If you are going to take good care of your small pet such as a guinea pig, then the right nutrition is important. This is where you have to consider getting the best guinea pig hay. The hay that you get should deliver the right proportion of nutrients all the time. Today we learn more about the guinea pig hay.
Contents
- Nutrition for Guinea Pig
- How to Choose the Right Hay for Your Guinea Pigs?
- Best Guinea Pig Hay for the Money
- 10 Best Guinea Pig Hay Reviews
- 1. Timothy Hay 1St Cutting “High Fiber”
- 2. Kaytee Timothy Hay
- 3. Timothy Hay 2Nd Cutting “Perfect Blend”
- 4. JoJo’s Best
- 5. Kaytee Timothy Hay Plus Pet Treat
- 6. Standlee Premium Western Forage
- 7. Small Pet Select Orchard Grass Hay
- 8. Grandpa’s Best Orchard Grass Bale
- 9. Includes Top 4 Best Selling Hay
- 10. Orchard Grass
- How to Preserve the Grass Hay
- How to Feed the Guinea Pig Properly
- What Type of Hay is the Best for Guinea Pigs?
- Conclusion
Nutrition for Guinea Pig
When it comes to nutrition, you need to consider the type of food the guinea pig has access to. The secret to a good diet is by making sure it is balanced. So, what is the best nutrition for a guinea pig.
First of all, we have to look at just how hay it needs. Studies show that approximately 80% of the food should be Timothy hay. This is important to provide the guinea pig with all the important nutrients that it needs. Also, they will tend to snack on it the whole day.
Secondly, keep the vegetables to 10% and the remaining 10% as pellets for the guinea pig food. This should give it all the nutrition it needs.
How to Choose the Right Hay for Your Guinea Pigs?
Consider the ingredients of the hay. The ingredients determine just how much nutrition you can get with a certain type of hay.
The bag size is also important. It would determine just how often you have to keep buying new food.
It will be great if the food you get is chemical free. This means that it is all-natural. Being free from chemicals definitely makes the food safe.
The hand-selected food is also good. This means that the food will have the highest quality elements. These elements are the essential for the guinea pig growth.
Best Guinea Pig Hay for the Money
Finding quality guinea pig hay should not be much of a problem. This is because of the many options available at the moment. Well, you just have to know what each will provide. The table below is all about giving you a detailed comparison you need.
Pictures | Guinea Pig Hay | Sizes | Links |
![]() | Timothy Hay 1St Cutting High Fiber | 2-5-10 20-50 lb | Buy from Amazon |
![]() | Kaytee Timothy Hay | 12 lb | Buy from Amazon |
![]() | Timothy Hay 2Nd Cutting Perfect Blend | 2-10-12 20-25-60 lb | Buy from Amazon |
![]() | JoJo’s Best | Box | Buy from Amazon |
![]() | Kaytee Timothy Hay Plus Pet Treat | 24-48 Ounce | Buy from Amazon |
![]() | Standlee Premium Western Forage | Box | Buy from Amazon |
![]() | Small Pet Select Orchard Grass Hay | 2-5-10 20-50 lb | Buy from Amazon |
![]() | Grandpa’s Best Orchard Grass Bale | 5-10-15 40 Ounce | Buy from Amazon |
![]() | Includes Top 4Best Selling Hay | Box | Buy from Amazon |
![]() | Orchard Grass | 5-10-15 40 Ounce | Buy from Amazon |
10 Best Guinea Pig Hay Reviews
1. Timothy Hay 1St Cutting “High Fiber”
This is one of the best guinea pig hay you can buy on the market. It is all about providing high fiber that your small pet needs. It also features more flower heads as compared to other cuttings you might get selling today.
The best part is that it is still soft and leafy. It is going to work for the guinea pig better than some other types of hay. The manufacturer guarantees the users that they would be getting a fresh delivery each time. This is because it is from the current crop year.
The hays on overall are not equal, but this manufacturer focuses on making sure it is the best.
2. Kaytee Timothy Hay
For a long time, you are going to enjoy working with this kind of guinea pig hay. This is because it comes with the right Timothy Hay blend. The blend is all about giving the guinea pig all the important nutrients.
The hay also comes with lower protein and calcium as a way of supporting the urinary health. You are going to enjoy the overall health of your guinea pig as it is receiving the right portions of nutrients.
