isn't the best idea. It's sharp and rough. Piggies like to burrow under their hay and run through it. They might get stabbed in the eye if they do that with straw.

I'd advise against straw, personally.
 
Megazorb is very similar to Carefresh just slightly smaller pieces, slightly more dusty but you get huge bags for much less money!

I think you can get "russell rabbit" chopped straw bedding (think that's what it's called) which is more suitable for bedding than normal straw, but I've always worked on the principle that I change the hay out daily and as my lot love eating it and snuggling in it it's easier just to use the one type of bedding.

I'm really impressed that you are taking on board everyones suggestions Rusty, good for you - you are obviously already a devoted piggy slave!:)
 
Rustybike said:
Just wondering which is better for the Guineas?

Hay or Straw?

The books I've read say Straw because it is warmer, especially when you line the hutch (and in my case the upstairs compartment (see pic), because downstairs is grassy) with newspaper, then sawdust on top of the paper, then straw on top of that (although the straw is only in the bedroom section) which is what I've done. Plus, Guineas don't eat it unlike Hay.

However, the lovely lady who owns the rescue centre said that straw is a no no as it's too sharp and not very nice, so instead use Hay? But they eat Hay and I don't really fancy them pigging out on Hay which is meant to be their bedding.

Any ideas?

View attachment 1483
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CORRECTION:-

I don't use sawdust, I use woodchip... apologies, I knew I said something wrong in that paragraph.

Right, am offski to the pet shop to buy a mahoosive bag of hay.
 
Rustybike said:
CORRECTION:-

I don't use sawdust, I use woodchip... apologies, I knew I said something wrong in that paragraph.

Right, am offski to the pet shop to buy a mahoosive bag of hay.
Click to expand...

what woodchip to you use as i know cedar is bad but i cant remember the other bad onesrolleyes,btw hay by the bale is much cheaper and you should be able to get it at a low price from a farm or somewhere similar,there is an online store called
"the hay experts" i have heard they are great,goodluck x
 
Caviesgalore said:
Megazorb is very similar to Carefresh just slightly smaller pieces, slightly more dusty but you get huge bags for much less money!
Click to expand...

Whoa! Really?! @)

I'm going to look into this! I still use carefresh, so if I can save money then I'm well up for this!

Rustybike said:
Right, am offski to the pet shop to buy a mahoosive bag of hay.
Click to expand...

I like the sound of that :(|)
 
Caviesgalore said:
Megazorb is very similar to Carefresh just slightly smaller pieces, slightly more dusty but you get huge bags for much less money!

I think you can get "russell rabbit" chopped straw bedding (think that's what it's called) which is more suitable for bedding than normal straw, but I've always worked on the principle that I change the hay out daily and as my lot love eating it and snuggling in it it's easier just to use the one type of bedding.

I'm really impressed that you are taking on board everyones suggestions Rusty, good for you - you are obviously already a devoted piggy slave!:)
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, my garden centre/pet shop doesn't sell megazorb.

The straw I have is "Fab" straw which is apparently softer for bedding and it does look smaller in comparison to regular bags of straw. Is that alright?

And yes, I do seem to be becoming their slave.
 
I think "Fab" is the name of a pet stores own brand - do you shop in Wyevale? To be honest I would stick with hay, why pay out for two different types of bedding when one will do the same job and they can also eat it safely? KB&HF is right that a bale of hay will work out cheaper than a bag, if you have room to store it. My local garden centre sell half bales for around £7.00, the quality is good, but I have room to buy in bulk. I buy my supplies from a local animal feed supplier, try a livery if you have one nearby, a bale of hay costs me around £4.00 and it smells wonderful and Megazorb is about £6.95 for a huge bag, last ages.:)

Not too sure about your woodchip, what is it? I find most sawdust/shavings cause my hands to get sore very quickly as they dry out the oils in my skin, I work on the basis that if it does this to my skin, what must it do to the piggies.
 
Caviesgalore said:
I think "Fab" is the name of a pet stores own brand - do you shop in Wyevale? To be honest I would stick with hay, why pay out for two different types of bedding when one will do the same job and they can also eat it safely? KB&HF is right that a bale of hay will work out cheaper than a bag, if you have room to store it. My local garden centre sell half bales for around £7.00, the quality is good, but I have room to buy in bulk. I buy my supplies from a local animal feed supplier, try a livery if you have one nearby, a bale of hay costs me around £4.00 and it smells wonderful and Megazorb is about £6.95 for a huge bag, last ages.:)

Not too sure about your woodchip, what is it? I find most sawdust/shavings cause my hands to get sore very quickly as they dry out the oils in my skin, I work on the basis that if it does this to my skin, what must it do to the piggies.
Click to expand...

stop saying things i agree with lol I'm going to be seen as what my name indicates "a follower"rolleyes
i steer clear of all woodchip/shavings/sawdust/straw and stick with more allergy/safe/warm friendly beddings,id really say for a hutch hay a megazorb are you best options,
4 pounds a bale wow that is cheap,i pay minimum of 10 pounds over here
 
KingBoris&HisFollowers said:
stop saying things i agree with lol I'm going to be seen as what my name indicates "a follower"rolleyes
i steer clear of all woodchip/shavings/sawdust/straw and stick with more allergy/safe/warm friendly beddings,id really say for a hutch hay a megazorb are you best options,
4 pounds a bale wow that is cheap,i pay minimum of 10 pounds over here
Click to expand...

