What hay is bad for guinea pigs?

Ensure that your guinea pigs have a constant supply of grass and/or grass hay (such as Timothy, Oaten, Barley, or grassy hay). Guinea pigs should not be fed Lucerne (alfalfa) or Clover hay, as these are too high in protein and calcium.

What hay should guinea pigs not eat?

Your guinea pig should eat a pile of hay as big as his body every day. Avoid alfalfa hay unless directed by your veterinarian. Instead choose timothy, orchard grass or oat hay.

Why is alfalfa hay bad for guinea pigs?

Alfalfa hay is rich in protein and calcium, but when combined with pellets it doesn't have the proper ratio of calcium and phosphorus. This can lead to improper gastrointestinal motility, such as diarrhea. It also may predispose certain guinea pigs to calcium oxalate bladder or kidney stones.

Can hay go bad for guinea pigs?

Hay is a natural product that doesn't expire in the traditional sense of the term. When stored in the proper conditions, hay will retain its nutritional value for many months.

Which cut of hay is best for guinea pigs?

First Cutting Timothy Hay – the grass stems from the first harvest of timothy hay have a course texture and are high in fiber. While this is good for guinea pigs, they favor second or third cutting hay for its softer, more palatable leafy structure.

GUINEA PIG HAY | Why Do Guinea Pigs Need Hay | TIMOTHY vs MEADOW Hay | Alfalfa | Which Hay is BEST?

Is timothy hay or meadow hay better for guinea pigs?

However; to get the best quality for your Guinea Pigs ensure you ask for “horse” hay, not “cattle” hay. Meadow hay is less predictable in content than Timothy but being softer makes it far more pleasant to forage and/or make into a bed.

Is orchard grass or timothy hay better for guinea pigs?

Orchard hay for guinea pigs is an excellent choice for guinea pig parents that are allergic to timothy hay or is wanting to provide some variety into their diet. This is another favorite amongst guinea pigs and for good reasons. Orchard hay has a sweeter smell and a softer texture than typical timothy hay.

How do you know if hay is bad?

Signs that your horse hay may be bad include a lack of color or dried-out appearance, a moldy smell, excessive dust, visible mold, or excessive heat towards the center of the hay bale. Because hay provides your horse with so many essential nutrients, you must provide your horse with the best quality hay available.

Is brown hay bad?

Poor-quality hay may be damp and moldy with a musty or fermented smell. Hay that appears weathered, straw-like, or brown is likely low in nutritional value.

Does timothy hay go bad?

If stored properly in a cool dark place with good ventilation, the Timothy Hay Food may keep for 6 months or longer.

Is Timothy grass the same as Timothy hay?

Timothy Grass has a slightly higher protein and is greener in appearance. Timothy Hay is a mix of leaves and stems from Timothy grass, which is a perennial bunch grass. Timothy Hay is high in fiber and low in protein which is a combination critical to the health of rabbits and other small animals.

What's the difference between timothy hay and meadow hay?

Meadow Hay is mainly made up of native soft stemmed pasture grasses. These contain more leaves than Timothy Hay, making it have an overall softer texture. In addition to this, Meadow Hay will also contain plants other than grass – such as dandelions, daises, and thistles.

Is Timothy Hay good for guinea pigs?

Timothy hay: Provide an unlimited quantity of fresh timothy hay every day. Guinea pigs need continuous access to hay to aid their digestion and limit the growth of their teeth. Fruit and vegetables: Fresh vegetables can be offered once a day and should be equivalent to about one cup total per guinea pig per day.

What is the difference between timothy hay and orchard grass?

Oxbow Western Timothy Hay is high in fibre, low in protein and calcium and is a good, basic grass hay with high quality nutrition. Orchard grass is another cool-season grass; it grows in tufts and is more drought tolerant than Timothy hay. Orchard grass has a soft texture and is high in fibre and low in protein.

Is Meadow hay safe for guinea pigs?

Grass hay is the most important part of a guinea pig's diet and should form 80% of their daily diet. The best type of grass hay for adult guinea pigs is long stem Timothy Hay and Meadow Hay and this essential food source should ALWAYS be available to your guinea pigs at ALL times.

Can guinea pigs eat rye hay?

Peters Timothy and Rye Hay is an ideal food for rabbits and guinea pigs due to its high fibre, low protein and low calcium content. Peters Timothy & Rye Hay has abundant natural flavour, a soft texture and fresh aroma due to the combination of hay varieties.

What does bad timothy hay look like?

Signs of bad hay:

A bad smell. Brown and brittle. Visible mold. A bun who turns their nose up at their favorite cutting.

Is brown hay okay for guinea pigs?

Make sure you buy high-quality hay for your guinea pigs. This means it has a nice color, has a nice fresh hay smell, is dry, but is not very dusty. Dusty hay can cause allergies for both you and your guinea pig. You don't want all your hay to be brown and dried out because it won't have much nutritional value left.

What is low quality hay?

Characteristics of low-quality forages include high fiber content, low crude protein (CP) and energy (total digestible nutrients or TDN) content, and reduced fiber digestibility. Low-quality forages also may have tough, coarse stems and reduced leaf-to-stem ratios, which can reduce palatability to livestock.

Why is some hay green and some yellow?

In most cases, green hay has a large amount of keratins, which is a precursor to vitamins A and E. On the other hand, if the hay has a yellow coloration, it may have been over mature when harvested or could have been rained on in the field before baling.

How can you tell the difference between alfalfa and grass hay?

One of the biggest differences between alfalfa hay and grass hay is the protein content. On average, alfalfa hay has much higher levels of protein, ranging from 15% to 21% depending on when the alfalfa was cut. This is much higher than the protein levels of grass hay, which typically contains 10% or less protein.

Is Timothy hay dusty?

Timothy hay in general just contains a lot of dust.

Is green oat hay good for guinea pigs?

High in fibre and low in calcium, Green Oat Forage Hay can be freely fed to rabbits, guinea pigs and other small animals of any age. And if your little guys have enjoyed this hay, why not try Green Wheat Forage for a tasty alternative!

Is Blue grass hay good for guinea pigs?

Bluegrass is a good type of hay to feed your guinea pigs daily. Bluegrass is a soft, green hay. Most guinea pigs love the taste and texture of it.

Can guinea pigs have Bermuda hay?

Bermuda hay is high in fibers, but not widely available in most countries. In some countries you may be able to find this type of hay, and if you do, it's a great buy. The nutrition value is generally similar to timothy hay, and as such it will be easy for your guinea pigs to digest.