Hay Of The Day Recommendation: Meadow Hay
Starting today on Twitter we’re going to be recommending a different type of hay each day to inspire you to try something new and different. Variety is the spice of life and guineas are inquisitive little creatures who appreciate eating different types of food to stop them from getting bored.
Hay should make up around 80% of a guinea’s diet so it is important that they have nice fresh, green good quality hay that isn’t damp, mouldy or riddled with parasites. One of the cheapest ways of getting hold of good quality meadow hay is to find a local supplier and buy it by the bale (as long as you have somewhere to store it). Many farm shops / feed stores will be able to help you. Riding stables are also worth a try as horse people are very fussy about the quality of hay their horses have!
Hay fed to guineas should be of good quality, have a nice green tinge to it and smell sweet. Sadly many pet shops sell very poor quality hay that is brown and dusty. The other problem with hay is that if it is old, hasn’t been dried properly, or has been stored in poor conditions, it can go mouldy. If you ever find hay in this condition, please throw it away immediately as the mould (fungal spores) can cause skin problems or even death if a piggy eats hay in this condition.
Health-wise, hay is an essential part of a guinea pig’s diet. Unlimited hay should be available to them at all times so that they can graze their way through the day. Not only does it aid digestion, but it also helps to keep their teeth in check as they are constantly growing and need to be ground down. Guineas need a diet that is high in fibre and can end up with digestive problems such as intestinal blockages, enteritis and bloat when hey are not eating enough fibre. Hay contains high levels of indigestible fibre which promote increased gut motility and can help to keep the digestive system healthy.
Meadow hay can be used for bedding as well as eating, but it must be removed / replaced regularly so that the guineas aren’t sitting on or eating wet hay.
