We can’t stress enough how important a good quality hay is for your guinea pigs. It’s sad that this is not the well known fact that it should be. Some guinea pig owners even think that the hay is for their guinea pigs bedding and become distressed when their guinea pig eats it! Straw is for bedding, but hay, which is dried grass, is a vital part of a guinea pigs’ diet. However they will probably also love to sleep on it, and sit on it while they eat, which is no problem, just change it regularly.
Timothy Hay is the ideal food for your guinea pigs!
All guinea pigs should be allowed to eat an unlimited amount of hay. Timothy hay is ideal guinea pig food.
- It’s high in fibre
- low in calcium
- low in calories
Hay is perfect for the nutritional needs of a guinea pig. It is the high fibre content of the hay that is very important. A pellet only diet will not contain the high levels of fibre that a guinea pig needs in his diet. You can and should add fibre to your guinea pigs diet with fresh vegetables daily, but he will still need more and Timothy hay will provide this, as well as keeping him occupied. Chewing hay seems to keep guinea pigs happy as well as healthy!
It’s also very good for their teeth. Like rabbits, guinea pig teeth keep growing throughout their life. They chew other foods in an up and down motion, which doesn’t help to wear their teeth down. Hay they chew with a sideways motion which does wear their teeth down and keep them trim. Overgrown teeth can be a real problem, they can even grow into the skin of their mouth and be very painful for them. Of course this can also result in some high vets bills!
Make sure your guinea pig gets a good big handful of hay every day. You can buy it in bulk and if you buy it fresh it will last for several months if you store it correctly. It can go mouldy if stored in a sealed plastic container, so instead store it in a wooden or cardboard box where it will be dry but well ventilated. If you buy a bale of hay then break it up as little as you can, just break off what you need when you need it and it will stay fresher.
