The 8 Best Timothy Hay for Guinea Pigs (2020)
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All guinea fowl pigs need some screen of supergrass hay included in their diet. There are a few different types of hay that guinea pigs like, but timothy hay is clearly one of the most alimentary options. In fact, most veterinarians and experienced guinea slob keepers recommend that you make hay available to your pet at all times .
But you can ’ t just select the cheapest timothy hay you find. alternatively, you ’ ll want to carefully scrutinize the unlike options on the market and pick one that is delectable, alimentary and safe for your pet. We ’ ll sample to help you do precisely that below, by identifying eight of the best timothy hays on the market.
The Importance of Timothy Hay for Guinea Pigs
Before we get to our individual product recommendations, it is important to take a here and now to explain why hay – particularly timothy hay – is so crucial for your guinea pig. Some of the primary benefits timothy hay supply include the come :
Timothy Hay Helps Stimulate Your Pet’s Natural Foraging Behavior
Guinea pigs don ’ t exist in the hazardous ( they ’ re a domesticate species ), but their stopping point relatives who do live in the baseless are herbivores who spend a distribute of fourth dimension foraging on natural herbs and grasses. These behaviors are crucial for their health and happiness, and you can stimulate these same behaviors by providing your positron emission tomography with some timothy hay to enjoy .
Timothy Hay Is a Great Source of Fiber
Guinea pigs need a very high-fiber diet to ensure proper intestinal function. ample amounts of fiber are besides necessity to ensure that the beneficial bacteria in their stomachs have enough food to survive. Pellets rarely provide sufficient fiber to keep a wop slob healthy, but timothy hay is full of roughage and helps address these needs .
Timothy Hay Helps Promote Dental Health
A guinea fowl hog ’ s teeth continue to grow throughout its life. If they don ’ thymine have access to a street fighter food source that helps to wear down their teeth, they can become overgrown and lead to serious alveolar consonant problems. fortunately, timothy hay is quite abrasive, so it helps to keep your guinea fowl farrow ’ randomness teeth the proper length .
Timothy Hay Helps Keep Your Pet Occupied
Guinea pigs may not be arsenic bright as dogs or cats, but they still require genial stimulation. If left without anything to do, they can become bore and depressed, which may finally lead to illness. however, by providing your pet with a rack full of timothy hay, you ’ ll give him the gamble to forage and chew, which will help provide a bit of genial foreplay .
Timothy Hay Is a Great Component of a Varied Diet
One of the most crucial things you can do to keep your guinea hog healthy is to provide him with a all-around, vary diet. This will help prevent the kind of nutritional deficiencies that can afflict guinea fowl pigs who aren ’ thymine afforded a vary diet. And because most guinea pigs like timothy hay, it makes a great part of a change diet .
The 8 Best Timothy Hays for Your Pet Guinea Pig
There are a apparently countless phone number of timothy hay products on the market, but there are significant differences between many of them. To help you narrow down your search and choose the best one for your pet, we ’ ve meet eight of the best timothy hays on the market below .
Buy on Amazon modest Pet Select Timothy Hay is a premium-quality timothy hay prepared in small batches by fellow animal lovers. This timothy hay is delivered in an easy-open corrugate box to make it easy to reach in, grab some hay and fill up your positron emission tomography ’ s hay wrack. This makes storing your favored ’ s timothy hay a snatch and helps to keep it fresh .
Made from 2nd cutting hay, this product contains an ideal mix of leaves, seed-heads and stems. This not only provides optimum nutrition for your darling, but most guinea pigs will love chewing on this particular blend .
And you don ’ t have to worry whether or not your pet will like Small Pet Select, as it ’ sulfur backed by the manufacturer ’ s 100 % satisfaction guarantee .
Pros
- Smells nice and most guinea pigs seem to like the taste
- Minimally packaged, making it an environmentally-friendly choice
- 2nd cutting hay has a texture most guinea pigs love
- Minimal dust present
Cons
- Some owners complained the quality was inconsistent
- Several customers reported the box was full of brown hay
- A few owners reported bugs were present in the box
Buy on Amazon | Shop on Chewy Oxbow Western Timothy Hay is a high-quality timothy hay that will help keep your guinea fowl farrow healthy and happy .
