How picky are your piggies with hay?

[RosieLily]

I cannot tell if the problem is hay anymore or if I’m just being emotionally manipulated by my wicked guinea pig.

I have tried every brand of hay, finally found one the pigs “kind of” liked. Obviously it was the most expensive brand, only available in one store. They probably know all that and snicker behind my back.

But! I have to top off and refill the hay tray multiple times a day. Why? Because these little bandits cannon ball into the pile, pick out the yummiest bits, and then Rosie pulls a show. She knows where the hay bags are at, so she goes to that corner of the cage and starts begging, standing on her hind legs, and looking at me with *that* face. She knows I won’t say no. So I top them off, wash, rinse, repeat. Mind you, they eat! Lots, they’re chonky pigs. But I waste ridiculous amounts of hay that looks pretty good to me. But they just don’t want to eat it!

I work from home office a couple times per week so I also visit the pigwigs quite often, and every single time it’s the same dance with hay because can’t I tell they’re starving? Often times I top them off and Rosie’s out begging 2 minutes later without even having inspected the hay properly; all yummy bits are out and visible.

Should I toughen myself up against Rosie and just wait for them to eat or could the problem truly be hay still? I’m just not sure where to look for new brands anymore. I really have tried pretty much all :/

 

[Roselina]

I think your piggies have trained you well - Miss Bramble would be well impressed !
I can’t really say…. but I have a fussy pig and his mate Bobby was fussy and they would refuse to eat some types of hay - luckily I’ve found one he likes ( and Bobby did) and his friend Freddy will eat anything and more
I’m sure other people will be along with their experiences

 

[fluffysal]

I appreciate that I'm lucky with mine as they will eat any hay with absolute joy.
Have you tried (you probably have!) Mixing the "good" stuff in with cheaper hay. Rummaging for it is also good enrichment...

 

[HollysKingdom]

Sounds normal - its been in the tray 5 minutes, its gone stale (they said). This morning my son gave them the cheaper meadow hay I’d bought the other day. So Minx scoffed all the pellets, then spent the rest of the morning claiming she was hungry until I gave her the more expensive timothy hay. I know it claims to contain more protein but how does she know that?

Also, I think they’re working on a cunning plan involving ropes, levers and pulleys to open the cupboard door where their food is kept …

Manipulative little so-and-sos, aren’t they?

 

[PiggyintheMiddle]

Sounds normal - its been in the tray 5 minutes, its gone stale (they said). This morning my son gave them the cheaper meadow hay I’d bought the other day. So Minx scoffed all the pellets, then spent the rest of the morning claiming she was hungry until I gave her the more expensive timothy hay. I know it claims to contain more protein but how does she know that?

Also, I think they’re working on a cunning plan involving ropes, levers and pulleys to open the cupboard door where their food is kept …

Manipulative little so-and-sos, aren’t they?

Ours like picking the ears out of timothy hay but like to dive into the normal hay. (Piggies and hoomans alive have suffered from hay pokes in the timothy hay in our family, though, so be careful!)
I feel lucky - ours will beg as if they haven't eaten all day, but if they are satisfied that they cannot beg any more vegetables or nuggets when I come in, they do go back to eating the normal hay.