2 Ways To Save BIG Buying Guinea Pig Food!

[@dienahfee777]

You chose an important subject, scotty. Thank you for your research.

[@Hopespringseternal]

Thank you so much! I rescued a piggie yesterday and was totally lost. She was so badly cared for, and now I know it was even worse. They only fed her veg, and now it makes sense why she was covered in a thick layer of her own waste like it was a facial mud mask. I bought her Timothy hay and pellets today, and now I know how little veg she needs. Working on adopting her a buddy from shelter once I confirm she’s actually a she (or he.) Thank you for what you’re doing!

[@manycatz3746]

@Hopespringseternal it's actually easy if it's an adult. Turn it over to expose it's bits, if you see a Y it's a girl. Also if you are still not sure. Boys have what I like to call extra puff....its between it parts and legs....thats where their testicles are. And the penis to me kinda looks like one of those sponges you use to do stenciling. If you push on it right above where you see either part the penis will appear. If not it's a girl... So basically it either looks like a round sponge or a Y

[@equestrianrosie]

We switched over to the 50 lb bales of Standlee orchard grass from Tractor Supply Company. They're like $25 each. Pick them up in person to avoid high shipping costs. Comes out to 50 cents a pound, baby. Don't have local farmers but TSC hooks us up.

[@ScottysAnimals]

Thank you for the tip! I love tractor supply. I have several dedicated videos about them in the save money and food playlists

[@BirdieRN71]

I use Tractor Supply as well. I saw this after I posted .

[@musicmamma]

With the standlee hay, I get those as well. Sometimes the quality of the bale is icky- dry, dusty, brown. It varies from bale to bale.

[@ScottysAnimals]

​@@musicmammaI would be curious if you ask for an exchange on a bad bale, if they would honor it

[@bunberrier]

Im gonna check that out, thank you. Ive been having them shipped by Amazkn

[@BirdieRN71]

Yes, a feed store is great. I use Tractor Supply and it is about 23.00 for 50# . I also have allergies to Timothy hay, so that price is for the orchard grass. I have 7 boys and use the TaterPet kitchen so they can forage their food. I go through one bale a month, maybe a little less, depending on how much I fill it up. I need to cut down on my veggies, though. They aren't fat, but they live in my living room, so every time they hear a bag or anything close, they start wheeking and giving me that look, which I can't say no to. Hope this helps also.

[@tanniazepeda2966]

My BABIES TOO!!They live in the living room ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@gensguineas]

We get our Timothy Hay at Tractor Supply and get a 50lb bale for $28 and it lasts us forever. Great share, thank you : )

[@atreb56]

I tried Tractor Supply and feed store but no bales of orchard grass. I use Oxbow pellets. Wonderful ideas Scott. Thanks.❤🐹

[@mscathyaz]

Thank you, Scotty. Every discount helps. I needed a place to order food, treats etc for my 2 piggies. Our Tractor Supply runs out of some things quickly. I want more piggies but 2 is enough for now. Love your info and your piggies. Your wonderful too❤

[@MackPackreselling]

0:56 😅 you couldn’t resist Hiii pip

[@magablessed3921]

Have 2 GPs - I order 9lb box orchard grass hay from Walmart+ for $27 ($0 shipping). Easy for me to handle, lasts 2-3 months. Keeps piggies in mountains of hay daily.

[@magablessed3921]

Also from Standlee - grown in southern Idaho.

[@ScottysAnimals]

That's not a bad deal. If you can afford it that's great. But the point is, for $8 more I get about 100 lb. Of course I have 25 guinea pigs to feed.

[@ScottysAnimals]

​@@magablessed3921they have great products

[@magablessed3921]

Ck'd w/Trac Sup about bales & 1/2 bales, but I'm older now so can't toss those bales around as I'd like. ☺️

[@beverleymason9038]

👍👍

[@sharonmcandrew5046]

I buy bales of hay too as works out cheaper and saves me money thank you for great tips scotty

[@VickieBell-z7x]

I feed my rosita and Fred Mertz oxbow Timothy hay with orchard grass . And oxbow hay based pellets. Good video

[@beverleymason9038]

Yep, I have to buy orchard grass from Small Pet Select or Oxbow because there's no orchard grass available in big bales in Scotland. Just meadow hay.