Oxbow Animal Health was actually the first favored food company to introduce timothy hay as a dietary staple. They only use all-natural, US-grown timothy hay, which ensures your positron emission tomography is getting alone the best. In fact, each batch is hand-selected by Oxbow Owner John Miller to ensure the best potential quality .
Most guinea fowl pigs love this brand of timothy hay, as it provides a big mix of taste and texture. It is not only sweet, yet hearty, it is easy, yet placid crunchy excessively. It is made without any additives or preservatives, and it is primarily comprised of leaves and stems, with minimal semen heads mixed in .
Pros
- Seems fresh on delivery
- Vibrant green color
- Soft texture appealed to many owners and guinea pigs
- Very affordable
- Many owners ranked it as the best timothy hay they’d ever purchased
Cons
- Some owners reported rocks, bugs and other debris in the bag
- A small number of owners reported poor product consistency
Buy on Amazon Standlee Premium Western Timothy Grass is an all-natural timothy hay made without any chemicals, additives, preservatives or artificial flavors .
Standlee hand selects the timothy hay for each batch to ensure the highest quality eatage possible for your darling. They even hand-sort each batch before packaging. This means that unlike some low-quality timothy hay products, this merchandise is guaranteed not to contain any noxious weeds .
Standlee Premium Western Timothy Grass is besides sun-cured, unlike some other hays, which are dried in a commercial oven or kiln. It is besides comprised of long fibers, which will help stimulate your pet ’ second natural scrounge instincts. This will help ensure that your guinea devour enjoys feeding on the hay .
Because this western timothy hay is hand-sorted and sun-cured, it may vary slenderly in discolor and appearance, but this should be no lawsuit for refer .
Pros
- Very pleasant scent
- Product quality varies, but good boxes looked fresh and appealed to pets
- Affordably priced
Cons
- Some owners complained that it contained too many stems
- Very dusty
- Often comprised of very small, powder-like pieces rather than long fibers
- Several owners reported debris, sticks, rocks and other things inside the hay — a few even found a rat inside!
Buy on Amazon | Shop on Chewy Kaytee is a giant in the pet food industry, and they ’ ve been around for years. They make a assortment of healthy favored foods, including Kaytee Timothy Hay. Kaytee Timothy Hay is grown in an ecologically appropriate region for moisture and climate manipulate, and it is then stored in cautiously designed warehouses, to ensure it remains goodly, alimentary and delectable .
Comprised of a blend of 1st and 2nd cuttings, this product is a premium hay blend that most guinea fowl pigs should love. This blend is comprised of an optimum blend of stems and leaves, and it besides includes plenty of semen heads for kind .
This hay is available in two different package sizes, and you can besides purchase it in a 2- or 3-pack for extra convenience .
Pros
- Several owners praised the product’s price and value
- Some owners were very happy with the quality
- Clean product without many sticks or debris
- Some guinea pigs seem to prefer this hay above all others
Cons
- Contains a lot of sticks and tough pieces
- Many guinea pigs refused to eat the hay
- Numerous complaints of small pieces and dust-like consistency
Buy on Amazon | Shop on Chewy Some guinea fowl pigs are a bit pickier than others, and some owners like to spoil their pet a moment more than most others. The Kaytee Timothy Hay Plus 5-pack is perfect for such situations, as it not merely contains the same high-quality timothy hay you ’ vitamin d expect from Kaytee, but it besides includes add flavors and textures .
Each bag in this 5-pack features a different all-natural additive. One includes dehydrated carrots, one features dried mint leaves, one contains dehydrated marigolds, one is wide of dried cranberries and the concluding pack is chock full of dried mango pieces .
