How much hay should I give my guinea pigs?
It’s important that guinea pigs have a healthy, balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, pellets and, most importantly – hay! According to the Humane Society, guinea pigs should have access to an unlimited quantity of fresh timothy hay every day. Hay comprises 70–75% of an adult guinea pig diet. Your piggy should be eating a pile of hay as big as his/her body every day.
From left to right: picture #1 Stinky Pig, picture #2 Brownie Pig & Rainbow Pig
Did you know that guinea pig teeth never stop growing?
Unlike humans, guinea pig teeth grow continually at a rate of 1–2 mm a week. To wear down their teeth, guinea pigs need to chew on fresh, fibrous hay. They have ‘open-rooted’ teeth, meaning they never stop growing! If their teeth are not worn down, health problems such as mouth infections, weight loss, impaction, and difficulties in grooming can occur.
Providing your guinea pig with unlimited access to fresh hay will keep their teeth at a healthy length. When guinea pigs have constant access to hay, adults can eat anywhere from 6–8 pounds of hay per month, and young guinea pigs can consume 5–6 pounds.
Rainbow pig showing off her pretty, healthy teeth
On treat days I like to provide my guinea pigs with an assortment of different hays along with their regular quantity of the standard timothy hay. Oxbow brand timothy orchard grass hay has become a favored treat amongst my pigs and makes my room smell like lavender and chamomile. My pigs also love forage mix which contains dried fruits and flowers along with hay. Its hay salad!
Guinea pigs also love to eat oat hay and western hay blends. Avoid feeding your guinea pigs alfalfa hay unless instructed by your vet. Alfalfa is too high in calcium to be a dietary staple for guinea pigs. Feeding your piggies too much alfalfa hay will result in dietary problems such as bladder stones.
How should you feed your guinea pigs hay?
It is important to feed your piggies hay in a way that is accessible and is safe. Providing a large area for your guinea pig to graze in allows your guinea pigs to burrow and play in it. Having a large pile of hay also ensures that there is always plenty of food for them to eat.
The problem with leaving hay piles is that the cage, and the area around their cage, can get messy. Hay dust is one of the most common irritants to humans and guinea pig respiratory systems. If you decide to leave hay piles out, make sure you are constantly cleaning and monitoring the amount of dust present in your piggy’s cage.
I use a corrugated plastic cage liner to manage my hay piles. You can find pre-cut liners that match your cage’s dimensions on Amazon, or you can cut up a sheet yourself. Corrugated plastic is a cheap alternative to hay feeders and is safe for your piggies to chew on. Before adding hay, I line the bottom of the plastic with paper towels, making the area easy to clean and change.
If cleaning around the cage daily sounds like too much work, you can always opt for a hay feeding rack. There are many different types and styles that can be found at your local pet store, or online. Keeping a hay rack will keep your cage, and the area around it, cleaner, but it is easy to forget to fill.
DO NOT BUY CIRCULAR WIRE BALL FEEDERS.
Circular, wire hay dispensers present a danger to your guinea pigs. In most cases, your curious guinea pig will try to climb into the feeder or stick his/her head into it to get the remaining bits of hay when it empties. They are also not a good option for feeding your guinea pig because they move; your guinea pigs will have to work harder to get their food from a ball that is constantly swinging around.
The short answer is, there really isn’t a limit to how much hay a guinea pig can have. A healthy guinea pig should be grazing on hay throughout the day. Hay makes up the majority of their diet and comes in a variety of tasty selections. Guinea pigs should always have easy and safe access to fresh timothy hay. Giving your piggies plenty of hay is vital to their health and happiness!