[@carolray3637]

What a good man you are, Scotty… you are amazing. Hugs from BC, Canada!

[@lynnpurfield9430]

My piggies loved carrot tops. If you save the root ends and pop them on a plate with water (maybe a little seaweed feed) you get fresh green shoots. This will work with fresh beetroot, parsnips, cabbage, swede, sprouts and celery too. Also, a parsley plant from the supermarket woll have lots of baby plants that can be divided off into little pots on a windowsill. You will soon have loads of parsley.

[@lisastephens2340]

Awesome video! When we say an grass hay is ok, I had been meaning to ask. If my friend gave me a bail from their farm and I have it stored in a dry container would it be considered meadow grass? The source is located in Newport VA. Thanks for all you do for these babies!

[@beverleymason9038]

In the UK it's meadow hay that's available in big bales. It will be fine as long as it's clean and dry 👍

[@angryaussie3233]

No feed stores around here, but I use Tractor Supply for their 50 lb compressed timothy hay and it's a good value.

[@maggye5450]

My fur babies have a Forever Home with me. I'll Never give them away!! My 6 piggies don't like the Small Pet Select Treats. I don't know why. I've tried them twice, even tried the variety sampler. The only one who ate them was my rabbit. My piggies love the Oxbow Treats. I always order my hay in 40-50 lb bulk from Chewy and from Small Pet Select. I have them on auto ship so I don't even have to remember to reorder them. The prices have gone up but bulk is still a better buy, especially since I have 7 hungry mouths to feed. Thank you for the veggies suggestion. I was getting too fancy buying different kinds of veggies for variety. So I see it's best to keep it simple. Thanks Scotty!

[@beverleymason9038]

Nice to give them some variety though. I'm going to research what fruit might help to prevent bladder stones from forming and give them a little bit every day. The perfect guinea pig food will be created one day that contains an ingredient that prevents them. I don't know why so many brands of nuggets including the top selling ones, has soy derivatives in them. That's alien to guinea pigs. Same with molasses. We can live in hope 🙂

[@beverleymason9038]

I used to buy big bales of hay from my local feed store in the 1990's when Scotland had lovely dry Summers 😂😂. It was nice hay but I wouldn't take a chance with moulds growing inside the bales from UK grown big bales nowadays. I like the way the smaller bags from the companies who specialise in bags of hay for small animals pack it before it gets a chance to get damp 👍 but your wonderful country is a great country for growing hay 👍😂. I buy the orchard hay and the Readigrass for they love it 👍. Thanks for the great advice 🐹

[@maryamullins4332]

Great video! Thanks for the heads up. Any way I can save a nickel is great. Thanks Scotty 💕

[@MackPackreselling]

6:43 😂😂 you surprised yourself 😂 they don’t call him pigs for nothing 😂

[@mattbonin7548]

Always learning something from Scotty. Thank you so much!

[@pyenygren2299]

Usually I buy two 10 kg hay packages for my four piggies. That lasts a long time.

[@beverleymason9038]

👍👍

[@MackPackreselling]

Yessssss ! ❤ I go to tractor supply because of you and saved so much!!!

[@beverleymason9038]

You made a great video about the guinea pig treats that often contain bad or "questionable" ingredients. I feel that the same applies to the brands of guinea pig nuggets, including the top and most expensive brands. Molasses "for flavour" !, soya bean meal - "for protein" !. Completely alien to a guinea pigs natural diet. Cheap fillers in expensive brands. The same thing has happened with dry dog and cat food over the years, and they now have allergies and all sorts of health issues. I hope that on this channel, people can point out these things and share their bad experiences with foods, treats WITHOUT naming the brand of course. Reading the back of packets will always be well worth it. Cost doesn't matter to me but if it's expensive it should be good quality. The best guinea pellet food is yet to happen, but hopefully it will 🙏🐹

[@barneshomestead1240]

THANK YOU!

[@antonelladecosta2641]

I love to watch you! And I have learnt so much with you! But I would have to disagree about the vegetables, giving them a piece of cucumber a piece of carrots and a leaf of lettuce wont cover all the nutritional needs, specially if you go pellet free. Guinea pigs needs a very varied diet with several leafy greens, meadow grass and meadows herbs( if you are able to collect or grow in your house) and of course hay all the time Of course every change in diet has to be done slowly, giving high amount of fresh greens, specially divided in 2 or more times per day wont cause soft poops, for piggies that are used to eat fresh stuff ( like they do in nature) pellets have a lot of unnecessary additives and are closely related with bladder stones. Giving fresh vegetables and grasses gives not only enough vitamins and minerals but much more water to help to flush any excess of calcium

[@janetmedina8354]

I get my hay at Tractor Supply ever since I saw your video from years back. But seeing this looks like I’m giving too much veggies, so will be adjusting that.

