Tips for buying hay locally?

[DezzyChin]

My chinchilla is a bit of a picky hay eater. I have found she does like the hay from Sweet Meadow Farm, but they recently had to change how you order their hay online (I can no longer order just one or two bags of hay because of a change in how they are charged for shipping--it's too expensive). I got a contact today for a farmer within about half an hour of me who has organic alfalfa and he suggested I should come see what he has. He said it is last year's alfalfa and is quite coarse, so that worries me--Dezzy may not like it. He says he will be cutting alfalfa again this spring.

Also, I know I can't give her only alfalfa due to nutrition and I don't know that this farmer has timothy hay or other grass hay. I suspect I may have a hard time finding timothy hay locally, but I will find out when I meet with him.

So, what tips do any of you have for buying hay directly from a farmer? What should I be looking for? I am mainly concerned about where the hay has been stored and if it has been protected from the elements. Any tips? Questions I should ask?

Thank you!
Nicole

 

[Amethyst]

If you are feeding alfalfa based pellets you don't want to be feeding alfalfa as your primary hay. Alfalfa isn't a grass hay it's a legume (like beans) so you'll want a grass hay, timothy is the best since it has the best nutritional balance but if you are feeding good pellets any grass hay will do.

When looking at local farm hay you want horse quality hay, so no mold, not dusty, and it should smell good not musty. If they let you, the best way to tell how the bales look is by braking one open, there can be mold in the middle if it wasn't dried properly or got wet after baling. Also braking it open allows you to see the amount of dust and hay crumbs created when doing so. You also want to check for weeds like thistle and for sticks, which you obviously don't want. The hay should be stored away from the elements in a cool dry place, like a barn or shed, and up off the ground.

Another thing you can try since you chin is picky is to ask if you can take a sample home to see if your chin will eat it before buying a whole bale.

 

[DezzyChin]

Thanks for the tips, Amethyst. I was able to visit his farm this afternoon and he gave me a chunk to bring home. I'm a little iffy on it; while it was stored in a shed/barn, it feels damp. I have broken it up in a couple boxes to see what it's like after it dries out, or comes to room temperature at least. Some of it looks great, and it does smell like hay but it also smells earthy. The alfalfa is quite long, so I would have to cut it up before I give it to Dezzy.

Thanks again!
Nicole