Hay - loose and/or cubed

[Dustbunnies]

Yes, allergies can change. My most recent bag of hay had me sneezing all day, the seed heads were more mature and I think released more allergens.

I just meant you won't necessarily create immunity by being around something a lot. Now, if you are already allergic, it is possible to get used to it. I was speaking of being around something you aren't allergic to and developing an allergy.

The green dust may not be noticeable to all, I guess. The poops weren't "green" but just slightly more so. I think they may have just eaten a lot of it because they were new. It was just a few poops. I got the cubes from quality mutation chins...don't know what brand they are because they came in a baggie. Maybe they have a bit of dye in them?

 

[AZChins]

It probably wasn't dye. Maybe the chins just liked them so much that they ate a little more than their tummies were used to processing? That seems to be the reason why that happens here.

If I take in a rescue that is not used to eating any form of hay, watch out with the hay cubes! In that case I will probably get some droppings that aren't completely normal the first few days.

 

[Azure Chinchillas]

As I said in the OP thats how I used to be. I used to give both but I am severely asthmatic and for some reason over the last month or so the loose hay has been trying to kill me. They liked the loose hay but now that they have unlimited hay cubes they've taken to playing with them. Climbing up to the top of the cage and tossing them down. And in the case of Nyx and Pia they play with one and steal it from one another (while theres three others in there) and see who can nibble it the longest before the other steals it. Its a toy and a snack!

I feel bad but eventually my allergy will go away and I will start to feed both again.

I used to have a dreadful allergy to my chins (well - their hay and sand) too - which hit my sinuses. I am also asthmatic.

I asked my doctor to help me and he prescribed a steroid nasal spray. See this link (sorry it's a UK link) .... http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100001062.html

When I moved the chins out of my house and into their own unit, this helped greatly, and I now wear a simple paper dust-mask when around them - which helps with the asthma - as I am not breathing in airborne particulates which trigger an attack.

Moving them out of the house has allowed me to control how much exposure I have. A dust-mask may seem over the top - but it really helps and allows me to spend lots of time with the chins in their unit.

I wish you all the best in finding a way of lessening your allergy.

Regards,

Debbie.

 

[EveningChin]

Yes, allergies can change. My most recent bag of hay had me sneezing all day, the seed heads were more mature and I think released more allergens.

I just meant you won't necessarily create immunity by being around something a lot. Now, if you are already allergic, it is possible to get used to it. I was speaking of being around something you aren't allergic to and developing an allergy.

The green dust may not be noticeable to all, I guess. The poops weren't "green" but just slightly more so. I think they may have just eaten a lot of it because they were new. It was just a few poops. I got the cubes from quality mutation chins...don't know what brand they are because they came in a baggie. Maybe they have a bit of dye in them?

Oh cool, we were both saying the same thing I just didn't know it. :thumbsup: Thanks!

I used to have a dreadful allergy to my chins (well - their hay and sand) too - which hit my sinuses. I am also asthmatic.

I asked my doctor to help me and he prescribed a steroid nasal spray. See this link (sorry it's a UK link) .... http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100001062.html

When I moved the chins out of my house and into their own unit, this helped greatly, and I now wear a simple paper dust-mask when around them - which helps with the asthma - as I am not breathing in airborne particulates which trigger an attack.

Moving them out of the house has allowed me to control how much exposure I have. A dust-mask may seem over the top - but it really helps and allows me to spend lots of time with the chins in their unit.

I wish you all the best in finding a way of lessening your allergy.

Regards,

Debbie.

I'm glad you had such luck with moving them out and all. I really enjoy having my girls in the house, but I just have the 3 as compared to your impressive 37+. They get lots of walk by scritches and adore being the center of attention in our study room, they are spoiled and would through a fit if I moved them out to the garage or something.

The dust luckily doesn't bother me as I bath them in a fish bowl and it keeps the dust in. As for the hay, I'm feeding a mix of timothy and alfalfa cubes and they seem to like it. Thank you so much for your ideas, I may invest in one of those masks.

 

[Essentia]

Did your chinnies just take to the hay cubes, or did you have to push a little? I only ask because I have tried my hardest to switch over and they just won't let me. I tried alfalfa/timmy cubes and plain alfalfa cubes. Both just sit at the bottom of the cage not being touched or being peed on. Maybe my chins are just picky.

 

[EveningChin]

I didn't have to push as I used to feed both and so they were used to them. Maybe if you slowly ween then off or the loose? Or try a dry switch just don't give them loose hay for a few days and the cubes will seem more appitizing?

 

[Jadebf700]

I found some Alfalfa/timothy hay cubes today and gave on to buddy. He seems to love it! I may have to switch over to them so the mess is not so much. If he does over eat on it will he eventually not eat as much?

 

[tiffyskaar]

Ah! Sounds like me when I had my chinnie! I had the worst problems! I had to start feeding timothy cubes and alfalfa pellets. and thats true I wish they could make a mix of both in pellets or in cubes or somehow haha. What do you think the best solution is for the extreme allergy? Use a rubber glove so its not touching your skin, do you think that'd work?

 

[VAChins]

:hmm:

 

[VAChins]

The cubes is so much easier but they are made from alfalfa and it is high in protein and the orchard grass/timothy hay has so much more roughage which is great for their digestive track. I feed both.

 

[nicky]

I use both, depending on the day I guess you could say. They seem to like both and I've never had any problems. I think alot of people use both.