[@skcjanelle9061]

I find most people feed way too many veggies. I dont notice any difference in my pigs health whether i feed an average amount, small amount or almost none. Obviously while feeding good quality hay and pellets and making sure vit c needs are met. I tend to feed them to match the seasons...winter is mostly hay and pellets, spring and summer are lots of fresh feed, grass, dandelions, plantains, clover etc. Ive started picking and drying my own forage to use as supplement throughout the winter. I currently have multiple pigs at 6 to 7 years old and have had them live to 9 to 10 before.

[@renaecoles3309]

Yes I have 4 piggies and I buy the compressed bale of Orchard Grass from TSC for $25. Lasts me for months and months.

[@tanniazepeda2966]

Thanks SCOTTY FOR THE TIPS. ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@verdeverde2763]

You helped me better understand these cuties now when I watch 🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥 thst show 🇬🇳🇬🇳🐷🐷 I point out what they’re doing wrong

[@kaitlinjule]

I get a 50 lb compressed timothy hay bale from fleet farm for $27. The whole bale will fit perfectly in my hay storage bag (meant for traveling with horses).

[@shawnbutchko456]

Thank you, Scotty, for these tips! I have a rabbit and three guinea pigs and boy! Does the food and hay get expensive!!! So I'm going to try these tips. Very informative!!!

[@amandaliverpool3374]

It's a pleasure to be a Patreon ❤

[@trinaduke40]

I have two piggies. One 25lb box of hay from Small Pet Select lasts me one to two months. Great advice Scotty.

[@ScottysAnimals]

Have you used the coupon link?

[@trinaduke40]

@ScottysAnimals I know that I used your affiliate link for the water bottles, but I'm not sure if I have for the hay or not. I'll have to go check that out. I've already reordered their hay and am waiting for it to be delivered. If I haven't, it'll be so useful for next time ❣️..

[@PatientIam]

Great tips!

[@manycatz3746]

I use Tractor Supply hay too and i stop by my tack store for their hay too and i mix it in Rubbermaid bins. Vegetables- my grocery store has a damaged bin. A lot of times, i can get bell peppers 4 or 3 for 99 cents....i know that may be hard to do in very populated areas such as Los Angels or Orange County. The prebagged Romain, sometimes can get that for 1.68 or something. I usually get their Romain from costco $4.99 for I'm not sure how many is in there but at least 7 or 8. I by 3 bags....i have 10 piggies now so tjey are eating me out of house and home. And yes, they are more expensive than a cat or dog.

[@ScottysAnimals]

These are awesome tips! Thank you for sharing ❤️

[@karinwebster1376]

Great advise Scotty!

[@KatRo13834]

I'd heard about buying bales of hay from the Squeak Dreams channel, but I hadn't thought of putting them in bins outside. Airtight bins are gonna be an investment, though. Not cheap at all. Plus a tarp or something to keep the heat from ruining the bins. I live in an apartment in Arizona, so my brain just automatically crosses out the balcony for any kind of usefulness. I always thought, "Where the devil am I gonna put a dang bale?!" Thanks for the tips, Scotty! I live 2 blocks away from a feed store!

[@ScottysAnimals]

Actually I just use Rubbermaid bins from Walmart. I get the ones that have the clasps but I believe they were around $20. Considering how much money you could save buying a bale of hay, these bins pay for themselves within a few weeks.

[@ScottysAnimals]

And by the way I live in Joshua Tree, over 115° in the summer and these bins sit and direct sunlight on the east side of my house. The hay is fine. But I do have 25 pigs and I go through a bale of hay in about 6 weeks or so.

[@KatRo13834]

@@ScottysAnimals I more worry about the integrity of the plastic over time. Arizona sun can make plastic very flimsy over time, letting bugs get into the cracks. Had that issue with a bin I was using for composting.

