Type of hay and where to purchase

[Hannahb2804]

Hi! Wondering if anyone could help me, I’ve been doing my research on the best hay to buy for piggies, Preferably id want to buy one big box to use for both the toilet tray and hay bag but I know some people chose to do one type of hay for one and one the other so if anyone could answer these questions would be really helpful!
Which is best to use for both purposes? Timothy hay or meadow hay? I know you can buy 50/50 from haybox so wondered if that’s a good option
I’ve seen a lot of good reviews from hay box but just wondered if that’s the best recommended to buy from? (in the U.K.)
And if I’d be ok to store the hay either in the box it comes with or a plastic storage box?
Any more advice would be really helpful!

 

[Siikibam]

There are several on here who praise haybox so you can order there. I use timothyhay though.

Soft Timothy is good for bedding, and I think so is meadow hay. I buy the stalky Timothy every three bags and soft Timothy the other times.

 

[Hannahb2804]

There are several on here who praise haybox so you can order there. I use timothyhay though.

Soft Timothy is good for bedding, and I think so is meadow hay. I buy the stalky Timothy every three bags and soft Timothy the other times.

I was thinking of the 50/50 meadow hay and Timothy hay from hay box? Would it be ok for me to put Timothy in the hay bag for them to gnaw and eat for their teeth and meadow in the litter box so they can mess about in it as I think it’s a softer hay

 

[Siikibam]

Yes that would be fine. They could well end up eating some of the meadow hay as well.

 

[Hannahb2804]

Yes that would be fine. They could well end up eating some of the meadow hay as well.

Would it be safer to put meadow hay in the hay bag aswell? I know Timothy hay is best but I don’t want them to get hay poke or would I be ok using Timothy hay in hay bag still

 

[Idris]

My understanding is that there are different nutritional values but the main thing is that it's good quality, dry and not contaminated with too many other plants which might not be good for them. Some of the Oxbow hay us f expensive for a big bag. Some pigs are fussier than others. Ours will eat both bedding and Timothy - currently we have a mix of PaH basic and meadow/Timothy mix but often have the 100% Timothy too.

 

[Siikibam]

It’s up to you really.

 

[hannahs26]

Mine really like late season cut 2018 of Timothy hay, from timothyhay.co.uk, but I recently got a 2019 main season cut, to try something fresher for them, but it's very coarse, lots of strong stems, which I worry about for their eyes (mind like to dive into it and lie in it!). I just thought it may be more nutritious, being cut more recently. Will return to the older, softer cut next order.