Hay
There are two main ways of getting hay: either from the pet store or from a farm.
It's more expensive to get hay from the pet store, though it is often easier than getting huge 50 pound bales from the farm. Hay is great, though it can harbor mites, so I usually freeze it for about 24 hours before using. You don't have to, though I do because I don't want to put my entire kennel in risk (especially with young pups).
Any type of hay works for gerbils, whether its timothy, alfalfa, or mixed. Hay can get moldy if it gets damp, so I usually don't use it as a base, but rather a bedding supplement to help support the burrows. Hay is good for gerbils nutritional needs as well, they enjoy nibbling.
It's more expensive to get hay from the pet store, though it is often easier than getting huge 50 pound bales from the farm. Hay is great, though it can harbor mites, so I usually freeze it for about 24 hours before using. You don't have to, though I do because I don't want to put my entire kennel in risk (especially with young pups).
Any type of hay works for gerbils, whether its timothy, alfalfa, or mixed. Hay can get moldy if it gets damp, so I usually don't use it as a base, but rather a bedding supplement to help support the burrows. Hay is good for gerbils nutritional needs as well, they enjoy nibbling.
pros:
readily available,
supports burrows quite nicely, nutritious for gerbils to nibble on, can be extremely cheap if bought from a farm, great for nests, |
cons:
can harbor mites,
gets moldy quickly if damp, quality can vary from bale to bale. |