Degu Hay

Irresistible hay for your Degu from the heart of the Cotswolds

Although degus can eat nuggets and other food products as a supplement, their core diet should comprise large amounts of high-quality fibre, with hay an essential element of their nutrition.

The quality of degu hay is as important as the quantity since dusty hay and excessive moisture cause bloating and respiratory complications. Our exceptional Cotswold hay is produced with innovative methods to eliminate potential harmful spores and provide the ideal diet for healthy, happy degus.

Degu Hay FAQs

  • What makes Little Hay Co hay different?

    • Regular hay is made outside in the field which risks getting rained on to greatly reduce quality, staying near soil after harvest for too long and being infected by spores and getting bleached in the sun.

      At The Little Hay Co we cut the grass conventionally and leave it in the sun for 24 hours - but then we pick it up loose and dry it with dehumidified air in our specially built hay drying barn prior to packaging it up for you.

      The difference in quality from most other hays is clear to see - and all grown, made and packaged on our farm in the Cotswolds, UK.

  • What are the different cuts of hay you sell?

    • We sell a variety of cuts, including first, second and third cut and these encompass differing textures, grasses and hardness.

  • Why do you use different grasses?

    • In nature your pet species would naturally graze throughout the four seasons, during which grasses taste different and have different textures.  This variety is what we replicate for you, but try to offer your pet the Spring to Autumn choice as Winter grasses are not always very appetising.

  • Why do you grow different grasses?

    • We grow different grasses to suit your degu’s needs but also due to different species ripening at different times, it also extends our harvest window as we endeavour to make enough to keep you stocked up all year round.

  • How do you control and ensure the quality at Little Hay Co throughout the year?

    • We tend our pastures very carefully throughout the year to ensure that they are in tip top condition when it comes to harvest.  By use of the hay drying barn we then preserve this quality, even in the most British of summers!  We make enough stock to store over the winter to provide you wherever possible a steady supply.  In Spring we start our harvest all over again to bring you a fresh supply.

  • Which type of hay should I buy?

    • Timothy Hay is quite a hard hay with deliciously large seed heads.  It is good for nutrition and dental care.

      Silky Soft Hay is not quite so hard as Timothy but slightly more nutritious.

      Cotswold Sweet Hay is very, very palatable but offers less wear on the teeth - great to build condition, great to burrow in and great to hide and sleep in.  This is often the most sought after hay.

  • How much hay should I feed my degu?

    • The general rule is to feed your degu the same volume of hay as their furry bodies are - but as always do consult your vet if you have detailed questions on your individual pet.

  • What else should I feed my degu as well as hay?

    • Pets like treats, but this should be no more than 15% of their diet.  Without this balance of 15% treats to 85% hay dental and digestive problems can occur.  If you notice any worrying symptoms, please consult your vet.

  • What are the key benefits of high quality hay for my degu?

    • If you cannot feed enough hay to your degu, its teeth and digestive system will suffer.  As degus are notoriously selective (even fussy!) it's ideal to offer them the best choice you can to encourage a regulated and balanced daily consumption of their own volition.  We want your degu to be excited to see our hay each day!

  • How long will it take for my order to arrive?

    • Orders placed before 1pm weekdays will be sent for next day delivery, excluding bank holidays and weekends.

  • Which carrier will deliver my order?

    • DPD are our chosen carrier

  • My order has arrived damaged, who should I contact?

  • What is your refund & exchange policy?

    • We welcome your feedback and are happy to provide a no quibble replacement if there is dissatisfaction. If we cannot correct an issue, of course we will refund you.  This works for only one incident a year - more than that and we will arrange with you a collection of the product to provide both parties with a better understanding.

      If your question isn’t answered above, please email our team and we will be happy to help: info@littlehayco.com

Nutritional Breakdown of Hay and Grass*

Cotswold Sweet/Rye Timothy Silky Meadow
Moisture 9.0% 9.0% 12.5% 10.5%
Crude protein 6.7% 4.7% 10.6% 6.1%
Oil 2.0% 2.0% 2.7% 2.5%
Ash 6.2% 4.9% 8.4% 6.1%
Sugars 6.7% 8.2% 9.1% 8.1%
Calcium 35% 21% 46% 30%
Crude Fibre 23.9% 29.8% 22% 30.1%
DE 8MJ/KG 7.5MJ/KG 9.5MJ/KG 9.0MJ/KG

How We Produce Ultra-Premium Feeding Hay for Degus

The Little Hay Co. specialises in fantastic, naturally flavoured hays for small species, with barn-drying and production control techniques that guarantee consistently high quality every month of the year.

As with many other small pets, hay makes up the vast majority of a degu's nutrition, with synthetic foods limited to 10 grams per day.

Small rodents would forage in the wild and access minerals and vitamins such as calcium, vitamin C and phosphorous from grasses and tree bark. Replicating this intake with premium hay is an excellent option, ensuring they have the right balance of nutrition, particularly relevant to degus that cannot eat foods formulated for other species such as hamsters, gerbils, and rabbits.

Our hay production methods ensure that every bale is fresh, green, fragrant, and the perfect food for active degus.