All about hay

Which animals is Little Hay Co hay suitable for?

• Little Hay Co hay is suitable for all hay consuming pets such as Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Degus & Chinchillas.  We even have a few more unusal customers including, horses, sheep and geese! We offer a range of high quality hays in our online shop and describe in detail the types and qualities under each product.

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.  If you purchase our Timothy, Cotswold Sweet or Silky Soft hay 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.

  Our Meadow hay is still a great quality hay however this has been harvested and dried in the traditional way.

What’s the largest pack size you sell?

• The largest pack size we sell is a 10kg Box which is also our best value product alongside our 4Kg dust extracted and compressed bales.

What are the different cuts of hay you sell?

• We have a number of hay varieties and cuts on offer including Pure Timothy, 2nd Cut Timothy, Silky Soft, Meadow Hay, Cotswold Sweet, Oat grass, Alfalfa hay and Canadian Timothy. We offer a wide variety of grasses ti encompass differing textures, seed types, coursness and flavour. Please visit our online shop to see more.

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.

  When a pet needs to make up a large proportion of their diet with hay, it is important to keep them interested, which is why we suggest feeding them a couple of different hay varieties. We also offer bales with forage mixed through to keep those furry friends eating their hay and helping them use their natural instincts for forage.

Why do you grow different grasses?

• We grow different grasses to suit your pet’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.

  No two pets are the same and so have a collection with variety allows us to ensure we can find a hay that suits almost every pet.

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 using 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.
  

  Second Cut Timothy is our newest home-grown hay! Cut in late Autumn, second cut timothy is thinner than our 1st cut timothy and has a deeper shape of green. This hay smells like fresh cut grass and is proving to be a great alternative to Cotswold Sweet.

  Cotswold Sweet Hay is not quite so hard as Timothy but slightly more nutritious.
  
  Silky Soft 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.
  
  Meadow Hay is made entirely in the field - it is lower cost but offers plenty of nutritional/dental benefits.  It is a very good value and more akin to a “normal” pet hay. This hay is a lovely blend of Timothy, fescue and rye, it is more golden in colour but still great for both eating and bedding. We recommend this for rabbits rather than guinea pigs.

  Canadian Timothy Hay has been imported from Canada. This hay is beautiful green and sweet smelling. And only available in Spring and early Summer.

  Alfalfa Hay is grown locally at another farm not far from our own. This hay is perfect for kits, pregnant pets or pets who are unwell or recovering from an illness. This hay is high in calcium so should not be fed to healthy rabbits older than around 6 months old.

  Oat Grass our Oat Grass is imported from the EU although we are hoping to have a more local crop this year from a neighbouring farm. Oat hay is a great alternative to Timothy. High in fibre and protein it is great for keeping your buns digestive system in check.

How much hay should I feed my pet?

• The general rule is to feed your pet 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 pet 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 pet?

• If you cannot feed enough hay to your pet, its teeth and digestive system will suffer.  As pets 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 pet to be excited to see our hay each day!

Delivery

How long will it take for my order to arrive?

• Orders placed before 1pm weekdays will dispatched the same day on a next day delivery service with DPD. Most parcels will then be delivered to customers the following day.

  Eco boxes are not weather safe so it is important to specify a safe place or rearrange your delivery if you don't expect to be home.

  Items orders over the weekend )after 1pm Friday to 1pm Monday) will be dispatched on a Monday morning for delivery on a Tuesday.

  DPD have recently changed their charges and so we are having to amend our own. Mainland UK postage costs begin at £4.95.

  Shipping to Rural postcodes, IOM, NI and the Scottish Highlands begin at £10.50.

Which carrier will deliver my order?

• DPD via CSm logistics are our courier.

  As we are a remote location DPD struggled to keep up with our growing order volumes. CSM logistics collect our orders Monday - Friday ensuring our parcels always leave on time and get to you and your pet quickly.

Refunds and Damages

My order has arrived damaged, who should I contact?

• For exisiting order queries please email info@littlehayco.com.

  The office is officially manned Monday to Friday 7am - 3.30pm but the team are often known to check in on emails and socials outside of this time.

  
  Please do not send order queries to our social chats as these can get lost and may end up with a delayed solution.

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