Orchard Grass

[dawnmb57]

So I'm really excited to feed my guinea pigs some of the first bale of Orchard Grass I bought As a treat. I know that they are supposed to eat Timothy Hay as their main diet and I always have that in their cage. But I have two questions about Orchard Grass. First how much can I feed them and how often and second is how to preserve it. Just keep it dry? It will be in a dry area. Is that enough?

[3piggles]

I believe all hay should be kept is a dry environment, with air circulating around it. I don't know how much you bought, but if you can put it in a trash can, with a couple of blocks in the bottom of the can to let air circulate, it should be fine. If it came in a bag with holes in it, that should also be fine.

Timothy is the most efficient hay for them. They need endless hay, because their digestive muscles aren't strong enough to move food through their digest tract. Timothy moves the food through their digestive tract the most efficiently of all hays, and it has some good nutrients in it.

That say, any hay, even meadow hay from a local farm, is fine, as long as the pigs get an unlimited supply, and can eat all they need to move the food through their digestive tracts. Since some hays effect some people worse than other hays, it's fine to try a lot of different hays until finding one that doesn't cause an allergic reaction.

It's best to buy hay in as much bulk as possible, just so you're not tempted to skimp on the amount of hay, just because it's costly. We bought a bale from the local feed/grain store, it's great hay, second cut, the girls love it, and they have it as both bedding and food. I think the whole bale cost $7.

I'm sure the pigs will love the Orchard grass. Mine always did

[jolovespiggies]

We buy hay in bulk and luckily all our little ones love and eat plenty of it.

hugs
JO xx

[dawnmb57]

Feb 1, 2018 21:11:31 GMT 3piggles said:

I believe all hay should be kept is a dry environment, with air circulating around it. I don't know how much you bought, but if you can put it in a trash can, with a couple of blocks in the bottom of the can to let air circulate, it should be fine. If it came in a bag with holes in it, that should also be fine.

Timothy is the most efficient hay for them. They need endless hay, because their digestive muscles aren't strong enough to move food through their digest tract. Timothy moves the food through their digestive tract the most efficiently of all hays, and it has some good nutrients in it.

That say, any hay, even meadow hay from a local farm, is fine, as long as the pigs get an unlimited supply, and can eat all they need to move the food through their digestive tracts. Since some hays effect some people worse than other hays, it's fine to try a lot of different hays until finding one that doesn't cause an allergic reaction.

It's best to buy hay in as much bulk as possible, just so you're not tempted to skimp on the amount of hay, just because it's costly. We bought a bale from the local feed/grain store, it's great hay, second cut, the girls love it, and they have it as both bedding and food. I think the whole bale cost $7.

I'm sure the pigs will love the Orchard grass. Mine always did

I like the idea of a trash can! And funny you mentioned allergies. Some days mine are worse than others. I find it helps to use a mask when I'm handling the hay.

[3piggles]

Dawnmb57, if you have allergies, try a different type of hay. Lots of people report being allergic to Timothy hay. It may also depend on the cut. The first time the hay is cut in the spring, it's pretty rough and tough. That's called first cut. The second time, or second cut, is much softer, has far fewer stalks and heads in it, and is generally easier on allergies. If there is a third cut, which is very weather dependent, it's the best cut of all. It's generally best to go with second cut, if there's any question about the weather, and about how good the third cut will be. I've bought some third cut that was full of dirt, so while they got the rain the needed to grow a third crop, it was a minimal crop, and expensive.

[dawnmb57]

Feb 2, 2018 20:35:04 GMT 3piggles said:

Dawnmb57, if you have allergies, try a different type of hay. Lots of people report being allergic to Timothy hay. It may also depend on the cut. The first time the hay is cut in the spring, it's pretty rough and tough. That's called first cut. The second time, or second cut, is much softer, has far fewer stalks and heads in it, and is generally easier on allergies. If there is a third cut, which is very weather dependent, it's the best cut of all. It's generally best to go with second cut, if there's any question about the weather, and about how good the third cut will be. I've bought some third cut that was full of dirt, so while they got the rain the needed to grow a third crop, it was a minimal crop, and expensive.

Interesting! I started off with first cut while I waited on the second cut to come from Amazon. Then I ran out of that and had to go back to the first cut until my next order came. The second cut comes again on the 15th of this month so I will notice how my allergies are in handling it. I don't remember having problems with it.

If that doesn't cause the problems I will buy second cut more regularly.

I also turned our air filter up too high yesterday and noticed an immediate difference! It has a HEPA allergen filter in it. Who knew. Thanks!!

[truecolours]

Here's the scoop with hay and allergies ...

1st Cut Timothy has those long "seed heads" on them. This is what they look like growing:

www.timothygrasshay.net/images/timothy-hay-seed-heads-02.jpg

(see the yellow, fluffy kind of things on the outer edges of the seed head? That's pollen ... )

And what the seed heads will look like in your hay:

wabbitwiki.com/images/thumb/b/b7/Timothy-hay.jpg/300px-Timothy-hay.jpg

The seed heads are what crucifies your sinuses and not the hay itself.

