Sraw and Guinea Pigs

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Misty1984

Misty1984

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Its just a general question regarding bedding. We have absolutely loads of straw at home. Its baled stuff that we bought at our local farm shop. We have got it for use with our outdoor rabbits. We give all our rabbits/guineas hay to eat every day but due to the extreme weather conditions here we have had to give them hay as bedding as well. Some of it does get eaten but for the most part it is used as bedding. Does anyone know if we can give our guineas straw as bedding? Is it safe for them if they do decide to eat it? Obviously we will continue to use hay as food but I just think the straw (since we have absolutely loads of it, its much cheaper, much thicker, better all round really) might be better for them? I could be totally wrong here and I’m hoping someone will correct me if I am. I’ve been told that you can use straw as bedding but its not best for them to eat as its very course and can upset their digestive system. I’ve also been told that you can put straw under a layer of woodshavings but I suspect that does slightly defeat the object……..can anyone advise me?

If not can anyone suggest other options other than hay to use.

Thanks
 
straw can cause eye pokes in guineas which can lead to the loss of the eye! that is why most straw is frowned upon!
 
It's preferable not to use straw because it can poke them in the eyes. However, my guinea-pigs keep escaping into the rabbits' half of the shed which has straw in it. The rabbits have flattened the straw, so there are no bits sticking-up and so far I've had no injuries. If you get desperate, and make sure you flatten it down well, you could get away with using it as bedding in an emergency (but do be aware of the potential risks).

It's a shame straw runs the risk of injury because it does have lots of advantages - moisture runs off it and it is much warmer than hay.
 
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I use straw but buy it for small animals....so it is chopped up so less likely to poke their eyes!
 
Can you use straw as an underlay in the bedding, flatten it well and then put a layer of hay on top?
 
I'm more concerned about their health etc. we've religiously given them hay and they never touched straw. I do want to use the straw more for bedding than hay and still give them hay for food. I just dont want to upset their digestive system or potentially block it as I've heard it does have the potential to do that. Could I potentially make them sick or kill them giving them straw and they eat it? My guineas are getting on in years and I dont want to be the one responsible for killing them doing this. Thanks for all your advice so far though, you're all ace :D
 
Straw is a bad bedding choice unless you specifically but a short chopped one and i still dont agree with it but thats just my opinionrolleyes
Straw also has no nutritional value so if they eat to much of it and not enough hay there health can/will suffer.
 
I never really understood the straw-scare... Sure, it's a lousy absorbent but the straw stuff I've seen (meant for pet bedding, not stables...) has been pretty soft.

Couldn't they get eye pokes from hay too? Is this why so many on this forum do hayracks?
 
I've certainly had hay that is more stalky and pokey than straw rolleyes

I always used to use straw for mine years ago... they had hay to eat but straw to keep them warm. I don't use it now, but the last lot of rescue piggies came with a big bag of straw and I've been using it up. I think the danger is people who don't realise the difference between hay and straw and use them interchangably. Of course pigs need unlimited hay to eat, straw is no substitute for this.

Sophie
x
 
Thanks everyone for the helpful tips and advice. Don't get me wrong we will still give the animals hay and pellets to eat but it seems a shame to see the large bundle of straw we've got currently going to waste. Should the weather get bad again they will go on the straw for bedding I reckon
 
I have always used barley straw natural pet bedding for my guineas to sleep on and had no problems with it, they flatten it down and are fine with it. It is specifically for small pets so cut short. I only heard the con's when I joined this forum.
They do sometimes munch it, but as far as I know, and can tell from experience, except for the fact it has no nutritional value it has not hurt them! I used to shred paper as I hear this too makes cosy bedding and I thought it was a green way to do things, but the boys ate it and I didn't think paper would be very good for them! Mind you they chew on wood....
 
Misty1984 said:
Thanks everyone for the helpful tips and advice. Don't get me wrong we will still give the animals hay and pellets to eat but it seems a shame to see the large bundle of straw we've got currently going to waste. Should the weather get bad again they will go on the straw for bedding I reckon
Click to expand...

i was given heaps of straw ages ago so i used it for my gardens all around the plants and it worked wonders and the plants are thriving;)
 
skrikopanik said:
I never really understood the straw-scare... Sure, it's a lousy absorbent but the straw stuff I've seen (meant for pet bedding, not stables...) has been pretty soft.

Couldn't they get eye pokes from hay too? Is this why so many on this forum do hayracks?
Click to expand...

Hay can also give eye pokes but more often than not it is usually way softer than straw so that reduces the risk,
I have seen piggies bedded on both and my observation was

Hay,my boys run into it and it bends rather than stabbing them

Straw the guinea pig did the same as mine yet the straw stayed firm and the piggy let out a little squeal

so i think it can be alot more dangerous.
I think the reason why most use hayracks is to avoid mess and so the piggies cannot poop in there hay pile lol
I have mine in piles on the ground because they now eat double the amount of it,when i used hayracks they werent getting enough hay into them.
 
Wiebke said:
Can you use straw as an underlay in the bedding, flatten it well and then put a layer of hay on top?
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I do, especially when the weather is so very cold.

My guineas seem to spend every waking minute munching on their hay so a nice layer of very soft straw underneath means that even if they manage to eat most of the hay they've still got something nice and warm and snuggly to sleep in :)

Teresa x
 
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