whats softer hay or straw

Just ran out in the dark (oudside like on but not covering the shed) to clean rosie's cage, do it twice a week till shes out the cage so it doesnt get cold and wet, went to put the new straw in it but the bloody door has let in rain its soaked. The cages are away from the door but the bag was beside it(that or its been one of the times when the wind blow the door open and soaked me and the inside when was feeding the buns, its just soaked right through the pile, the bails are at the back away from the door way or any rain, so I have had to use hay only, will that be ok do you think. I was using wood shavings but everytime you opned the door and the wind got it ended up with a face full of shavings not nice, so buns wont enjoy it either.

I know that straw is the warmer of the two.

A lot of people will advise not to use straw for buns because they eat it but I always used it with Thumper and it never did her any harm.

I would say IMO straw is def better than wood shavings.

I've not really helped have I?

So annoyed it got soaked too, cos its cold getting again.

These things are sent to try us

Can you pop out and get some more tomorrow?

For tonight, maybe you have some old blankets they can snuggle up to?

I always bought my straw from P@H, I once got a bag that was soaking wet and it stank like mud! I was fuming!!!!

Of course, you don't discover the problem until you actually need to use it, I had to dry it out in my airing cupboard for a few hours before I could put it in and then had to go buy more ASAP

I was not amused!!!!

If I had room I would get a half bail instead of a potsy bag from p&h can get a bial for same price, just not got the room so have to buy the bags

I always have thought that hay feels softer, but as Thumper said straw is warmer. I don't use straw anymore, but I found with previous bunnies/guinea pigs that the straw wouldn't get eaten whereas the hay did, so it was better in that respect.

I haven't really helped either have I!!!

I would remove shavings, replace them with newspaper and put straw or hay in as a bed to nest in.

Hay is softer.

Shavings long gone, bag is sitting in back shed not being used got fed up with a mouth full when opened the door, its in charlies litter tray under the wood stuff as ran out o the wood cat litter, which minds me trip to pets at home for bag o it charlies trays need changed out.

Ah sorry didnt read properly - doh!

Such horrid weather tonight x

i have all this to come when I get my outdoor buns!

You sure will Katie! It's such a faff but they're worth it.

I'd say hay is softer but straw is warmer because it's a better insulator. I give my two loads of hay so they can snuggle deep in it and be encouraged to eat a lot of it.

Hay is softer. I only use straw in the winter when I use it with the pigs as they are outside.

Dont know if should try to make room for a bail of straw or just get a few bags from p@h, I only put it at one end where they snuggle up to sleep the other end has straw (used shavings before where they pee) cant fit a litter tray in woud use the wood pellets where they pee like do with charlie, soooo hurry up n finish house hubby.

I always used hay. Buying a bale and cutting the strings I'd take 4 "slices" and that would make a lovely nest (floor, side and back walls)... you do need a good sized hutch to do this.

I wouldn't use straw as it tends to flake and I once had a GP with a sharp bit in her eye. It's not good for burrrowing in. Never bought straw after that.

Mine have hay for eating and straw for bedding. They will eat hay over straw any day given the choice and if they do eat straw it won't harm them, it just has minimal nutritional value.

If you use straw make sure it is Barley Straw which is much softer. The coarse stuff farms often sell baled can cause damage to delicate eyes.

Not sure what type it was in pets at home it was a big bag for a fiver, half was used the rest got soaked, not sure if it will dry out. There only in cages at moment, and this lboody wind is not helping finish the house for them, plus not sure how going to get them in the house before there bonded, dont like idea of putting 1 in with the space and leaving the other in the cage beside him/her, feel thats really not fair but not sure what to do.

Hay is softer. It is harvested while it is still growing and remains slightly green. Straw is baled after the grain has been harvested and it is left for a time to 'harden'. They want straw to be DRY so it can be used for bedding, insulation etc.

Hay stays green and still has nutrients flowing. Straw does not because the grain has already been harvested or has been left to reseed.

I hope I made sense. It's been about 4 decades or more since I've been on a farm.

The P@H straw is barley straw and fine to use.
However if it has been wet for an extended period of time (I'd say more than 24 hours) and is still damp you shouldn't use it due to the risk of mycotoxins forming.

I unfortunately lost a whole bag of hay last week because of the weather opening my storage box up.

I will stick the wet bag in the bin, highly doubt it would have dried out quickly. Got a new bag at front door, will need to put some out tonight probs. Checked on them early this morning, its cold outside but nice and cosey in the house, the insulations stuff really works.