Hehe, nice to know we are obviously getting something right! I have also given up using all types of shavings/straw/sawdust because I was really suffering with sore hands. I find the megazorb works really well in bunnies litter trays and the pigs love it. It forms neat little "clumps" in wet areas and is easy to clean.

I am very lucky with my local supplier, he knows I have piggies and that I also own and run a boarding hotel for piggies and bunnies so he always keeps me the best hay bales and I still only get charged £4.00 a bale.:)

The girl that works with him knows me so well know that I don't even have to say what I need, she just fills my car up when I go in to re-stock!
 
Right,

Have been to the local Wyvale, £40 later (Grrrrrrrrrr) and the ladies are now nesstled in a mound of hay; they seemed to react a bit better to it than straw which was nice - although don't get me wrong they're still doing the ol' "don't move and she'll go away" act... all straw is now gone and donated to mother who has recently adopted some ex battery hens (I can see where I get the random decision making from).

I've also replaced the woodchip with some carefresh! It's so nice. I was tempted to lay on it myself!

I think that asking the local farmer for bales of hay is a fantastic idea! Especially if it's that cheap!

Speaking of woodchip, maybe I should tell the local pet shop (pets at home) not to use it as their enclosure was full of it! I don't think I saw any hay either!
 
KingBoris&HisFollowers said:
great to hear:),btw have we seen pictures of your piggies yet,we always love more piggy picsx)x)x)
Click to expand...

Don't worry, will be plopping some piccies of Cagney and Lacey as soon as possible.

Don't think C+L will be too keen on me if I shove a camera in their face.

:p
 
Well done with your purchases Rusty, get used to being broke, these little furballs cost us dearly with all their wants and needs - but we all love spoiling them!:)

Most pet shops, both large and small, sadly house their small furries on sawdust/shavings so it's no wonder new owners go home with all the wrong supplies. If you are ever in a store and you can't see any hay for the piggies, ask to speak to the manager (if you feel brave enough, it's generally at this point that my 12 and 15 year old daughters dis-own me!) and point out that pigs should have a continuous supply of hay.:) Looking forward to seeing piccies of the girls.
 
I had to tell Pets at home one time when I was there that the guineas had no hay - they aren't always on the ball.

Megazorb is cheaper too even if you orer it online. I think I paid £10 or £15 for a HUGE sack full of the stuff, then housed mine on fleece so it's in the shed at the mo. It came next day too I think, it was really fast.

C & L are lucky piggies that's for sure! You're getting it right pretty much from the start, took me longer to get my set up sorted I have to say! Bravo.
 
Thanks everyone for your advice.

I'm happy to say that as soon as I put the carefresh down in replacement of their woodchip I heard tiny little squeaks coming from their bedding, and then lo and behold they came on out which is fab...

And then...

Me and the wife decided to jump a few steps and get them out this evening; and after an hour of stroking, brushing and cuddling they couldn't stop squeaking at us and climbing all over us.
They also couldn't stop eating the carrot and cucumber we provided.

I'm so happy!
 
YAY that's great! It's wonderful when it's like that. So they are starting to relax and enjoy themselves and so are you.

Brill! :)
 
Rustybike said:
Don't worry, will be plopping some piccies of Cagney and Lacey as soon as possible.

Don't think C+L will be too keen on me if I shove a camera in their face.

:p
Click to expand...

Pictures finally up in the picture section!
 
the girls are gorgeous,well done on changing there bedding I'm sure they are much happier and your mums hens will be loving the straw,i always point out bad bedding/bad foof and no hay to petshops but its rare that they will listen dont give up though its people like the small furrie lovers that the furries rely on xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
Hi Rustybike, just caught up with this thread and noticed you're in Brighton - I'm in Eastbourne :)
Do you know where Middle Farm is? On the A27 between Eastbourne and Brighton! They have a farm shop and last time I was there they had bags of hay for £3, bargain. At the time I didn't get any because I was a new piggy owner and nervous about buying anything for them to eat that I hadn't seen personally recommended on this forum! However I do keep meaning to go back to the farm shop and get some as it did look yummy....for a piggie of course!
Just thought I'd let you know in case you fancied giving it a go :)
 
Well done Rusty, sounds like the girls love their new bedding:) off to check out your piccies of C&L.
 
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