Choosing hay and hay for guinea pigs

Guinea pigs are quite unpretentious pets to care for. The owners of these cute rodents know that in addition to pelleted feed, hay must be included in the animal's diet. It would seem, what is the problem? Indeed, in the warm season, there is a lot of grass on the lawns and lawns. But by no means every plant is suitable for drying and subsequent consumption by guinea pigs. The article will focus on how to choose and prepare hay correctly, as well as how to make a sennik for guinea pigs with your own hands.

It is very important for guinea pigs to get dry weed every day. For animals, it is a source of plant fibers. In addition, the pig's teeth grind against the tough stems.

Therefore, a small amount of hay must always be in the cage.so that the pig, when it feels the need, can come up and eat the amount of grass that it needs.

It is for these purposes that the guinea pig house must be equipped with a sennik.

If it's winter outside and there is no way to find fresh plants, ready-made dried hay for pets can be purchased at pet stores or ordered online. It is formulated with plants that are safe for guinea pigs and is fully prepared for consumption by animals.

Well, if summer is in full swing, you can collect the grass yourself, while adhering to the following rules.

• The plants that you will harvest should be located away from major cities, highways and highways.
• You should not collect grass near industrial enterprises, as well as in areas where livestock graze.
• Only healthy-looking plants with a bright green color should be selected. The stems and leaves must not be infested with parasites or diseases.
• Grass that is already dry at the root is not suitable for harvesting.
• It is desirable that the collection includes alfalfa and timothy. These herbs are rich in beneficial trace elements and have a positive effect on the digestive system of rodents.

Plants that can harm guinea pigs:

• celandine;
• hemlock;
• elder;
• spurge;
• lily of the valley;
• nightshade;
• horse chestnut;
• horsetail;
• buttercup;
• henbane;
• hawthorn.

After collecting, the grass must be spread out to dry in a dry room. A cloth or sheet of white Whatman paper should be placed under it. You can also cover the drying area with a few sheets of plain white paper. It is not advisable to use newspapers for the backing. Ink from printed pages peels off very easily and can stick to blades of grass... The hay must not be exposed to direct sunlight.

Drying lasts until all the stems are dull and brittle. After that, the hay must be transferred to a cloth bag. This will help avoid possible mold growth and growth.

You can build a hay holder yourself. Materials for its manufacture can be very diverse. If you rummage in the mezzanine or in the closet, then you will surely find there something from which you can make a feeder for your rodent. Next, several options for a sennik for a cage or guinea pig house will be presented.

• Dry herb holder from a cardboard box. Any undamaged and undeformed cardboard container will do. The choice of size depends on the size of the pet's house. Cut off the top and one of the sides, leaving 5-7 millimeters of collar along the bottom edge. Make symmetrical holes on the sides of the box. Then it will be necessary to insert a flexible wire into them and fix the sennik on the wall of the house or the pig's cage.

• The dried grass holder can be made from plywood or planks. Take the parts you need in size and glue them in the form of a box with three sides. Such a sennik can be placed on the bottom of the cage, if space permits. Or, as in the previous example, fix it on the wall of the house.

• Fabric sennik. Find two pieces of sturdy cotton fabric measuring approximately 20x20 cm. Fold them right side in. In the middle, draw and cut out two small circles. These holes will further serve as windows for the pigs to feed dry weed. Sew the pieces of material on three sides, leaving the top edges free. You will end up with a small pouch with two holes on the sides. Sew handles to it and hang from the bars of the cage.

• A sennik can be made from a small plastic bottle. Cut off one of the edges where the neck meets the bulge. On the side of the bottle, cut a rectangular hole into which the hay will be placed. Attach the finished sennik to the wall of the house with a flexible wire.

• A very simple version of a sennik built with a plastic kitchen container. Take a small container and remove the lid from it. Fill the container with hay and attach it with clothespins or paper clips to the outside of the cage bars. The mechanism of operation of such a sennik is very simple. The grass will lie in the container, and the guinea pigs will be able to easily get the right amount of grass through the bars of the cage.

• The last version of the sennik is rather a funny toy for a pet, but still serves as a supply of dry grass. Take an old unwanted sock. Stuff hay into it and sew it up. Leave the toy in the pet's cage.Due to the smell of dried grass, guinea pigs will be carried away by the sock stuffed with grass and will begin to play with it. Pretty soon they will be able to break it and eat the hay inside.

Also carefully monitor the quality of the hay you feed your pets. If it shows signs of mold or rot, the grass should not be given to the pigs, it should be thrown away.

To learn how to make a sennik for a guinea pig with your own hands, see the video below.