The high fiber content is important for the digestive health. You will always find that the guinea pig is active as it does not have to deal with stomach upsets. The best part is that the food complements many fortified foods.
3. Timothy Hay 2Nd Cutting “Perfect Blend”
The model is all about providing high quality hay. As a result, people will commonly use it for rabbits, chinchillas, and guinea pigs. If you have any of these pets, this is one of the best hays to choose.
The manufacturer delivers on premium 2nd cutting Timothy hay. This kind of blend is important to deliver you a yummy ratio. This includes the leaves, seed head, and stems make it really great.
The hay also promises to deliver on great smell and taste. This nice ratio of fiber, fat, and protein gives your little friend enough nutrients.
The texture and fiber makes the hay one of the best to use on overall.
4. JoJo’s Best
You are going to like the fact that this is all natural guinea pig hay. Being natural means no chemicals have been added to it. This will make it even safer for your guinea pig. It must be the reason many people feel confident about getting it today.
It contains the Standlee’s Timothy grass. This type of grass comes with high quality forage and also high in fiber. The protein and calcium contents are just within the right ratio for the guinea pig.
The long stem fiber will encourage the natural foraging instincts of the guinea pig. This will improve the overall dental health of the guinea pig.
5. Kaytee Timothy Hay Plus Pet Treat
This is another top guinea pig hay that will always work great for the pet. It is hand selected to ensure there is the right ratio between lead and stem. This is important to improve the overall health and foraging instincts of the guinea pig.
The best part about the hay is that it does deliver on high fiber hay. The hay will aid in the digestive health. You will always love the fact that the guinea pig remains active with no digestive issues.
It does also feature carrots. The carrots are important to improve the overall nutrition. It also complements any Kaytee fortified food.
6. Standlee Premium Western Forage
It is crucial that you get your small pet natural food. Well, this one provides you with just that. It comes as an all-natural and free of the many additives. It is more reason you should get more people going for it.
Thanks to the different components of the forage, it does stimulate chewing. Chewing is generally important as it will promote the digestive and dental health. Another good feature is that it does have long stem fibers. This will foster the overall natural foraging instincts.
This is also a great source for the important fiber the guinea pig needs. You will also love it for being low in protein good for the guinea pig.
7. Small Pet Select Orchard Grass Hay
This Orchard hay is important for small pets such as rabbits, chinchillas, and guinea pigs. Based on the nutritional content, you should find it being great for the pets. Many people would easily buy it knowing it would provide many health benefits.
The best part is that the hay is hand selected. This is important to ensure the proper ratio of leaves and stems. Also, it is packed in a high strength corrugate box. The box allows for ease of opening and closing. There is no doubt you would want such a packaging.
The hay has also been minimally handled. This means it can deliver on maximum freshness all the time.
8. Grandpa’s Best Orchard Grass Bale
There is no doubt that you would love this hay for being dust free. This is possible as it goes through a patented hand sifting process. With no dust, it does mean there is less waste and allergens keeping the pets safe.
The hay is also offered in a mini bale. The aim is to ensure there is efficient feeding while at the same time the freshness is maintained. Also, the hay is made to be consistent in terms of quality. You will not have to worry about different qualities by buying more mini bales.
The manufacturer is also focused on keeping the product as natural as possible.
9. Includes Top 4 Best Selling Hay
This hay comes with top four selling hay all combined in one package. The hay types include 2nd cutting, 3rd cutting, oat, and orchard. This should make more people to get it knowing that it would deliver the best nutrients in one package.
The hay is also a great solution for those looking to test out the different hays. This might be great to know which one would be the best for your guinea pig. The manufacturer also assures the users that the hay comes with impressive freshness. There is no doubt you would want to feed your pet with fresh hay all the time.
With its high quality hay, it would be great for small pets you might have.
10. Orchard Grass
This is another top option you might want to consider today. This is because it is all about providing the best nutrition to your guinea pig. The best part is that it is soft-textured. Such formulation makes it easy for the guinea pig to easily consume it.
You will also find that it is high in fiber and low in protein. This is definitely important for the guinea pig. As a result, it is going to stimulate digestion and keep the meal quite palatable for the guinea pig.
