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Chinchillas => Q & A => Topic started by: Hoppinchins on April 17, 2010, 10:29:21 AM

Title: changing hay
Post by: Hoppinchins on April 17, 2010, 10:29:21 AM

I currently feed my chins oxbow pellets and western hay. Can chins get tired of eating the same brand of hay? I'v noticed that they have been eating it less. I was thinking of switching them to a different oxbow hay or to kaytee plus hay. What do you all think?

Title: Re: changing hay
Post by: jmdebb on April 17, 2010, 11:19:16 AM

hi..

i don't know if they can tire of a certain brand.. but i do know it won't hurt to alternate other hays in there.. you can alternate types of hay also..such as...

meadow,
botanical,
oat,
oat,wheat and barley,
brome,
orchard,
i feel like i left one out.. but can't think.....

but that is a great variety and i always tell people that they chew each hay with a different chewing motion, so using these other hays is also good for wear on their back teeth..

jean

Title: Re: changing hay
Post by: Hoppinchins on April 17, 2010, 02:16:58 PM

Ok, thanks. I hope petsmart has some of those, but I don't think I do. I'm guessing most brands of hay have those types? Should I mix the hay, or just wait till i run out and buy a different type?

Title: Re: changing hay
Post by: flynhawaiian on April 18, 2010, 09:18:42 PM

Do you have a farm supply nearby?  I get 1/4 bales of alfalfa hay, they seem to absolutely love it!

Title: Re: changing hay
Post by: Hoppinchins on April 19, 2010, 05:36:27 AM

i think i do, but not for sure.

Title: Re: changing hay
Post by: Hoppinchins on May 16, 2010, 12:05:01 PM

I switched to oat oxbow hay a few days ago. They started to eat it right away, which is a great sign, but they don't seem to be eating as much of it. With the oxbow pellets and oxbow oat hay, are they getting everything they need? Or should i some alfafa hay also?

Title: Re: changing hay
Post by: RollinEK on May 17, 2010, 07:06:19 PM

My first hay i had the Kaytee stuff and my chin really didnt like it. So now shes pigging out on the Oxbow timothy hay. I think htye would enjoy a little variety. I also have alfalfa cubes every once in a while.

For my curiosity, i thought you werent supposed to feed your chin a lot of alfalfa??? Myth? or fact?

Title: Re: changing hay
Post by: Hoppinchins on May 17, 2010, 07:51:52 PM

I honestly don't know about that. I know they like the cubes of hay also, i may give the cubes every once in awhile also!

Title: Re: changing hay
Post by: RollinEK on May 18, 2010, 08:40:11 AM

My chin will hop around her cage while holding the alfalfa cube of hay. It's pretty funny to watch her jump from level to level trying to still hold onto that cube.

Title: Re: changing hay
Post by: Hoppinchins on May 18, 2010, 10:10:21 AM

Aww, that would be pretty cute

Title: Re: changing hay
Post by: RollinEK on May 18, 2010, 03:27:38 PM

ill see if i can catch her in the act and get a video

Title: Re: changing hay
Post by: Debbie.nl.ca on May 21, 2010, 08:56:45 AM

There must be a feed store for hosres around you. They would sell timothy by the bail.
Go to a place, farm or even a riding stable and see where they get theirs. They may even sell you a bail once a year.
We have Coop feeds stores here.

Title: Re: changing hay
Post by: heiwa on May 27, 2010, 02:22:27 PM

I was wonder why you guys don't mention about APD??
Can you guys get APD hay easily in your place? I think APD is the hay that with best quality.
Most chins would love it.

Title: Re: changing hay
Post by: Hoppinchins on May 28, 2010, 12:10:12 PM

i'v never heard of that brand

Title: Re: changing hay
Post by: heiwa on May 28, 2010, 01:36:47 PM

Quote from: Hoppinchins on May 28, 2010, 12:10:12 PM

i'v never heard of that brand

http://www.americanpetdiner.com/
Check it out for the Timothy hay, they have separte into 1st cut and 2nd cut, which upto the favourite of your chins.
It seems the price of their hay in U.S. is close to Oxbow.
In my place, this is always the last resort for picky chins, because it's much expensive compare to Oxbow.

Title: Re: changing hay
Post by: Hoppinchins on May 28, 2010, 03:48:34 PM

Thanks, I'll check it out