Chances are as a guinea pig owner, you are undoubtedly familiar with the sight of hay being scattered around all over the place. This holds true especially if you buy hay in large quantities such as flakes or bales, as people with several cavies are likely to do.
Since our hay is typically purchased from KMS Hayloft, our previous arrangement was to keep it stored in the large cardboard boxes it was shipped in. While reading up on hay storage we ran across the idea of keeping hay in a wicker laundry hamper.
This cotton lined wicker basket laundry bin is an improvement over the cardboard boxes both in function and appearance. It meets all the criteria for proper hay storage - the material allows for air circulation, doesn't trap moisture that could lead to mold, and can moved from room to room as needed. The cloth interior can be removed and washed. As an added bonus, it is far more aesthetically pleasing than a tower of dusty boxes.
We purchased the Seville Willow Hamper from Bed Bath & Beyond for ~$32 using a 20% off coupon. According to the BB&B website, it measures 22 1/4"H x 11 1/2"D x 17 1/2"W. Although it can't be used to hold huge quantities, we were able to fit in 8 pounds of loosely packed hay. As for the rest of the hay, it is being stored out of sight until the hamper needs to be refilled.
The floors are still not spotless, but the amount of hay that finds its way out is more manageable. So far this hay storage solution is working pretty well!
To read more in depth about proper hay storage, see these useful pages:
Guinea Lynx - Hay Storage
Guinea Pigs Australia - Storing Hay (lists pros and cons of different storage methods)
Guinea Pig Cages - Hay (tips on choosing hay and where to buy it)
Such a great idea! I'll be getting one for my horrors.
ReplyDeleteI manage to hide my hay box under the cage stand, which has a cloth skirt all around it. It's amazing what I can stuff under there!
ReplyDeleteLove the hamper idea. I've got all sorts of other junk that needs to get out of sight.
I have stupid amounts of stuff:
ReplyDelete2 types of food as Harry refuses to eat pellets
2 types of Hay, timothy and bedding
Towels
Cavy cosies
Chew toys
Boxes to run through.
PaintedThread, a cloth skirt is a great idea. If only I could fit all pig paraphernalia underneath my pigs cage.
ReplyDeleteMopsy, that does not sound too bad! My pigs own so much, I was forced to forfeit an entire closet to store all their belongings in. And that does not even include the three different types of hay we were forced to buy since they decided that certain bales of hay from certain suppliers did not meet their approval.
My guinea pigs took away my art studio which took away my bedroom so maybe I'll SLEEP in the hamper, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYum-Yum, that is so typical! My pigs insisted on a larger cage, so they took over virtually an entire room in addition to the aforementioned closet. The communal work&study area is squashed into the cramped space not taken up by their cage. Forget about a bedroom, we sleep in what is essentially servants quarters.
ReplyDelete