Kaytee Timothy Hay Plus is hand selected to ensure a proper proportion of stems, leaves and seed heads, and it is stored in a protected environment during the drying work to ensure it retains its nutrition and spirit .
Pros
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- Packaging makes feeding easy
- Many guinea pigs liked the included treats
- Helpful for stimulating picky guinea pigs to eat
- Low dust content
- Pleasant aroma
Cons
- Many guinea pigs appeared to like some treat flavors more than others
- Fruit treats can become clumped
- A few owners complained of product consistency problems
Buy on Amazon | Shop on Chewy Kaytee Wafer-Cut Hay provides all of the quality you ’ ve come to expect from Kaytee, and it comes in an appealing wafer-cut form angstrom well. This is more appealing to some guinea pigs and their owners, as it is easier to peel and typically creates less of a mess than standard-cut hay .
Kaytee ’ s Wafer-Cut Hay is made from agio, all-natural timothy hay. Unlike some lesser timothy hay products, Kaytee Wafer-Cut Hay is made without any artificial colors or flavors, so you can rest assured that your pet is getting alone the best .
This timothy hay is grown in the U.S. under ideal environmental conditions to ensure utmost quality and moisture operate. Kaytee Wafer-Cut Hay comes in 16- and 60-ounce packages, so you can select the amount that ’ south perfect for your pet and budget .
Pros
- Wafer-cut makes it easy to dispense without creating a mess
- Many owners liked that this wafer-cut hay was softer than traditionally cut varieties
- Many guinea pigs seemed to love the taste and texture
Cons
- Several owners complained that the product was powdery
- Many owners reported the presence of sticks, bugs and other debris (including animal parts) in the hay
- Overall poor quality
Buy on Amazon | Shop on Chewy Vitakraft Fresh & Natural Timothy Hay is a high-quality timothy hay that is comprised of 100 % US-grown grass. An all-natural product, this hay is grown without the use of pesticides of any kind. additionally, it contains no artificial colors or preservatives – this is fair natural, delicious and alimentary hay for your pet .
This hay is besides super-cleaned to ensure that it doesn ’ triiodothyronine become contaminated with bacteria or molds during the packaging process, and it comes in humble bales that are the perfect size for a single prey. This besides helps maximize the merchandise freshness, which will help keep your guinea devour felicitous and meet .
Vitakraft Timothy Hay is available in both 28- and 56-ounce packages, so you can select the quantity that best suits you and your pet .
Pros
- Many owners and guinea pigs loved the mixture — mostly leaves and flowers, with few stems
- Even picky guinea pigs seemed to like the taste and texture
- Easy to feed, as it is packaged in small, banded batches
- Most owners praised the product’s overall quality
- Affordably priced and provides good value
Cons
- While most owners loved the quality, a few owners seemed to receive bad batches
- A few owners complained that it was dusty
- Some owners found it messy to use
Buy on Amazon Carefresh Timothy Hay is a premium-quality timothy hay that is manufactured with concern in the USA. In fact, it is grown in particularly nutrient-rich land to ensure your pet gets only the best .
This hay product is made entirely from first-cut grass for maximum palatability and nutrition. It is primarily comprised of stems and leaves, but it besides contains some seed heads for variety and texture. The long fibers that comprise this blend assistant to stimulate your positron emission tomography ’ randomness natural forage instincts, which will help ensure he eats adequate hay to stay healthy .
Carefresh Timothy Hay is packaged in a 32-ounce formative bag to help ensure it stays fresh until you open the bag .
Pros
- Smells nice and has a rich green color
- Low dust content
- Many guinea pigs seemed to love the taste and texture
- Helpful for picky guinea pigs
- Provides great value for your money, given the quality of the product
Cons
- Rough texture was off-putting for some guinea pigs
- Contains many long, hard stalks that guinea pigs often reject
- Messy to dispense
Timothy Hay FAQs
A draw of wop pig bed owners have questions about the topic of timothy hay. We ’ ll sample to help answer a few of the most coarse questions below .
Do I have to give my guinea pig timothy hay?
