Why is straw bad?

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Alicia

Alicia

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I have 2 rabbits and 3 guinea-pigs, and people have recommended straw as bedding for the rabbits, they said it was warmer than hay. I have just bought a big bag from Hay for Pets so I can fill the rabbit hutch with it when it gets cold. I remember being told that straw is not good for guinea-pigs but I can't remember why. Can they not have any at all?
 
I'm sure theres other reasons but recently I switched to hay and my coronet guinea pig got lice from it. He was covered head to toe and I had to rush him to the vets.
 
They say it's bad because it pokes them in the eye! But i've been using it for years, around 9 actually and non of our rabbits/pigs have ever suffered.
But do make sure is cleaned as they can get mites from it. x
 
Thank you :) Are they more likely to get poked in the eye than rabbits because guinea-pigs are closer to the ground? I always fill the guinea-pig hutch up with hay and they run through it, so the hay could possibly poke them in the eye? I think I won't use it just in case, I'll just keep using hay for the guinea-pigs :)
 
Alicia said:
Thank you :) Are they more likely to get poked in the eye than rabbits because guinea-pigs are closer to the ground? I always fill the guinea-pig hutch up with hay and they run through it, so the hay could possibly poke them in the eye? I think I won't use it just in case, I'll just keep using hay for the guinea-pigs :)
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I don't think so as straw can stick up everywhere:p I admit we've always used straw, the guinea pigs tend to just flatten it down anyway...the little fatties!:)) If i used hay for bedding they would get through two bags a week, they would eat it all and make themselves cold...lol:)
 
well I have always used straw to keep animals warm when they are outside and never had a problem with eye poking or anything. I have used straw for my inside lot. Only a very thin layer to stop sawdust getting kicked all over the place lol
 
I use straw sometimes if OH cannot get hay for me, mine havent had any problems with it plus it doesnt get eaten so lasts a bit longer before it needs topping up.
 
Its supposed to cause pokes in the eye more than hay, but to be honest ive had as many eye uclers with hay as i have straw. So long as its cut short and clean and good quality i dont see it being a problem personally. I have used it and dont have a problem with it. Currently the herd are on fleece. I might pop the boys on it in the summer in the outdoor hutch.

x.
 
When I was a child one of our guinea pigs got a piece of straw imbedded in her eye - it was really unpleasant. So I wouldn't use straw for any small animals.

Guinea pigs love a big pile of hay - food you can hide in - nothing better :)

Paula
 
I use straw a lot for my rabbits as well as hay, I have their hutch/run combo on hard standing through the colder months (as we're on clay soil the lawn goes like a bog when it's wet and cold), and cover the ground with straw for them and put hay in piles in their hutch & run. They enjoy eating the straw as well as their hay. At the moment my pigs only have hay, but only as they won't go down the ramp to their run (they're in the same style hutch/run as the rabbits), but will be ordering a ramp tunnel soon so hopefully they'll go downstairs then! Once they're using their run as well, I'll cover the ground with plenty of straw for them to snuggle & hide in. We buy big bales of hay & straw from our local pet shop, and one reason we use both straw & hay is that during the colder months, they don't always have stocks of the hay bales in, but they pretty much always have straw in.

I've been using straw for 11 years with rabbits and never had any problems (apart from once when I got it from a new pet shop and they got mites), so I'm hoping the pigs will be fine with it too :)
 
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