As part of their diets, most guinea pigs require grass hay as part of their regular feedings. Hay is high in fiber content and helps prevent overgrowth of teeth in these creatures.
Western Timothy Hay and Orchard Grass are excellent choices for adult guinea pigs, providing plenty of fiber-rich foods in larger amounts without risk to health.
Contents
Timothy Hay
Timothy Hay is the essential grass hay for herbivorous small herbivores like your guinea pig and should comprise most of their diet. Ranging in colour from green to dark sage hue, its soft stems make feeding easier with either a feeder (not metal balls as we have heard too many horror stories of animals being trapped or injured by these) or simply leaving in one corner of their hutch.
Softer Timothy Hay is ideal for picky pigs, while its reduced risk of eye pokes makes it an excellent bedding material. Combine with first and second cut Timothy Hay for added variety for your pet!
Meadow-grown hay provides a nutritious balance while remaining less expensive than other forms. Ideal for encouraging foraging behaviors in your pet and boasting high fiber content.
Orchard Grass
Orchard grass is an outstanding cool-season perennial bunch-type grass that thrives in pastures and hayfields. More drought tolerant than tall fescue, orchard is better adapted to cool-season climates; additionally it is more shade tolerant than both bromegrass and bluegrass varieties.
As with other grasses, it is highly palatable when young; however, as it matures it becomes coarse and less desirable, making it better suited for pastures than hayfields.
Orchard grass is easy to establish and makes an ideal replacement for tamegrass in grazing systems. It is more disease resistant than tall fescue, and persists longer in sandy soil conditions than its counterpart. While Orchardgrass thrives across a wide range of conditions, medium-rich, slightly acidic soil conditions seem best-suited. Orchardgrass responds well to nitrogen fertilization, complements legumes well, and makes an ideal addition in combinations planted alongside alfalfa; seed should be drilled 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep before covering lightly using tamper tools or another source.
Meadow Hay
Guinea pigs respond enthusiastically when exposed to anything that makes a noise; their ears perk up at any sign that could contain their favorite treat: fresh vegetables! However, an appropriate diet also includes plenty of hay as part of their daily regiment.
Grass hay provides the necessary nutrition for keeping guinea pigs’ teeth worn down while also supporting their digestive health. Similar to other herbivorous creatures, guinea pigs cannot produce vitamin C themselves so must get it through food sources every day.
Western Timothy hay is an ideal feed choice for adult small herbivores like guinea pigs. With its balance of stems, leaves and seed heads it provides your guinea pig with both fun chewing opportunities while satisfying nutritional requirements of adult small herbivores. You have two choices of cut Timothy for feeding; first cut has thicker stalks/stalks while 2nd cut Timothy tends to be leafier/softer; its color largely depends on drying processes used which results in different hues/tones of colors; these two options should also meet nutritional requirements of adult small herbivores.
Alfalfa Hay
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a legume plant, meaning that its roots contain nodules that fix nitrogen into the soil. Due to its high protein, calcium, and vitamin content, Medicago sativa is often grown as livestock feed due to its ability to fix nitrogen into its surroundings.
Alfalfa hay’s higher energy needs make it ideal for animals that require increased energy, such as young rabbits or guinea pigs still developing, pregnant pets or nursing moms, pregnant pets or nursing moms, pregnant or lactating pets, nursing mothers or those needing to maintain weight or lose it in older pets. Furthermore, its increased protein and calcium content makes alfalfa hay a wonderful food option to maintain or lose weight for senior pets.
Alfalfa hay is typically sold in small two-string bales; larger three-string and half-ton (3x3x8″ square) bales may also be available. As a perennial crop, alfalfa can adapt well to extremes in weather such as drought by coming back as soon as moisture returns; this feature also ensures its nutritional value isn’t degraded over time if stored improperly; for this reason it should always be stored inside a barn or under cover tarp for optimal performance.
