Piggies Not Eating Hay!

[Konira]

Hey, so i got 2 new guinea pigs a couple days ago (Both of them are about 3 and a half weeks old), I'm almost positive they are healthy, but neither of them are eating hay, they give small bites on the hay but never seem to actually eat big pieces...

I wonder if this is related to them being so young and maybe not being used to it?
-They never ate hay before i got them, the previous owner would only feed them veggies, rabbit pellets and fresh grass.
-I started feeding them guinea pig pellets and veggies daily, they also eat fresh grass sometimes and have been eating alot of corn husk in the past days, wich they have no problem in eating any of those.


So, i have a few questions,

1- Ik that hay is important for them, but is it normal if they don't eat it/ or don't eat as much while they are this young?

2- Is it better to give them green, fresh hay... Or dry, yellow hay? (So far i've been giving them yellow, dry hay that i foraged from my yard, it's the same the horses eat, i live in a small town and most pet shops don't sell hay).

3- Regarding corn husks, i have been feeding it regularly to them, i put a handfull in the cage and it's usually all eaten by the next morning, is it fine for them to eat this much of corn husks?

4- I sliced the corn husks into small strips and put them to dry, is it fine for them to eat the corn husks after they are dried?

Thanks in advance!
And sorry if bad english, it's not my first language.

 

[Konira]

Also, i am positive the type of hay I'm giving them is bermuda hay, is this a bad type of hay to feed guinea pigs?

 

[RoryMia]

Hi konira,

It's very weird your piggies don't eat hay as they eat mainly this the whooooole day! And hay is essential for their digestive system! I give them "meadow hay" and I alternate with " Timothy hay" don't do straw as this is more for rabbits. Sorry I ve never heard of "Bermuda hay" but if u go to Wilko you'll find those 2 types that I've mentioned above. Careful: they can't live without hay!

 

[Reenie]

Hi and welcome to the forum. They really need to eat hay, but as you say, they might not be used to it. I would reduce the amount of veggies and hope they replace it with hay. Weigh them every day to make sure they are gaining weight. They are still very young, so it may be that they are eating some hay, but it's not noticeable while they are so small? I would also try giving them a big boxful of hay, so that they can burrow in it as well - they might eat more of it if they are playing in it too. This thread will give you an idea of what they should be eating. Food

 

[Merab]

Hello and welcome to the forum.
Don’t apologise for your English- it’s very good.
Can’t add to what has already been said except to encourage you to find a hay they will enjoy.
@Reenie ’s suggestion of a big pile of hay they can play in is good.
One of mine in particular loves to burrow into the hay pile.

 

[Konira]

Thanks everyone! there's this dark spot the piggies love to stay in the cage, and they pushed some of the hay i put in the cage there and just lay on it, I'm gonna add some more and see if they start eating it with time!

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

I dont know what Bermuda hay is but as your piggies are still very little fine, soft hay would suit them best.

 

[RoryMia]

Indeed try fresh hay as they are babies

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Green fresh hay is definitely better, I'd be a bit careful collecting your own as if it has animal urine on it it could be fatal to your piggies. Where are you from? Could you source some good hay online?

My pigs wouldn't eat yellow hay, they will only eat fresh stuff. I suppose it's the same as us not eating stale bread.