The hay is also good for providing the many needs for the guinea pigs such as dental care, more play time, and a lot more.
How to Preserve the Grass Hay
When it comes to preserving the grass hay, you want to consider the storage location and for how long you would be storing. Most manufacturers would recommend that you keep the grass hay away from direct sunlight exposure.
The problem with the sun is that it will tend to deteriorate the nutrients in the grass hay. As a result, you have to consider storing in a cool dry location.
Whenever the grass hay maintains a deep green color, it means that it is not deteriorating fast. This is a good thing and you should be happy about it.
Also, most manufacturers would include instructions on the package. These instructions are meant to help you preserve the grass hay for long term use. You will not have to keep buying fresh hay when the current one can be used.
How to Feed the Guinea Pig Properly
1. Feeding hay
The guinea pig definitely needs hay. Studies show that guinea pigs love hay. As a result, you need to make sure it is readily available for it to enjoy. So, how much is enough for the guinea pig? Well, it is recommended that guinea pig should have access to hay all the time. This means you might have to refill the hay up to five times a day.
On overall Timothy hay is often recommended for guinea pigs. This is because it provides all the important nutrients the guinea pig needs. Another thing is that they can play in it and eat at the same time.
The alfalfa hay on the other hand is often used just as a treat. This is because it has a lot of calcium, which might not be appropriate for the older guinea pigs. Make sure the hay you get to choose is green and soft.
2. Feeding guinea pig on fresh vegetables
Yes, the guinea pig also needs vegetables as part of nutrition. The aim is to provide a wide range of vegetables so that the guinea pig can enjoy different nutrients. Some of the veggies good for the guinea pigs include cucumber, bell pepper, celery, and corn husks.
It is not advisable to give the guinea pig spoiled vegetables. They might often just ignore the vegetables if they smell or taste bad.
Always take care of the calcium intake. This means vegetables such as kale, parsley, and romaine lettuce need to be used in moderation.
3. Avoid bad foods for guinea pigs
It goes without saying that guinea pigs also need the right food. This means sometimes you might end up feeding it with some food that will not be so good. Some of the food you are supposed to avoid are those high sugar contents. Also, the starchy vegetables and high calcium foods. All these foods should be offered in small quantities.
You will still have to avoid giving your guinea pig citrus fruits. The acid present in the citrus fruits will irritate their mouths.
4. Keep the food fresh
Just like you would not want to eat food that is not fresh, the same goes for guinea pigs. You need to keep its food fresh if you are going to keep it eating even more. It is recommended that you remove the uneaten food from the cage before refilling with fresh food. Also, if the food is left for long, it will just mess the cage.
5. Provide fresh water
Another thing you have to keep in mind when feeding your guinea pig is the water availability. This means you have to consider having a water bottle in the cage. It is recommended to have the water bottle with water all the time.
If the guinea pig does not access water, it will tend to become very ill.
Most of water bottles for guinea pigs are designed to be effective for ease of water access. They would have metal balls to prevent leaks, but still work great when it the guinea pig tries to get the water out. Compare different models first before buying. This will help to choose a model that will be easy to operate by guinea pigs.
What Type of Hay is the Best for Guinea Pigs?
There are many types of hay available on the market. That being said, there is the need to get the best guinea pig hay for your pet. So, which one is the best? The Timothy hay is definitely the favorite based on many results.
The Timothy hay is the best choice you can ever make. This is because of the many nutrients it can offer. Also, the hay is easily available from different pet stores. You can easily buy the hay in bulk so as to have enough food for your guinea pig.
The Timothy hay is also good in terms of remaining fresh for longer. The guinea pigs also love it for being sweet and grassy at the same time. Make sure it is stored properly to prevent cases of molds or dust.
Other types of hay include botanical hay and alfalfa. The botanical hay comes with different grasses and flowers combined. It can be good to provide the guinea pig with various flavors. You would definitely have to look at the nutritional value first of the other grass hay before feeding them to your guinea pig.
Conclusion
If you are looking to give your guinea pig the best food, then you have an answer. Finding the best guinea pig hay is now easy. You can now have a great time relaxing knowing the guinea pig has all the necessary food. To make it even better, some of the hay mentioned above are hand selected. This means the hay will provide high quality elements always. Should now have an idea where to start on buying hay.
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