ahappycamper
Active member
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.
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.