Try our sample pack

From Just

£2.50

Guinea Pig FAQ's

How do I choose the right guinea pig hay?

Why do guinea pigs need hay?

Guinea pigs need hay as it provides the fibre that keeps their delicate gut systems moving. It also plays a vital role in dental health by wearing down their ever-growing teeth.

Generally, the best hay for your guinea pig is the one that they eat the most of. Guinea pigs, like humans, have their own preferences. However, adult guinea pigs shouldn’t be fed too much alfalfa hays or other hays high in calcium. This is why we provide sample packs, so your piggies can choose their own favourite!

Timothy hay is popular as it is high in fibre and low in calcium, but in truth, any dry grass hay that they enjoy will be suitable.

Guinea pigs eat the same hay as rabbits and horses do. You wouldn’t want to feed them haylage as this is higher in protein from the fermentation process. But any common hays that are high in dry matter and fibre are more than suitable.

Guinea pigs need constant access to unlimited hay as it promotes good digestive health. They don’t necessarily need pellets if they’re also allowed small amounts of fruit and leafy vegetables.

What are my guinea pig's feeding requirements?

What foods can guinea pigs eat?

Guinea pigs should have unlimited access to fresh hay, but their diet should also be supplemented with fresh fruit and vegetables. Pellets are also a good addition but are not strictly vital to their diet.

Guinea pigs should have unlimited access to fresh hay, but their diet should also be supplemented with fresh fruit and vegetables. Pellets are also a good addition but are not strictly vital to their diet.

Guinea pigs should have unlimited access to fresh hay as this is impossible to overfeed and is great for digestive health. Fresh leafy vegetables such as lettuce should be offered once a day around the size of a cup for each guinea pig.

Guinea pigs need the fibre that hay provides to keep their guts moving. Whilst they may be fine for 24 hours in extreme circumstances it is vital that they eat hay or fresh grass at least to keep their digestive system going or they can die.

Leafy vegetables such as romaine lettuce and kale are great. Other good options include broccoli, bell peppers and spinach. This will aid in keeping their guts healthy.

Is there anything else I should know?

Can I offer my guinea pig treats?

Treats can be offered but you should wait until they have finished all of their normal foods. Otherwise, they can get distracted and it will put them off the most important parts of their diet. You can buy special small animal treats for guinea pigs that are not only tasty but also help wear down their teeth.

Foraging based enrichment is great for guinea pigs as it satisfies their natural instinct to forage for food. Our Enrichment toys offer great mental stimulation.

Finding hay that your piggy likes is essential. At Happy Hay, we offer sample packs so that they can choose their favourite for themselves. If they are very reluctant then decreasing the number of pellets and vegetables can help as they tend to prefer these tastier foods over hay.

Here at Happy Hay, we pride ourselves on providing a complete service, not just a product. If for whatever reason your piggy doesn’t like your order then you can get in touch and we will always do our best to replace it with hay that your rabbit will enjoy!

We have been making hay for over 20 years and have a plethora of equipment that allows us to make the highest quality hay even when the British summer isn’t giving us the weather we want!  

What are the different types of guinea pig hay?

What courier do you use and how long does shipping take?

All of our orders are shipped using DPD 1-2 working day delivery. Our working days are Monday to Friday and most of our customers get their hay the day after ordering.

This is usually because the account has not been activated. Search your inbox for the activation email or if you can’t find it drop us a message and we can send it manually.

Click the person icon at the top right of the homepage and login to your account. Then click manage subscription under account details and it will take you to the right page.

From there you can change or cancel your subscription

Before you checkout you can enter your discount code on the same page as you enter your shipping details.

Of course! When you get your confirmation email that your order is on its way, you can enter the tracking number on the DPD website.

From here you can designate a safe place or request that they leave it with a neighbour.

Shipping on all other orders under £40 costs £4.50.

Free shipping is given to all orders over £40.

Is there an alternative to hay for guinea pigs?

Why won't my guinea pig eat hay?

It is likely that they simply don’t like the type of hay you are offering. Hay may look bland to us but there is a large variety of hay types out there. The best option is to look around and let them choose for themselves. Here at Happy Hay, we provide sample packs containing a small bag of each of our six hays. Giving your pets the ability to choose for themselves.

They can live without hay but need a high fibre low protein food to replace it. Fresh grass would be the second-best option. Guinea pigs need the fibre that these provide to keep their guts moving. Whilst they may be fine for 24 hours in extreme circumstances it is vital that they eat hay or fresh grass at least to keep their digestive system going or they can die.

Yes! Fresh grass can be fed and they will happily graze for themselves if left outside. However, lawnmower clippings should be avoided as it begins to ferment which is not suitable for their digestive systems.

Close