hay?

herbi7 · 12-14-2014, 06:05 AM

Hi, I am.getting mixed answers about whether hay is safe or not as food or bedding from different websites. Some say no it punctures their pouches and others say its fine and they like a hay bag or hay tube. What do people think?

Thin Lizzy · 12-14-2014, 09:52 PM

I personally wouldn't use hay as bedding or food for hamsters.
The hay for bedding looks uncomfortable and I wouldn't want my hammies getting scratched with it.
Hamsters digestive systems are different from guinea pigs and rabbits.

greysome · 12-14-2014, 10:42 PM

I do give my hammies a lil bit of hay though only Hazel Nut really has anything to do with it. The other two nibble here and there but for the most part, ignore it. I'm fortunate enough that I'm close to a farm that's relatively well-known in the area/region for their small animal hays and am able to get fresh and usually second-cut hay (second cut hay is softer than first cut). Thus far, I haven't had any sharp/hard pieces/parts of pieces in their orchard grass but the oxbow hay I bought before that did have quite a bit. I just pick out pieces in the oxbow I think may hurt the hammies and then break the hay up into bits to use to make foraging toys or, if I don't do any scatter feeding that day, to cover up their food bowl(s). When I had a chin, I used to to make hay-biscuits/crackers out of "bad"--that is, hay my chin didn't eat generally because it was a stalk or because it was super small/fine -- so I may do the same with the oxbow hay as I'd hate to waste it. Everything gets grounded up for the biscuit so it doesn't matter if the piece is too hard, etc...

cypher · 12-15-2014, 02:24 AM

I've found very mixed opinions on hay, I have tried it but mostly it does seem to have quite sharp pieces in it, even when it says soft hay, which I don't like. I've tried taking them out & giving my hams some but they really don't seem very interested so I don't think it's worth it tbh.

XRubyRoseX · 12-15-2014, 02:31 AM

I sometimes give my hamsters hay, usually I just scatter a bit on the floor on top of the substrate or I add a little in with their bedding. I always snap it into small pieces for them and make sure it's not sharp. Also if I make treat puzzles I put hay inside of them.

Pebbles82 · 12-15-2014, 02:43 AM

Like Cypher I decided it wasn't worth it. Hay is a nice idea but I missed one sharp leaf stalk when putting some herb and flower mix in Charlie's substrate and it poked him and made him squeal. I just don't want to risk any hazards so play it safe. I think hay can get mould spores as well.

Peanut84 · 12-15-2014, 02:50 AM

I use hay sometimes and mix it in with the substrate. Hamsters can eat hay and use it to build nests, but the problem with hay is that there are different kinds and if you get a really sharp pieces and the hamster pouches it, it can hurt him. It also can easily get mouldy, so you have to keep an eye out for that. I use meadow hay, I feel it doesn't have any hard stalks or particularly pointy ends.
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herbi7 · 12-15-2014, 03:09 AM

Thanks everyone, that's helpful. Great to know which brand is safe. I wanted to give my ham as many toys she can 'fiddle with' as she is a busy busy girl! I will wait till we have exhausted most other games I think before trying hay on her. U have to b so careful with such a tiny animal don't u. The only other animal I have had is a cat, he died a couple of weeks ago and I was gutted, it's why I decided to rehome another furry creature

. But its a very different ball game with her! This is a great forum I have had to ask so many questions but everyone has been really helpful. Thanks guys

Shannonmcn · 12-15-2014, 09:13 AM

I use a little bit of meadow hay and I have found a few sharper pieces since I give the handfuls a good squeeze before I mix them into the carefresh. There is very little interest in pouching it though, sometimes Ceecee gives it a bit of a nibble but I think thats just to see what it is really. I like the smell personally and it stops the carefresh from getting too compressed, her little tunnels and burrows are a bit more sturdy.

Sorry about your kitty

greysome · 12-15-2014, 11:48 AM

Mine get meadow hay as well but they get very little (really only a few strands at a time as I'm still at the beginning of the bag where the strands are quite long) so I can always see if there are any firmer strands. So far, there hasn't been any but like I said, it's a fresh bag. While Teddy and Chubby nibble here and there, I know Hazel Nut likes to eat some but mostly, she seems to like using it in the sleeping part of her nest.