You don ’ t have to give your pet timothy hay – you could select another type of hay, such as alfalfa hay. however, timothy hay is generally considered the best for guinea fowl pigs, it is promptly available and low-cost. accordingly, there ’ s little reason to use any other type of hay .
Timothy Hay Vs. Alfalfa Hay: Which type of hay is best for my pet?
At first glance, timothy hay and alfalfa hay seem very similar. however, from a nutritional point of view, they are very different. The most noteworthy difference between the two is that alfalfa hay contains much more calcium and a greater issue of calories than timothy hay does .
This means that you ’ ll normally want to stick to timothy hay for your wop pig, as alfalfa hay may lead to fleshiness and cause your pet to suffer from bladder or kidney stones. But there are two exceptions to this guideline : young guinea pigs ( under 6 months of old age ) and meaning or wet guinea fowl pigs can actually benefit from the extra calories and calcium content alfalfa hay provides .
How much timothy hay should I give my pet?
Different authorities recommend feeding unlike amounts of timothy hay to guinea pigs. Some recommend that timothy hay comprise 10 % of your pet ’ mho diet, while others recommend making it a much larger percentage of your pet ’ s food shuffle. Just make sure that you give your pet angstrom much as he ’ ll eat – it ’ s unlikely that your pet will eat enough to cause a problem .
How often should I give my guinea pig timothy hay?
It is knowing to make timothy hay available to your positron emission tomography at all times, but if you don ’ thymine want to do this, be certain to offer it on a daily footing. The easiest way to provide timothy hay to your pet is by purchasing a hay rack and filling it with fresh hay every sidereal day .
What is the difference between “first cut” and “second cut” (or “third cut”) hay?
Farmers growing timothy grass normally cut and bale the hay two or three times each year. The term “ first cut, ” refers to the hay produced from the first cut, while “ second abridge ” hay refers to that which was cut the second time, and so on .
There are respective samara differences between first, second and third gear cut hays, but we ’ ll summarise the most important distinctions below :
- First cut hay usually contains relatively thin and flexible stems. It is also quite “lean,” meaning it has lots of fiber and relatively few calories. This is a good hay for overweight guinea pigs.
- Second cut hay is the most common type owners feed to their guinea pigs, and it is usually the most nutritionally appropriate variety to offer healthy adult guinea pigs. It is often very fragrant and the stems will be relatively thin.
- Third cut hay is typically very soft and leafy. It is the “richest” of the three cuts, as it is loaded with fat, yet relatively low in fiber content. This type of hay should be fed sparingly, although it can be helpful for nursing sick or malnourished guinea pigs back to health.
Can I just throw timothy hay on the floor of my pet’s enclosure?
No. It is never a good mind to throw timothy hay on the floor of your pet ’ mho enclosure. Doing so may allow the hay to become contaminate with food, spilled water, urine or feces – any of which may cause the hay to spoil. rather, place the hay in a run bowl or hay rack to keep it clean and dry .
Does it matter if timothy hay gets wet?
Yes – wet timothy hay can develop mold or fungus, indeed be indisputable to offer your darling ’ second hay in a way that prevents it from becoming wet. If any of your darling ’ s hay becomes damp, discard it and replace it with fresh, dry hay .
In Summary: Pick the Best Timothy Hay for Your Pet
As you can see, timothy hay is a full of life part of your guinea fowl pig bed ’ s diet. But wear ’ thymine become overwhelmed by the count of options on the commercialize. alternatively, fair look over the eight unlike products discussed above and try out the one you think will best courtship your pet .
For most healthy adults, Oxbow Western Timothy Hay will likely be the best choice. It appears to be of higher quality than many of the other options, most wop pigs seemed to eat it readily and the majority of owners seemed satisfied with the product ’ south consistency .
Carefresh Timothy Hay is another viable option that is probably the second-best option available. Some owners found it messy to dispense, and a few owners complained that it included a few hard stems, but these are relatively easy problems to work approximately .
stopping point update on 2022-09-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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