1st Cut anything will have a copious amount of seed heads on it. Its the nature of 1st Cut hay. 2nd and 3rd Cut will be mostly leaf and thin stalks and little to no seed heads. That's why people with allergies can tolerate 2nd and 3rd Cuts no problem at all and why 1st Cut will set them off quite badly at times, depending on how developed the seed head is and how much pollen it has on it and how much has already fallen off of it before its been harvested.

So - at least you now know what to look out for and what questions to ask to limit your exposure to allergens as much as possible!

[dawnmb57]

Feb 3, 2018 21:27:28 GMT truecolours said:

Here's the scoop with hay and allergies ...

1st Cut Timothy has those long "seed heads" on them. This is what they look like growing:

www.timothygrasshay.net/images/timothy-hay-seed-heads-02.jpg

(see the yellow, fluffy kind of things on the outer edges of the seed head? That's pollen ... )

And what the seed heads will look like in your hay:

wabbitwiki.com/images/thumb/b/b7/Timothy-hay.jpg/300px-Timothy-hay.jpg

The seed heads are what crucifies your sinuses and not the hay itself.

1st Cut anything will have a copious amount of seed heads on it. Its the nature of 1st Cut hay. 2nd and 3rd Cut will be mostly leaf and thin stalks and little to no seed heads. That's why people with allergies can tolerate 2nd and 3rd Cuts no problem at all and why 1st Cut will set them off quite badly at times, depending on how developed the seed head is and how much pollen it has on it and how much has already fallen off of it before its been harvested.

So - at least you now know what to look out for and what questions to ask to limit your exposure to allergens as much as possible!

Thanks! I often break off those seed heads and feed them to the boys because they love them. I don't see much pollen on them but yes I will know what to look for.

[3piggles]

Excellent post, truecolors The only problem is timing. The cuts come when they come, and we have to buy whatever is available at the time. While hay will keep for a while, keep it too long, and it turns moldy. So when it's first cut time, you'll be lucky to find any second or third cut, anywhere. That's why I suggested trying different hays. Many feed/grain or garden stores carry smaller bags of a lot of different hays. Those give you a chance to try them, and find which ones work best for you.

As truecolors said, it's the seed heads most people are allergic to, so during first cut season, buying any hay that doesn't have seed heads could be a good option for you and your allergies. Orchard Grass is a grass is usually soft and free of seed heads, so could be a good option to Timothy hay for you, especially if all you can get is first cut timothy hay.

Also, if you can get a plant misting bottle, not a spray bottle, and mist the hay by the handful, as you put it in the cage, that lightly dampens down the dust and pollen on the hay, and greatly helps with allergies. My Dallas piggy got asthma, and I had to eliminate as much dust of any kind, as possible. It's more work, but could save you a lot of allergy annoyance. Just pull the hay out by the hand full, mist it lightly all around, and put it in the cage. Simple as that. The hay should not feel wet to the touch.

You can also very lightly mist the bedding, which will keep dust and pollen from floating around in that air.

[guineap1gl0ver1]

Feb 2, 2018 16:09:44 GMT dawnmb57 said:

Feb 1, 2018 21:11:31 GMT 3piggles said:

I believe all hay should be kept is a dry environment, with air circulating around it. I don't know how much you bought, but if you can put it in a trash can, with a couple of blocks in the bottom of the can to let air circulate, it should be fine. If it came in a bag with holes in it, that should also be fine.

Timothy is the most efficient hay for them. They need endless hay, because their digestive muscles aren't strong enough to move food through their digest tract. Timothy moves the food through their digestive tract the most efficiently of all hays, and it has some good nutrients in it.

That say, any hay, even meadow hay from a local farm, is fine, as long as the pigs get an unlimited supply, and can eat all they need to move the food through their digestive tracts. Since some hays effect some people worse than other hays, it's fine to try a lot of different hays until finding one that doesn't cause an allergic reaction.

It's best to buy hay in as much bulk as possible, just so you're not tempted to skimp on the amount of hay, just because it's costly. We bought a bale from the local feed/grain store, it's great hay, second cut, the girls love it, and they have it as both bedding and food. I think the whole bale cost $7.

I'm sure the pigs will love the Orchard grass. Mine always did

I like the idea of a trash can! And funny you mentioned allergies. Some days mine are worse than others. I find it helps to use a mask when I'm handling the hay.

My daughter is allergic to Timothy grass and we change to Orchard Grass. She is better and the guinea pigs like it.

[3piggles]

Hello and welcome, guineap1g/Over1. I've found different hays effect different people, and they all do the job for the guinea pigs. Basically, Timothy hay is recommended because it's the most efficiently digested hay for guinea pigs. Given enough, any hay will work. Buy what fits your budget, what the pigs like, and what no one is allergic to. Then give them an unlimited supply of hay, and it should be fine

[jolovespiggies]

A very warm welcome love.

Hugs
Jo xx