Hay variations

[ahappycamper]

I know it's not necessary to have hay variation, but do you think it HELPS? I really have to wonder because it seems based on what I've read, that all the most common and potent chinchilla problems are taken care of by good hay diets. And that the more hay a chin eats, the better. More variation seems like more minerals, a better balanced diet and of course different textures to wear down the teeth.

Just today I received Kleenmama's hay of 15lb of 3rd cut Timothy, 15lb of 2nd cut Timothy, and 5lb of Blue grass(nutritionally the same as orchard grass). I hope it will last my two munchkins at least half a year or more. It seems like they're loving it so far. More of it is ending up in their stomach and less is ending up on the floor.

I also plan on adding APD oat, wheat, barley, 1st cut Timothy, Oxbow's botanical, meadow and a local feed stores bermuda grass to their diets.

I have to wonder, am I really just wasting my money here? Are a variety of hays really better for them? Even if it keeps their health in better shape even by just a slight bit, then I'm more than happy to add as many grass types to their hay as possible. I just want the munchkins to be the healthiest they can be.

I guess it's very similar to the debate of having multiple woods to chew on versus just one wood. Some owners feel that a chin can be in the peak of its health with just pine while others feel that a chin's maximum life quality is attained when you give it a "buffet" of wood types. Anything to increase the life expectancy and quality of the chins would be worth it to me.

I have a very funny and obsessive way of analyzing things so even the most meticulous details and "differences" like these really matter to me.

 

[Stackie]

I do believe that different types of hay is very beneficial to their health. If anything, it's great for dental health. Depending on the type and cut of hay, chins use different chewing patterns and different teeth to grind the hay down. If you are provide different types of hay, you help ensure that all the teeth are being utilized properly, reducing the risk of overgrown teeth/spurs.

My chins get all APD hay. I mix 2nd cut with grain and mountain grass, and occasionally 1st cut even though they don't really eat it much.

I'm not sure if you really need to include ALL of those hays in their diet, but it's certainly up to you to decide. I just use a leafy hay, a medium coarse hay, and a coarse hay since that basically hits all of the areas of hay. (In your case it could be 3rd, 2nd, and 1st cut timmy).

 

[Snickers]

Right now my chins are getting a timothy/orchard mix which comes in 2 - wire bales. I'm only using it because I can't find good timothy hay at any feed stores. I go to 2 different feed stores and the timothy isn't good. They seem to like this blend so far.

 

[alli713]

I also like to give variety. Mine mostly get timothy, orchard grass, and oat hay. Each is a different coarseness which I think helps with their teeth. And it seems that they eat more hay when there's a variety.

 

[Little Chinta]

I like to mix Orchard grass hay with either timothy hay/hay cubes or botanical hay (as an occasional treat). Plus -- the greater the variety, the more it encourages Nikki to eat hay, which helps prevent Malo. A win-win situation for all!