[@angelacatellani5731]

Always useful and important advices Scotty!❤❤

[@michellewaite4482]

PIPSQUEAK I LOVE YOU ❤❤❤

[@Freethinkinggigi]

Sweet Meadow on Chewy cost me $60 for 40 lbs. 11 pigs and 1 rabbit love it. But $35 is unbeatable!

[@gardeningwithtash2485]

i got 12 guinea pigs and i discovered its way cheaper to buy hay and their pellets in bulk. i go through about 25 pounds of pellets a month and a fifty pounds of hay is about a month to month and a half for mine. I save on produce sometimes by looking for discount produce that has been marked down but not expired . in gardening season i grow some produce too.

[@AlysonMcNulty]

I was beginning to wonder if there was another video coming. Missed them.

[@bunberrier]

You're right, but bulk has its limitations. Hay WILL in time turn brown and worthless, and large bags of pellets also lose their freshness. The trick is to buy the largest size that allows you to provide fresh delicious food.

[@ScottysAnimals]

I have personally stored hay for several months no problem, and if you think about it, hey is harvested seasonally, bailed and stored to be sold. I would imagine most of it is lasting 3 to 6 months minimum. Just like most things it is a balance

[@jenniferhwaddington]

Fantastic ideas for saving money, Scotty! And thank you for the coupon codes for Small Pet Select - every bit helps!

[@ScottysAnimals]

You're welcome Jennifer. And check back with them they're always having deals on things that I like

[@Kazuma42]

I found a local farmer that sells me 50 pound bales of Timothy Orchard mix for just $8 each!!! I have 9 guines, and i help my neighbor feed his 2 guineas with that. I go through 3-4 a year. But my guines waste alot too

[@ScottysAnimals]

Wozers! That's amazing.

[@stacyharvey1383]

Great video, Scotty! This is all stuff that I wish I had known when I first started keeping piggies many moons ago. It's great that you are doing videos like this. I do have a question--do you or Saskia recommend a specific type of pellets for a piggy that has had a bladder stone removed? I have a 4 year old male piggy that just had a very large stone removed. I already feed the Small Pet Select non-soy pellets, but do they have too much calcium? I've tried feeding Sherwood pellets (because they're supposed to be better for preventing sludge) but Oreo absolutely refuses to eat them, no matter what I do (including withholding veggies and treats.) He prefers the Small Pet Select. He's being very stubborn 🤦‍♀

[@ScottysAnimals]

Unfortunately it's been my experience that it's most likely genetic that certain Piggies are producing stones because all my Piggies and all the piggies at the rescue are on the same diet and yet only a small selection of them ever develop stones. Limited mobility and dehydration play A part as do excess dark leafy greens is my understanding. Give lots of water maybe even extra syringes full, and try to keep them active. I'm not sure if there is a pellet formula that will help. The guinea pig world doesn't seem to be in agreement as to the exact cause of stones anyways. Have you heard of shilintong? It's a herbal supplement that some people say prevents stones, read the reviews in this Amazon listing: amzn.to/4h2vmRo

[@AlysonMcNulty]

​@@ScottysAnimalsI just took a screen shot to show my Vet.

[@stacyharvey1383]

Thanks for the info, Scotty. I'll continue to give him the Small Pet Select pellets--I'd rather he be happy and not so hungry all the time. He's not a very active pig, but he's pretty nosy so I bet I can come up with things for him to explore to get him moving. He's been drinking more water since that stone was removed, and I'll up his intake of water-filled veggies. I'll look into the shilintong too. Thanks so much for responding!

[@oliviadash3104]

I always buy pellets and hay in bulks to save money from chewy

[@cme1027]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@katieofcourse71]

My local feed store sells bales for $8!!! My girlies get their own hay piles each 😂

[@verdeverde2763]

🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🐷🐷🐷🐷 cutest small pet ever

[@Uhfeug]

Com

[@Uhfeug]

Food is not expensive 😡😊

[@beverleymason9038]

I've got 7 piggies and I don't mind what the food and hay costs but I understand why it's more economical to buy in a bulk if they have a lot more piggies. I love how nice and fresh and clean the smaller bags of hay are with no risk of moulds or insects in it. In the UK the farmers cover their big bales with black plastic until they move them into the barn. Large livestock get through it a lot faster and can handle ingesting mould accidentally but not the piggies. I hate the smell of bad hay.